Gaelic Games

Dublin see off Mayo challenge to set up final with Cork at Croke Park

Lidl Ladies NFL semi-final: No comeback for Mayo, while Donegal fall short against Cork

Niamh Kelly of Mayo in action against Leah Caffrey of Dublin during the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 semi-final match between Dublin and Mayo at LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick. Photograph: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Sun Jun 13 2021 - 21:53

Dublin will face Cork in the 2021 Lidl Ladies National Football League final at Croke Park on Saturday June 26th.

Dublin saw off Mayo's challenge at LIT Gaelic Grounds in Limerick by 4-15 to 0-10, while Cork emerged 5-10 to 3-13 winners over Donegal at Tuam Stadium.

Dublin led by 3-3 to 0-4 at the break thanks to goals from Niamh Hetherton, Jennifer Dunne and captain Sinéad Aherne.

Mayo were unable to get in for a goal which might have ignited a comeback, and the All-Ireland champions sealed an impressive win when Aherne slotted home a late penalty.

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It was a real goal feast in the other semi-final, with Cork shooting 2-2 in the opening four minutes, Bríd and Ciara O’Sullivan getting the goals.

But Donegal hit back and Kay Herron and Karen Guthrie found the net.

Maire O’Callaghan scored Cork’s third goal but Guthrie’s second of the match tied the sides at 3-5 apiece at the break.

Goals from Orla Finn and Sadhbh O'Leary pushed Cork into a strong position but Donegal kept battling away before coming up just short in the end.

Relegation

Meanwhile, Tipperary suffered relegation to Division 2 for the 2022 campaign, after losing out to Westmeath by 2-16 to 2-10 in the Division 1 relegation play-off in Banagher.

Westmeath led by 0-10 to 0-13 at the break but Tipperary rallied and goals from Róisín Howard and Angela McGuigan edged them in front in the second half.

But Westmeath finished strongly and secured their top-flight status with late goals from Lucy McCartan and Karen Hegarty.

Elsewhere, it’ll be Kerry against Meath in the Division 2 Final, which is also fixed for Croke Park on Saturday June 26th.

Kerry and Monaghan finished level at 1-8 apiece and were still deadlocked at 2-11 to Monaghan and 1-14 to Kerry at the end of extra-time before Danielle O’Leary secured a 4-3 win for Kerry in a shootout.

Meath and Cavan were level at 0-5 apiece at half-time, but Emma Duggan led the way after the restart as Meath pushed on for a 0-13 to 0-8 win.

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