St Kieran's, Kilkenny, sent out a clear message that they will be the team to beat in the race for this year's All-Ireland Colleges hurling title by the manner in which they demolished Good Counsel, New Ross at Dr Cullen Park yesterday. A massive winning margin of 17 points, in this one-sided Leinster A semi-final, takes the Kilkenny side to a meeting with Dublin Colleges in a repeat of last year's final.

The Kilkenny college did not have to approach anything like top gear as they strolled through this game to claim a place in the Leinster final. Tipperary minor star Eoin Kelly had a field day. The talented half forward scored 1-8 and showed class in all aspects of his play.

With Kelly and Brian Carroll shooting points at will in the opening half St Kieran's, the defending champions, led 0-10 to 0-2 at halftime. The game was over as a contest by the 33rd minute, when Kieran's Patrick Reid crashed home his side's first goal.

Good Counsel took until the 46th minute to register a score from play - a point from right-half forward, Mark Phelan, who in fact scored all their four points.

Kelly completed his tally with a goal from a penalty four minutes from time. The only black mark on this St Kieran's display was the dismissal in the final quarter of their influential centre back Ken Coogan. As a result he will miss the Leinster final.

Minutes before Coogan's dismissal, Good Counsel substitute Tom Ely had also received his marching orders.

St Kieran's: D Brennan; D Connery, J Moran, T Walsh; T Murphy, K Coogan, J Tyrrell; B Hogan, S Hennessy (0-1); P Reid (1-1), M Walsh, E Kelly (1-8); B Carroll (0-5), P O'Neill, M Rice. Subs: S Dunne for Rice, G Prendergast for Connery, G Hayes for Carroll.

Good Counsel: D Dunphy; R McGeehan, R Gaule, J J Digby; D Bradley, J Murphy, K Barron; K Kennedy, D Phelan; M Phelan (0-4), D Bardon, W O'Dwyer; T Hendrick, S Cullen, S O'Neill. Subs: T Ely for O'Neill, A O'Connell for Digby, M Grace for Bardon.

Referee: P Ahern (Carlow).