Ladies football: Six goal Monaghan see off Kerry for semi-final spot

Monaghan 6-17 Kerry 1-16

Seven unanswered points coming up to half-time were the catalyst as Monaghan eased clear of Kerry the second half of their TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-final in St Brendan’s Park in Birr on Saturday.

Leading by four points at half-time, 1-10 to 0-9, Monaghan added another 2-3 before the Kingdom opened their second-half account, ensuring that they advance to a semi-final tie with holders Cork.

Early on, Kerry had made use of the wind at their backs as Sarah Houlihan, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Laura Rogers were among the points as they built a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. The Ulster champions drew level though when Laura McEneaney profited from good play by Mohan and McAnespie to score a lovely goal in the tenth minute, but points from Lorraine Scanlon and Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh had put Kerry 0-8 to 1-3 in front again.

They were left to rue a brilliant Cathriona McKenna save to deny Ní Mhuircheartaigh, however.

Monaghan managed to necklace together a series of well-taken scores, with Caoimhe Mohan beginning the run and Ciara McAnespie, Cora Courtney (two frees), a pair from Ellen McCarron and Mohan again had them five in front.

While Sarah Houlihan’s third point from Kerry did reduce the gap slightly before half-time, Monaghan’s start to the second half ensured that they were put in a commanding position. McCarron’s fourth from play was followed by Mohan’s third and then centre-back Sharon Courtney got forward well, a wonderful swivel giving her space before a super low finish to the corner.

Ciara McAnespie put 10 points between the teams before Therese Scott made Kerry’s task harder with the third Monaghan goal. Houlihan, substitute Anna Galvin and Rogers had three Kerry points in response but, after McCarron and Mohan pointed for Monaghan, the Munster runners-up lost midfielder Bernie Breen to a red card.

Wing-back Denise Hallissey did provide a glimmer of hope when her speculative effort crept in to reduce the deficit to eight points with as many minutes left while Ní Mhuircheartaigh went close, but Monaghan closed out the game well. Midfielder Eimear McAnespie scored a late goal after Cora Courtney's brilliant pass and her sister Ciara added a fine individual effort before setting up Rosemary Courtney for a sixth green flag.

By the end, they were 16-point winners, setting up the tie with Cork on September 3rd.

Cork 3-17 Cavan 1-3

Cork’s quest for a sixth successive title remains on track after a superior second-half performance saw off Cavan in Birr early on Saturday afternoon.

While Ephie Fitzgerald’s side, playing into a stiff breeze in the first half, fell behind to a Caitríona Smith goal inside 13 seconds, they responded to lead by a point at half-time. Goals soon after the restart from sub Rhona Ní Bhuachalla and then captain Ciara O’Sullivan put them in a commanding position, with Cavan struggling to make headway in the second period.

The Ulster runners-up competed very well in the first half, with some excellent defending frustrating Cork, who were short of their usually imperious standards. Cavan also benefited from the best possible start as Rosie Crowe gained possession from the throw-in and exchanged passes with captain Sinéad Greene. Though the latter’s shot was blocked, Smith was on hand to send home the rebound.

While it took Cork a while to get going - full-back Bríd Stack got forward to eventually open their account in the ninth minute - they were ahead by 0-4 to 1-0 when Áine O’Sullivan pointed on 13.

Neasa Byrd and Smith put Cavan in front again only for Finn and Stack to reply for Cork, but while Aisling Doonan levelled for the Breffni County on 25 minutes, Finn’s third had Cork 0-7 to 1-3 up going in at the break.

Ní Bhuchalla, a half-time substitute, made her presence felt by setting up a point for Annie Walsh and then she was there to send the loose ball home after Clodagh Doonan had made a great save to deny Ciara O'Sullivan following good work by Áine O'Sullivan.

Ciara O’Sullivan struck then, a marvellous individual goal with Doonan unlucky as she got a hand to the shot. From there, though, Cork were rampant as the points continued to come, with subs Orlagh Farmer, Hannah Looney and Eimear Scally all getting on the scoresheet too. Finn put a gloss on the scoreboard when she palmed home Ní Bhuachalla’s pass on 51, giving her a final tally of 1-4.