Síofra O'Shea shines as Kerry see off Kildare
Even though the Lilywhites got off to a very strong start, notching four points in the opening nine minutes to take the early ascendancy, the concession of the two green flags before the break was a hammer blow to the visitors.
With Alannah Prizeman (two frees), Aoife Rattigan and Gillian Wheeler all finding the target for the Leinster side, the Kingdom were slower out of the blocks before they struck for their first goal in the 10th minute.
A cross-field kick from Niamh Carmody, and a pass from Cáit Lynch slipped advancing centre-back Emma Costello through the Kildare defence, and after her shot was parried by goalkeeper Mary Hulgraine, O'Shea was on hand to tap home the rebound.
Danielle O'Leary was now getting into her stride, and the Rathmore attacker fired over two points, with a Rachel Dwyer effort sandwiched in between.
Ciara Wheeler and Prizeman responded at the other end and the score was level after 22 minutes at 1-03 to 0-06.
The Kingdom edged in front before the half's most crucial moment in the 24th minute when Niamh Ní Chonchúir set up O'Shea inside the Kildare cover and, after being fouled while in the act of shooting by Lauren Murtagh, a penalty was awarded.
The Kerry full-forward picked herself up off the ground to beat the visiting custodian with a low spot-kick to the keeper's right and, despite Prizeman's trojan work, a superb Anna Galvin point had the defending champions four up at the break at 2-05 to 0-07.
Kildare needed a boost early on the resumption, but Prizeman had a goalbound shot blocked on the line by Kerry captain Lynch, before Kerry, and O'Shea, pounced for green flag number three in the 39th minute to end the game as a contest.
Midfielder Galvin was the instigator, fetching a kick-out and sending a pinpoint delivery to O'Shea, who gave Hulgraine no mistake.
From there to the finish, the hosts were always in control, eventually cruising home by a 10-point margin to set up a last-four meeting with either Meath or Tipperary.
Scorers
Kerry: S O'Shea 3-2 (1-0pen, 0-1f), D O'Leary 0-4, R Dwyer, A Galvin, N Carmody, K Brosnan, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans 0-1 each.
Kildare: A Prizeman 0-7 (0-5fs), A Rattigan, G Wheeler, C Wheeler, R Byrne 0-1 each.
Kerry: ME Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, C Lynch; A O'Connell, E Costello, A Dillane; M O'Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody, N Ní Chonchúir, C Evans; R Dwyer, S O'Shea, D O'Leary. Subs: R Rahilly for Galvin (46), K Brosnan for Dwyer (46), F O'Donoghue for Kearney (51), K O'Connor for E Lynch (54), N Quinn for Carmody (58).
Kildare: M Hulgraine; R Sargent, L Lenehan, M Doherty; L Shaw, L Murtagh, M Aspel; L Reilly, C Moran; C Wheeler, A Rattigan, L Curran; G Wheeler, A Prizeman, R Byrne. Subs: M Ryan for Moran (37), A Mahon for Murtagh (41), E Dowling for Rattigan (48), S Galvin for G Wheeler (51), C Sullivan for Shaw (53).
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