Munster Senior Championship wrap: Kerry into decider

Kerry 1-14 Cork 1-10

Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh struck for 1-04 and Danielle O'Leary notched 0-04 as Kerry beat Cork 1-14 to 1-10 to seal their place in the TG4 Munster Senior Championship final.

Tipperary’s 4-05 to 0-11 victory over Waterford means that the winners of Cork v Tipperary next Saturday in Mallow will decide who joins Kerry in the final.

The sides exchanged early scores through Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh and Daire Kiely.

Cork, playing with the aid of a stiff breeze then hit two points on the trot with the dangerous Lydia McDonagh pointing her own free and Abigail with one from play in the ninth minute.

Kerry threatened the Cork goal but overcooked the final pass before Anna Galvin hit a fine score following a strong Aishling O’Connell run at the heart of the Cork defence.

Lydia McDonagh took on the Kerry defence and slotted a fine score but then it was Kerry’s turn to finally make some headway with Niamh Carmody splitting the posts and Ní Mhuircheartaigh blasting over after Danielle O’Leary did the spadework.

The sides were now level at 0-04 apiece with 20 minutes played and Kerry started to take a stranglehold on the contest. A scorching run from Mary O’Connell saw the final pass overcooked once more before Danielle O’Leary and the brilliant Lydia McDonagh exchanged score.

O’Leary pointed once more for Kerry in the 27th minute and a minute later Ní Mhuircheartaigh struck for Kerry’s goal after a brilliant through pass from Carmody to put Kerry 1-06 to 0-05 ahead.

Cork refused to lie down and Eilis Lynch was forced into a brilliant goal line clearance from Lydia McDonagh although Sadhbh McGoldrick did point the rebound from range.

Lydia McDonagh added a free for Cork at the death and it was Kerry that took a slender