Kildare prove too powerful

Kildare led almost from start to finish in this under-21 clash to claim a semi-final place at Newbridge on Saturday.

The sides were level on two occasions during the early stages before scores from Terry Rossiter and John O'Donoghue sent Kildare into the lead. Offaly managed two points towards the end of the first half but the home side led by 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time.

Kildare took control in the second half after O'Donoghue extended their lead with a free. Substitute John Reynolds managed a goal for Offaly which was their only score of the half.

Kildare: P White; J Sharpe, P Mullarkey, M Dunne; B Dunne, M Wright, A Flood; R Sweeney, P Hurley, C Reilly (0-3, 2 frees), J O'Donoghue (0-8, 4 frees), D McCormack, B McGrogan, K Donnelly (0-1), T Rossiter (0-1). Subs: M Browne for McGrogan, B Moyles for Donnelly, P Cornish for B Dunne, S O'Loughlin for Hurley.

Offaly: A Mulhall, C Masterson, C Evans, M Flynn, N Slattery, C Brady, K Kavanagh, S Cunningham (0-1), G Rafferty, E Greene, J Kilmurray, N Coughlan (0-1), R Daly (0-1), A McNamee B Fagan. Subs: E Molloy for Flynn, J Reynolds (1-1) for Daly, J O'Neill for Fagan, B O'Reilly for Kavanagh, W Stynes for Kilmurray.

Referee: E Murtagh (Longford).