Carla Rowe does the damage as Dublin see off Donegal challenge

Carla Rowe struck 2-3 as Dublin booked their place in the TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi final after Mick Bohan's charges saw off a spirited Donegal challenge, 2-12 to 2-7 to at Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada.

Dublin were on the back foot when Donegal got off to a dream start, but the reigning champions never panicked and after Rowe hit the first of two goals, Dublin dominated the remainder of the match.

Donegal were handed the perfect opening when Geraldine McLaughlin hit 1-2 inside the first three minutes. After converting a first-minute free, Donegal turned over the Dublin kick-out before an unmarked McLaughlin slipped the ball past Dublin goalkeeper Ciara Trant. McLaughlin added to her tally with a second free a minute later.

Despite those ideal few minutes Donegal couldn't built on their lead. While Dublin had to wait until the sixth minute before Hannah Tyrrell got the reigning champions' first score.

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Rowe converted a free to bring the gap back to three after 10 minutes, while Sinéad Aherne also grabbed a point, reducing the deficit to two.

Dublin were given a lifeline just before the water break when Rowe found the net. Lyndsey Davey provided the assist, before Rowe turned two defenders and clipped the ball past Aoife McColgan, which gave Dublin the lead for the first time.

A brace of points from Tyrrell and Davey pushed the Leinster side three ahead, while substitute Siobhan Killeen made it four with five minutes left in the half.

Without a score since their early salvo Donegal looked to be in trouble, but Katy Herron found the net at the end of a patient team move to close Dublin's lead to 1-6 to 2-2 at half time.

However, Dublin hit the ground running in the second half. Rowe converted a free while Killeen followed it up with a point from play a minute later.

And although McLaughlin added her third free of the contest to bring the gap back to three, Rowe grabbed her second goal to increase Dublin’s advantage after a quick free from Killeen created the chance.

Dublin continued to build on that advantage and Tyrrell added two quick scores, which opened up a seven-point gap.

McLaughlin's free taking kept Donegal in touch in the closing stages, but points from Davey and Rowe ensured Dublin progressed to a semi-final meeting with Mayo, who had overcome Galway 1-15 to 1-11 earlier on Monday.

Sinéad Cafferky fired 1-2 from midfield as Mayo advanced with a deserved victory over their Connacht rivals at MacHale Park. Mayo suffered an 11-point defeat to Armagh last weekend but bounced back impressively to cruise into the final four after they held a 1-10 to 0-5 lead at half-time.