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Rachel Corrigan and Donna Barry show their dejection at the final whistle in Páirc Tailteann. Ryan Byrne/INPHO
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Gemma Begley leads Tyrone charge past heartbroken Kildare

Begley scored 1-6 as the Ulster women moved into round two of the All-Ireland qualifiers.

Kildare 1-13

Tyrone 3-17

GEMMA BEGLEY LED the way with a haul of 1-6 as Tyrone eased into round 2 of the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies senior football championship qualifiers this evening.

Tyrone, who lost heavily to Armagh in the Ulster championship, kept their season alive with a ten-point victory over Kildare at Pairc Tailteann in Navan.

At half-time, Tyrone were 1-11 to 0-4 clear, with six players on the scoresheet in the first half.

Cara McCrossan scored the goal in the 23rd minute, opening up a 1-8 to 0-2 advantage for the 2010 All-Ireland finalists.

At that stage, Tyrone were dominant and Begley’s free, shortly after McCrossan’s goal, put them ten points clear.

Kildare responded with a brace of points from captain Maria Moolick but Tyrone landed the final two points of the opening half, Cathy Donnelly and captain Begley on target with scores from play.

Tara Halligan and Gemma Begley Begley [R] was a threat throughout for Tyrone. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Donnelly would finish with a personal haul of 0-4 and the St Macartan’s player was excellent throughout, with Neamh Woods driving Tyrone forward from centre back.

Emma Hegarty was another to shine and three points from play capped her hard-running display.

The one concern for Tyrone would be the fact that Kildare managed to punch holes in their defence, with the Lilywhites manufacturing 1-9 from play, including four points from Grace Clifford.

Goalkeeper Shannon Lynch pulled off a couple of fine saves in the second half but in truth, Tyrone were never unduly troubled in this game, after storming into an early 0-4 to 0-0 lead.

Hegarty took the game by the scruff of the neck from the off, landing the opening score of the game after 15 seconds.

Triona Duggan and Laura McGillion Kildare's Triona Duggan in pursuit of Laura McGillion of Tyrone. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

And with Tyrone’s towering number 8 Niamh O’Neill ruling the roost at midfield, the Red Hands dominated the crucial middle third, providing the platform for this morale-boosting win.

Elaine Dillon’s 36th minute goal briefly hinted at a Kildare revival and while they got to within six points through Aisling Holton, Tyrone were back in the driving seat when Alanna McShane netted.

Tyrone put the icing on the cake at the death when Begley stormed through for a well-taken goal.

Scorers for Kildare: E Dillon 1-3 (0-3f), G Clifford 0-4, A Holton 0-3 (1f), M Moolick 0-2, T Duggan 0-1.

Scorers for Tyrone: G Begley 1-6 (0-3f), Alanna McShane 1-1, C Donnelly 0-4, C McCrossan 1-0, N O’Neill (1f) & E Hegarty 0-3 each.

KILDARE: B McGuirk; M O’Reilly, K Lowry, D Tierney; R Corrigan, D Berry, T Halligan; P Keatley, A Holton; M Moolick, R Byrne, A Curly; G Clifford, T Duggan, E Dillon.

Subs: N Mulhall for Keatley (41), L Furey for Halligan (46), M McKenna for Dillon (52).

TYRONE: S Lynch; K Quinn, L McGillion, C Dooher; T McLaughlin, N Woods, Angie McShane; N O’Neill, G Rafferty; E Hegarty, B Begley, C Donnelly; A O’Kane, Alanna McShane, C McCrossan.

Sub: L Conwell for Rafferty (42).

Referee: E O’Hare (Down).

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