Kildare will face London in this year's Christy Ring Cup final after they finished with eight points to spare over Derry in today's semi-final at Inniskeen.

Two second-half Jack Sheridan goals helped to lay the foundations for the Lilywhites' 3-18 to 2-13 success.

Martin Fitzgerald raised a green flag for the winners in the opening period and the sides went in at the break all square - Kildare 1-9, Derry 2-6.

Brendan Rogers and Se McGuigan goaled for Colm McGurk's side but Joe Quaid's Kildare upped the ante after the break and proceeded to outscore their opponents by 2-9 to 0-7.

Goalkeeper Paddy McKenna was in top form for the winners and made a number of vital saves to keep Derry at bay.

McKenna and his team-mates now have a trip to Croke Park to look forward to on June 23.

Kildare - Paddy McKenna; Cian Forde, John Doran, Paul Sullivan; Eanna O'Neill, Mark Moloney (0-1), Mark Grace (0-1); Niall O'Muineacháin (0-1), Barry Cormack (0-5, 5f); Brian Byrne (0-1), Paul Divilly (0-1), Kevin Whelan (0-1); Shane Ryan (0-2), Martin Fitzgerald (1-1), Jack Sheridan (2-0). Subs: James Burke (0-4, 2f) for Cormack (HT), Bernard Deay for Whelan (56), Mark Delaney for Sheridan (67), Chris Bonus for Divilly (71).

Derry - Ruairi Convery; Paul Cleary (0-1), Sean Cassidy, Liam Óg Hinphey; Oisin McCloskey, Chrissy McKaigue, Eamonn McGill; Mark McGuigan, Cian Waldron (0-1); Cormac O'Doherty (0-6, 5f), Mehaul McGrath, Gerard Bradley (0-2); Brendan Rogers (1-1), Sé McGuigan (1-2), Brian Cassidy. Subs: Alan Grant for McCloskey (41mins), Aodhan O'Donnell for Cassidy (44), Darragh Cartin for Cleary (56), Naoise Waldron for Cian Waldron (59).

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