Gaelic Games

Síofra O’Shea’s double helps goal-hungry Kerry return to All-Ireland final for first time in 10 years

Aishling O’Connell and Paris McCarthy also find the net as Kingdom blitz Mayo at Croke Park

Kerry's Emma Costello is challenged by Shauna Ennis of Mayo during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final at Croke Park. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Kerry's Emma Costello is challenged by Shauna Ennis of Mayo during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship semi-final at Croke Park. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Daire Walsh
Sat Jul 16 2022 - 16:04

Kerry 4-10 Mayo 0-13

Síofra O’Shea grabbed two goals and Kerry turned on the style against Mayo at Croke Park to book their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final for the first time since 2012.

Aishling O’Connell and Paris McCarthy were also among the goals as the Kingdom backed up their impressive quarter-final success over Armagh with a commanding performance. The evergreen Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was also in outstanding form for the victors, scoring 0-5, all from play.

After Shauna Howley edged Mayo in front with a pointed free, Kerry announced their arrival in the contest when wing back O’Connell floated a deflected effort beyond the reach of goalkeeper Aisling Tarpey for a sixth-minute goal.

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Mayo full forward Ciara Whyte responded to back-to-back points from Emma Costello and Ní Mhuircheartaigh, before Kerry rattled the net for a second time on 11 minutes, when O’Shea palmed to the net off of a Cáit Lynch pass.

Although the confident Munster outfit extended their lead through Niamh Carmody, Mayo came storming into contention with unanswered points by Tara Needham, Lisa Cafferky and Howley (two). Mayo remained in the frame as a result of traded scores between Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Sarah Mulvihill, but Kerry reinforced their authority when O’Shea fired home her second goal of the half in the 21st minute.

Further points followed for the Kingdom from Danielle O’Leary and Lynch, and while midfielder Sinead Cafferky posted a fine score for Mayo, it couldn’t prevent their opponents from bringing a convincing 3-6 to 0-8 cushion into the interval.

Three points without reply from Aoife Geraghty, Howley and Needham initially gave Michael Moyles’s Connacht outfit cause for optimism, but a 0-3 haul by Corca Dhuibhne sharpshooter Ní Mhuircheartaigh kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Kingdom.

Despite the determined Geraghty adding her second score of the third-quarter, Mayo suffered a further setback when McCarthy added Kerry’s fourth goal on 43 minutes.

Even though this proved to be their final score, the fact Mayo could only muster a point from Sinead Cafferky inside the closing quarter ensured Kerry weren’t to be denied a spot in the forthcoming showpiece.

KERRY: C Butler; J O’Sullivan, K Cronin, E Lynch; A O’Connell (1-1), E Costello (0-1), C Murphy; L Scanlon, C Lynch (0-1); N Carmody (0-1), S O’Shea (2-0), A Galvin; P McCarthy (1-0), D O’Leary (0-1), L Ní Mhuircheartaigh (0-5).

Subs: A Dillane for O’Sullivan (30 mins), E McGlynn for McCarthy (45), N Ni Chonchuir for O’Leary (52), N Broderick for Murphy (54), C Evans for Carmody (56).

MAYO: A Tarpey; É Ronayne, R Flynn, D Caldwell; T O’Connor, F McHale, K Sullivan; S Cafferky (0-2), A Geraghty (0-2); S Howley (0-4, two frees), S Walsh, S Mulvihill (0-1); L Cafferky (0-1), C Whyte (0-1), T Needham (0-2).

Subs: C Nyland for Mulvihill (30 mins), L Wallace for Sullivan (47), S McCarney for Whyte (52), J Mortimer for McHale, S El Massry for Ronayne (both 56).

Referee: Jonathan Murphy (Carlow).