Goals help Donegal past brave Kingdom
TWO goals just before the break from Geraldine McLaughlin and Katy Herron were decisive as Donegal beat Kerry by 2-13 to 2-09 to book a TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final meeting with champions Dublin at Tuam Stadium.
Kerry battled bravely to get back after trailing by 2-6 to 0-7 at the interval and they must now regroup for a relegation play-off against Tipperary.
Kerry led by 0-7 to 0-4 after 21 minutes, helped by three magnificent scores from Hannah O’Donoghue, but Donegal took control as Niamh McLaughlin fired over after a patient buildup and then they hit front as Geraldine McLaughlin’s left footed effort as she was falling found the net.
It could have been so much different though, as Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh one-on-one with keeper Aoife McColgan rattled off the crossbar and Mary O’Connell’s follow-up effort went high and wide.
Donegal regrouped and ruthlessly punished Kerry as former AFLW star Katy Herron wiggled her way through the Kingdom’s blanket defence to finish past Ciara Butler. McLaughlin then tagged on a free as Maxi Curran’s charges led 2-6 to 0-7 at the half-time break.
McLaughlin pushed Donegal for victory after the restart as the Termon club player kicked three brilliant points, the pick of them coming from a very tight angle as the Ulster side led by seven after 36 minutes.
However, Kerry didn’t give up as sub Anna Galvin found Ní Mhuircheartaigh and she turned her marker and shot into the bottom left corner. Donegal responded and McLaughlin again pointed after mopping up the rebound from Butler’s save on Herron’s shot on goal.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh kicked a free while Niamh Hegarty answered with a good score until Kerry struck their second goal as Aisling O’Connell’s long-range effort snuck in behind McColgan to cut the gap to 2-11 to 2-8 and ensure a nervy finish.
Ní Mhuircheartaigh narrowed the gap to two with a free but it was fitting that McLaughlin had the final say with two great scores to take her personal tally to 1-9 to set up a quarter-final clash next weekend against Dublin.
Aimee Mackin led the way with a haul of 3-6 as Armagh set up a TG4 All-Ireland SFC quarter-final date with Meath after an impressive 3-14 to 0-12 Group 1 victory over Mayo at Ballinamore.
Mayo, who had already qualified for the knockout stages, will face Galway in the quarterfinals next weekend.
Armagh led by 1-8 to 0-6 at the break after Mackin got in for her first goal after eight minutes after an earlier exchange of points between Rachel Kearns and Aoife McCoy.
Mackin followed up with a couple of points and Mayo goalkeeper Aisling Tarpey did well to deny Niamh Coleman a 14th minute goal. Mackin and Grace Kelly exchanged points for Armagh to lead by 1–4 to 0–2 at the first water break. Mayo came more into the game in the second quarter with Kelly getting two scores while Sarah Rowe and Sarah Howley added one each. But Armagh matched them through McCoy and Fionnuala McKenna, while Mackin landed two more points to lead by five at half time. Mack in wrapped up the issue in the third quarter when she completed her hattrick, finishing off a good move then slotting home a penalty to put the issue beyond doubt. Mayo lost Kearns and Sinéad Cafferky to the sin bin as Mackin, Reel and Mallon extended Armagh’s lead as they head into their quarter-final meeting against Meath on the back of this 11-point win.
Mayo will now need to regroup for their showdown with old rivals Galway next weekend.