By Patrick Sharkey in Croke Park,
Kerry’s 30-year All-Ireland football championship drought continues as Dublin defeated the two-in-a-row All-Ireland finalists with five points to spare in this LGFA All-Ireland SFC final.
In front of 45,326 at a sun-drenched Croke ParkStadium, Dublin was much stronger than their Kerry counterparts and first to the ball, but it was the kingdom who got their all-decisive goal ten minutes from time when starter Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, who was only on the field four minutes, raised the game’s only green flag.
Kerry still holds the impressive nine-a-row effort all the same.
Kerry made zero changes to their All-Ireland championship semi-final victory to Mayo two weeks ago, while Dublin remained unchanged from their 12-point defeat of Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final final two weeks ago.
It had been 13 days since that defeat of the Rebels, but Mike Bohan’s side showed no sign of rustiness and was quickest out of the traps. Kerry could have and should have, taken the lead inside two minutes, but Kerry ‘keeper Abby Sheils superbly saved a Louise Ní Muirteachearch shot on goal.
Three minutes later, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was denied a certain goal after linking up.
Tyrell did well to ease through the Kerry defence after collecting the ball from Caoimhe.
Points from play from the impressive Hannah Tyrell and Orlagh Nolan gave Dublin a well-deserved lead inside seven minutes.
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh kicked over Kerry’s first point of the afternoon in the ninth minute.
The point of the game came just shy of the 13th-minute mark. A tightly marked Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, in almost no space, somehow managed to kick straight over the black spot.
Dublin responded well and points from Jodi Egan, Caoimhe O Connor, and a Hannah Tyrell free had Dublin five points ahead midway through the opening half.
Hannah Tyrell free put Dublin six points ahead by the 25th minute – 0-9 to 0-3 in favour.
However, after Tyrell got her sixth point of the game, the momentum really started to swing.
It could have been a lot worse for Quill’s women at the break, but Butler again denied Egan the opening goal of the game right on the verge of half-time – her third goal-saving chance.
Dublin extended their lead to six after the restart with Rowe and Niamh Heffertom pointing.
Kerry was in search of that all-important goal at this stage and Leah Caffery did superbly.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh had yet another goal-scoring chance just minutes later but Dublin cornerback Leah Caffery blocked on the line.
Just seconds after Butler made her fourth goal chance save of the afternoon, Aishling O’Connell pointed to narrow the deficit to eight points, but Kerry got their goal five minutes from time – the impressive O’Shea laid off to Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh before the starter drilled low into the Dublin net putting Quill’s charges five points down – 0-17 to 1-10.
Both sides then exchanged a point but that was enough for Brendan Martin to remain in the capital city.
Dublin scorers: Hannah Tyrell (0-5, 0-2f) Orlagh Nolan (0-1), Jennifer Dunne (0-1), Caoimhe O Connor (0-1), Jodi Egan (0-1), Carla Rowe (0-3, 0-1f) Kate Sullivan (0-1) Niamh Hefferton (0-1), Jenifer Dunne (0-1)
Kerry scorers: Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (1-4, 0-4f), Naimh Camody (0-2), Aishling O’Connell (0-1)
Kerry Substitutes: Mary O Conell for Louise Galvin half time. Mamy Harrington for Niamh Ní Chonchuir 47 minutes. Siofra O’Shea for Hannah O’Donnoghue 41 minutes.
Dublin Substitutes: Anna Kane for Niamh Hefferton 42 minutes. Sineád Aherne for Kate Sullivan 55 minutes. Danielle Gibben for Ellen Lawless 60 minutes.
GAA Zone 