Galway 1-7
Kerry 1-13

JASON BYRNE IN BIRR

KERRY breezed into the All-Ireland ladies football final as they ruthlessly disposed of Galway’s challenge in Birr on Saturday to set up a final clash with either Cork or Monaghan.

With Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Sarah Houlihan sending over five points each for William O’Sullivan’s charges, Kerry looked much the better side from earlly on; defending in numbers and attacking in waves, and making Galway pay for their decision to go short from kick-outs.

In the build-up to the clash, Galway manager Gabriel Naughton made two late tactical changes to his forwards, with Deirdre Brennan and
Eilish Gannon both withdrawn in favour of Lorna Joyce
and Gillian O’Connor respectively.

The opening half was score for score with the Kingdom, playing against the wind, first to register on the scoreboard thanks to Lorraine Scanlon, but late inclusion O’Connor quickly hit Galway’s reply.

Kerry were defending and attacking in numbers, and Deridre Corridan gave them the edge once more before Lorna Joyce replied for Galway, just after Edel Concannon missed a gilt-edged goal chance for Galway by sending her low shot just wide with the net at her mercy.

Kerry ace Ni Mhuircheartaigh opened her account from a free to make it 0-3 0-2, but once again Galway hit back within minutes as Concannon tapped over from the placed ball herself to square the game.

Ni Mhuircheartaigh was causing Galway all sorts of problems and gave Kerry the edge again, before Concannon notched another free and, at this stage, the Kingdom had clocked up five scorable wides with Ni Mhuircheartaigh and Deirdre Corridan the guilty parties.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.