A strong finish from Kilmacud Crokes saw them fend off a stiff Padraig Pearses challenge to qualify for the All-Ireland Club SFC final.

The Stillorgan-based outfit deservedly got the better of the Roscommon champions by 1-11 to 0-8 at Kingspan Breffni this evening and their reward is a decider date with Kilcoo at Croke Park on February 12.

Aided by Craig Dias' 7th minute goal and a man-of-the-match display from Rory O'Carroll, Robbie Brennan's charges made light work of the absence of talisman Paul Mannion by reeling off the last five points of the contest.

Cian O'Connor (2), Dias, Conor Casey and Anthony Quinn all split the post for the winners during a dominant ten-minute spell down the home stretch.

Kilmacud Crokes' Shane Cunningham shakes hands with Mark Richardson of Padraig Pearses. ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo.

Niall Daly hit the opening point of the game for Pat Flanagan's Pearses, but moments later midfielder Dias went right through the heart of their defence to raise the game's only green flag after a superb team move.

At half-time, it was Crokes who led 1-3 to 0-3 and the interval break was marred as a row broke out in the tunnel with players and backroom personnel getting stuck into each other.

Pearses resumed with two quick points from Hubert Darcy and Paul Carey but were found wanting when push came to shove in the closing stages.

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