Sport

Dublin and Kerry take positive steps

WOMEN’S FOOTBALL: LEINSTER CHAMPIONS Dublin and Munster surprise packets Kerry advanced to the semi-finals of the TG4 All-Ireland…

Mon Aug 16 2010 - 01:00

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL:LEINSTER CHAMPIONS Dublin and Munster surprise packets Kerry advanced to the semi-finals of the TG4 All-Ireland women's senior football championship with hard-fought quarter-final victories in Banagher on Saturday.

Dublin, beaten All-Ireland finalists last year, had to dig really deep against this season’s Munster runners-up Clare before securing a 2-18 to 2-12 victory.

Earlier, Kerry continued their remarkable run through the back door as captain Bernie Breen inspired a narrow 2-9 to 1-11 victory against Connacht champions Galway.

Sínead Ahern scored 2-4 for Dublin and player of the match Elaine Kelly added 0-4 as they booked their place in the last four.

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At half-time, Dublin led by just a single point, 1-7 to 1-6, as the two sides traded first-half goals within two minutes of each other.

A minute before the break, Clare were rocked by Michelle Delaney’s sin-binning and that numerical advantage told for Dublin in the opening minutes of the second half as they reeled off five unanswered scores to move six points clear.

Clare, now 1-6 to 1-12 in arrears, hit back with two points before Dublin responded by raising three white flags in quick succession to move 1-15 to 1-8 in front.

Back came Clare with a fine goal from Niamh O’Dea in the 46th minute and two further points cut the gap back to just two points again.

With seven minutes remaining, Ahern wriggled clear of two defenders before sending a low shot into the bottom corner, a score that effectively clinched victory for Dublin.

Meanwhile, Kerry held on by just a single point in the end against Galway.

There were four penalties awarded by match referee Joe Murray in this game, three successfully converted, while Galway’s top scorer Una Carroll missed with 13 minutes remaining.

The sides were level twice in the early stages but by half-time, Kerry had established a 0-8 to 0-3 lead. Kerry assumed control in the 53rd minute when Mags O’Donoghue was successful again from the penalty spot.

Galway responded with points from Patricia Gleeson and Kara Mullins before Dora O’Gorman scored a last-minute penalty for the Tribeswomen, which cut Kerry’s winning margin to just a point.