HOLDERS CORK WILL meet Dublin in the final of the Tesco Homegrown Ladies National Football League Division 1 final after both recorded wins in Sunday’s semi-finals.
The Rebels will be looking to win an eighth league title in 10 years after they overcame Kerry by 3-13 to 3-8 at the grounds of Limerick club Dromcollogher/Broadford.
At Dunleer, Co. Louth, Dublin maintained their unbeaten record in this year’s campaign to reach a first Division 1 final as they beat Monaghan by 4-15 to 1-20, despite a late fightback from the Farney Girls.
Cork got off to the best possible start as Orlagh Farmer scored a goal for them inside two minutes of the start and Geraldine O’Flynn kicked three frees as they moved 1-4 to 0-1 in front.
A pair of green flags from Kerry’s Denise Hallissey and Deirdre Corridon got them back in contention, however, and with half-time approaching they trailed by just a point, 1-7 to 2-3.
Emma Farmer’s 29th-minute penalty settled Cork again, however, and after Kerry star Bernie Breen was yellow-carded early in the second half, Farmer netted another spot-kick.
Another Hallissey goal ensured that Kerry stayed in touch, though, and while Cork sub Valerie Mulcahy missed their third penalty, they still managed to do enough to ensure their passage to the May 10 decider.
Lindsay Peat starred for Dublin as they ensured that the final will be a repeat of the 2009 All-Ireland, when Cork completed a five in a row.
Peat, also a top-class basketballer, scored 3-1 for the Sky Blues as they prevailed by four points. Her first, in the eighth minute, helped to open up a 1-5 to 0-1 lead for Gregory McGonigle’s side and though Monaghan did come back into it before half-time, Peat struck again to ensure that they turned with a 2-10 to 0-8 advantage.
Noelle Healy grabbed a third goal for the Dubs three minutes into the second half and Peat’s hat-trick shortly after that put them 15 ahead, 4-12 to 0-9.
Caitriona McConnell’s converted penalty underpinned a Monaghan resurrection, with Ciara McAnespie and Marion Shields scoring, but though they managed to get to within three points of their opponents, they could not overhaul them.
Galway recorded an impressive 3-21 to 0-11 win against Meath in their Division 2 semi-final. Their final opponents will be Westmeath, who beat Down by 2-16 to 2-9.
In Division 3, Armagh had an easy victory over troubled Tipperary as they hammered them by 9-15 to 0-2. They will face Waterford in the final after the Déise beat Leitrim by 3-14 to 1-13.
Results
TESCO Homegrown National Football League Division 1 semi-finals:
Dublin 4-15 Monaghan 1-20
Cork 3-13 Kerry 3-18
TESCO Homegrown National Football League Division 2 semi-finals:
Galway 3-21 Meath 0-11
Down L Westmeath L
TESCO Homegrown National Football League Division 3 semi-finals:
Waterford 3-14 Leitrim 1-13
Armagh 9-15 Tipperary 0-2
Information provided by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA).
