Niamh Ní Chonchúir grabbed a 16th minute goal as Kerry advanced to a third consecutive TG4 All-Ireland final over Armagh.
Kerry scored a 1-8 to seven point victory over Armagh at Glenisk O’Connor Park writes Daire Walsh.
Five points to the good at the midway stage, the Kingdom did enough in a low-scoring second-half to seal their place in a top-tier championship decider alongside Galway.
During a lively start, Armagh popped over points via Eva Lavery (two), Blaithin Mackin and Dearbhla Coleman.
While Kerry attacker Siofra O’Shea added a score to compliment an earlier free from Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh. Niamh Henderson split the posts on the run to give the Ulster side a 0-5 to 0-2 cushion on the first-quarter mark.
Armagh captain Clodagh McCambridge was temporarily replaced with a blood injury, following a clash with Kerry’s Aishling O’Connell who was also forced off for a five-minute period.
In her absence Ní Chonchúir drilled a fierce strike past Armagh keeper Anna Carr, after an excellent move.
This added a spark to the Kerry challenge, with Danielle O’Leary, Ní Mhuircheartaigh (free) and the returning O’Connell finding the target to supplement a 0-2 salvo from skipper Niamh Carmody.
Kerry led 1-7 to five points at half-time. However, the Kingdom suffered a blow a little under two minutes before the interval. Carmody was sent to the sin-bin.
Even though their five-point cushion remained intact upon her re-emergence, Armagh added swift scores courtesy of Niamh Coleman and Mackin (free) to ramp up the pressure on Kerry.
Kerry in control
Kerry, bidding for their first TG4 All-Ireland crown since 1993, were able to maintain possession for large stretches of the play.
Indeed, it wasn’t until the 49th minute that Kerry got their second-half account up and running. A pointed free from centre-forward O’Leary.
Nonetheless, this established a four-point advantage for the 11-time winners. With Mackin receiving a 51st minute yellow card for a tackle on substitute Lorraine Scanlon; Kerry eased their way into another Brendan Martin Cup showpiece. Kerry will meet Galway in the final. After, Galway beat Cork in the first semi-final.
Kerry: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell (A Harrington 13-18), D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody (L Scanlon 49), D O’Leary, N Ní Chonchúir (K Brosnan 58); S O’Shea, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh (H O’Donoghue 46).
Scorers: N Ní Chonchúir 1-0, D O’Leary 0-2 (1f), N Carmody 0-2, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-2 (2f), A O’Connell, S O’Shea 0-1 each.
Armagh: A Carr; G Ferguson, C McCambridge (L Kenny 13-18), R Mulligan; C Towe, L McConville, D Coleman; N Coleman, C O’Hanlon (M Feehan 58); E Druse (L Kenny 54), A McCoy, B Mackin; E Lavery (K Mallon 38), N Henderson (N Reel 50), M McCambridge.
Scorers: E Lavery 0-2, B Mackin 0-2 (1f), D Coleman, N Coleman, N Henderson 0-1 each.
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway).
