Kerry and Galway Ladies' Football Triumph to Set Up TG4 All-Ireland Final Clash

Kerry and Galway have advanced to the TG4 All-Ireland final, setting the stage for an exciting showdown in Croke Park.

Galway overcame Cork on Saturday, 20 July, to secure a spot in the finals. Galway forward Róisín Leonard expressed her excitement as both the ladies’ and men’s teams reached the All-Ireland finals for the first time in the same year.

“We’ll jump on the buzz of the boys and hopefully everyone can bring home some silverware,” Leonard said. "It’s a credit to all the girls here. They fought tooth and nail for everything out on the pitch today and I think, in fairness, we were the better team."

Galway will be making their fifth appearance in the TG4 All-Ireland final, seeking their first title since 2004. Leonard's impressive 1-5 tally, including a crucial penalty, was pivotal in Galway's 2-7 to 0-10 win over Cork.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Galway capitalized with goals from Leonard and captain Ailbhe Davoren, leading 2-4 to 0-5 at the break. Cork's Katie Quirke fought valiantly, scoring 0-7, but Galway's experience and clinical finishing secured their victory. Cork manager Shane Ronayne acknowledged the progress made by his young team but admitted that Galway’s experience was a deciding factor.

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Ronayne said: “Galway got in and stuck their goal. I just thought we played with a bit of fear. There are a lot of young players out there playing their first All-Ireland semi-final and I think Galway’s experience shone through there. We didn’t create the goal chances we had been in previous games. When you look back on it, considering everyone we have lost and everything, I think it’s very disappointing but overall a lot of progress is being made with the girls that are there. It’s just disappointing, we probably put in our worst performance since the National League. Hats off to Galway. They were very clinical in their chances, knew what they were doing and set up very well. Fair play to them.”

Scorers:

Galway: R Leonard 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-3f), A Davoren 1-0, O Divilly 0-2 (2f).
Cork: K Quirke 0-7 (4f), E Cleary, L O’Mahony, A McAuliffe 0-1 each.

Kerry’s joint manager, Declan Quill, praised his team’s experience as the decisive factor in their 1-8 to 0-8 victory over Armagh. This will be Kerry’s third consecutive final appearance, as they aim to lift the Brendan Martin Cup for the first time since 1993.

“I think we just used all our experience. This is a very experienced bunch, it’s their third All-Ireland final in-a-row going to now. We’ve been in Croke Park a few times with Division 2 and Division 1 titles. They used all their experience in the second half. Just cool heads and bringing on the likes of Lorraine Scanlon there and Hannah O’Donoghue, it just really drove it home,” Quill said.

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“It’s going to make for one great final. There’s nothing between the teams. There is a massive scramble in Galway for tickets for the men’s final and I’m sure it will be the same for the ladies.

“They always bring great support. We’ve no men’s final to go to, so I hope that the Kerry public will get behind the ladies and turn up in huge numbers for the All-Ireland final.”

Niamh Ní Chonchúir’s 16th-minute goal at Glenisk O’Connor Park shifted the momentum in Kerry’s favour. Despite a strong start from Armagh, with points from Eva Lavery, Blaithin Mackin, and Dearbhla Coleman, Kerry’s defense and strategic substitutions helped them maintain their lead. At halftime, Kerry led 1-7 to 0-5 and held off Armagh’s rally in the second half.

Scorers:

Kerry: 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: E Lavery 0-2, B Mackin 0-2 (1f), D Coleman, N Coleman, N Henderson 0-1 each.

As Kerry and Galway prepare to face each other in the final on 4 August, both teams bring their unique strengths and experiences to what promises to be an enthralling contest for the coveted Brendan Martin Cup.