DESPITE leaving it late to assert their superiority, Kerry can look forward with confidence to the Munster senior football final after crushing the Waterford challenge at Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Saturday evening.

After a whirlwind start, Kerry led by 1-7 to 0-4 at half-time, their goal came from a fifth minute penalty by Maurice Fitzgerald.

However, Waterford were doing well at midfield with Peter Queally in excellent form and Anthony Fitzgerald causing problems for the Kerry defence. Had Peter Ferncombe taken the goal opprtunity presented with 22 minutes left to play it would have narrowed the margin to just four points.

Instead, within the space of three minutes, Dara O Cinneide had two points and Fitzgerald got his second goal at the other end so it was suddenly all over.

Leading by 13 points with four minutes left Bingo O'Driscoll added Kerry's third goal to a stream of very well taken points by O Cinneide, Eamonn Breen and Liam Hassett.