Kerry’s ability for the find the back of the net at vital stages was the difference between these two sides in Croke Park on Saturday afternoon. The Kingdom hit three first half goals to set up their win and book their passage to the All Ireland final in a fortnights time.
Mayo were warned by Kerry early doors that they were going to go for goals, when Danielle O’Leary got in behind their defence and forced Aisling Tarpey into a smart save with just 30 seconds gone on the clock.
Michael Moyles side registers the first score of the day thank to a Shauna Howley free three minutes in, but Kerry hit back with their first goal fo the day two minutes later when Aishling O’Connell was picked out by a brilliant pass from Niamh Carmody. She took on Fiona McHale who did her best to stop the Kerry player but O’Connell’s shot ricocheted off McHale and past Tarpey to the back of the net.
Kerry pushed further ahead though points from Emma Costello and Louise Ní Mhuirchertaigh before Mayo got their second point of the day from Ciara Whyte who let fly with a neat snap shot under pressure.
But Kerry rattled the back of Mayo’s net for a second time not long after when Síofra O’Shea palmed home form close range after being picked out by Cáit Lynch and that was quickly followed by a Carmody point to have Kerry leading 2-3 to 0-2 after 12 minutes.
Mayo were able to find a run of form and they reeled off four points on the bounce from Tara Needham, Lisa Cafferkey and a brace from Shanua Howley - before Louise Ní Mhuirchertaigh got in on the action again or Kerry. Howley got another great score for Mayo to cut the gap to 0-7 to 2-4 on the scoreboard and have Mayo right back in the game it looked - but Kerry were about to pounce for a third goal of the half.
The ball was worked to O’Shea who turned on the 14 meter line and unleashed a powerful low drive that escaped the dive of Tarpey. Danielle O’Leary tagged on anther point for Kerry not long after and they were seven clear with seven to go in the opening half.
Mayo brought the fight with them out of the dressing room at half time and tried to reel in Kerry’s lead. Aoife Geraghty, Shauna Howley and Tara Needham landed early scores to bring it back to a four point game early in the half.
But Kerry sharp shooter Louise Ní Mhuirchertaigh was on hand for her side to hit two quickfire points to ease the pressure and stop the Mayo push back. Geraghty did get another point for Mayo not long after Ní Mhuirchertaigh’s brace, but the Corca Dhuibhne ace responded again with a point.
Aishling O’Connell got up for a point to go with the goal she had scored in the first and and then Paris McCarthy netted after two Mayo players collided trying to work the ball out and it was 4-10 to 0-12 for Kerry and the game as done with the Kingdom leading by teen with a quarter-of-an-hour to go.
Scores
Mayo: Shauna Howley (0-4 ), Tara Needham (0-3 ), Sinéad Cafferkey (0-2 ), Aoife Geraghty (0-2 ), Lisa Cafferkey (0-1 ), Ciara Whyte (0-1 )
Kerry: Síofra O’Shea (2-0 ), Louise Ní Mhuirchertaigh (0-5 ), Aishling O’Connell (1-1 ), Paris McCarthy (1-0 ), Emma Costello (0-1 ), Cáit Lynch (0-1 ), Danielle O’Leary (0-1 ), Niamh Carmody (0-1 )
Mayo: Aisling Tarpey; Eilis Ronayne, Róisin Flynn, Danielle Caldwell; Tamara O’Connor, Fiona Michael, Kathryn Sullivan; Sinéad Cafferkey, Aoife Geraghty; Shauna Howley, Sinéad Walsh, Sarah Mulvihill; Lias Caffekey, Ciara Whyte, Tara Needham. Subs: Ciara Nyland, Lucy Wallace, Sorcha McCarney, Jenna Mortimer, Sherin El Massry,
Kerry: Ciara Butler; Julie O’Sullivan, Kayleigh Cronin, Eilís Lynch; Aishling O’Connell, Emma Costello, Ciara Murphy; Lorraine Scanlon, Cáit Lynch; Niamh Carmondy, Síofra O’Shea, Anna Galvin; Paris McCarthy, Danielle O’Leary, Louise Ní Mhuirchertaigh. Subs: Aoife Dillane, Erica Glynn, Niamh Ní Chonchúir, Niamh Broderick, Caomimhe Evans,
Ref: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow )
