Kildare champions Sarsfields could hardly have hoped for an easier passage to the Leinster club SFC semi-final at Newbridge yesterday.

They turned on the power in the second half to defeat Meath side Dunboyne. They had to make do yesterday without long-term injury victim Brendan Reilly and Meath centre back Enda McManus. Despite this they performed reasonably well during the opening half.

Both sides started hesitantly before corner forward Niall McKenna got the opening score for Dunboyne.

Liam Brennan quickly levelled for Sarsfields, establishing the pattern for an evenly contested opening half. The sides were level again when Buckley pointed after Nigel Crawford had edged the Meath side in front.

There was little between the sides in the first half although Sarsfields pulled clear with a couple of late points to lead by 0-5 to 0-3 at half time.

With Dermot Earley and John Whelan on top in midfield Sarfields took control in the second half. They led by four points when Padraic Brennan pointed a free and Niall Buckley scored from play.

Ken Gannon's point lifted Dunboyne spirits briefly but Sarsfields pulled clear again.

Andy McEntee added a point for Dunboyne before the only goal of the game from Sarsfields' Brian Moylan with 10 minutes remaining ended the game as a contest.

SARSFIELDS: K Nolan; J O'Malley, T Gorman, M McIntyre; N Hedderman, L Sex, B Moylan (1-0); Dermot Earley (0-2), J Whelan (0-1); P Brennan (0-5), N Buckley (0-4), E Donoghue (0-1); K Horgan, David Earley, L Brennan, (0-1). Subs: B Nolan (0-1) for Horgan, R Cunningham (0-1) for Donoghue.

DUNBOYNE: I Hughes; J Ryan, L Duggan, V Maguire; P Watters, D Reilly, Denis Gallagher; N Crawford (0-1), T Byrne; A McEntee (0-1), David Gallagher, K Gannon (0-3); N McKenna (0-1), N Reilly, D Smyth. Sub: M Ryan for McEntee

Referee: J Bannon (Longford)