Kerry 2-9
Waterford 1-11

by Thomas Keane

Reigning TG4 All-Ireland champions Kerry qualified for the Munster final after a hard-earned win in Dungarvan when they were pushed all the way by Waterford.

The champions led 1-5 to 0-5 at the break, Rachel Dwyer’s 13th minute goal proving to be the difference between the sides at the interval.

The goal was a well worked team movement into the harbour end of the ground which saw Danielle O’Leary find Dwyer and she made no mistake in finishing past Katelyn Gardner in the Waterford goal.

Kerry struck for a second goal on 39 minutes, Siofra O’Shea flicking the ball to the net after she was picked out by Danielle O’Leary.

The visitors added to their lead after the restart with scores from Dwyer and the impressive Aoife Dillane, but Waterford were not giving up as they followed up with points from Kellyann Hogan, Chloe Fennell and Áine O’Neill by the 46th minute.

Lauren McGregor struck for a goal for Waterford following the restart following O’Neill’s score to leave just one point between the sides.

Hogan made it a one-point game on the hour mark when she put over from play and that lead was suddenly two points when O’Leary pointed at the other end.

Waterford did not give up and five minutes into stoppage time they won a free which was brought into a more favourable position, but Hogan saw her effort rise over the crossbar as the All-Ireland Champions drew players back to line the goal.

Scorers - Kerry: S O’Shea (0-2f), R Dwyer 1-2 each, D O’Leary 0-3, A Dillane 0-2. 

Waterford: K Hogan 0-6 (6f), L McGregor 1-1, C Fennell 0-2, C Walsh, Á O’Neill 0-1 each.

KERRY: ME Bolger; F O’Donoghue, D Kearney, E Lynch; A O’Connell, E Costello, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; C Evans, N Ní Chonchúir, N Carmody; D O’Leary, R Dwyer, S O’Shea. Subs: C Lynch for A Dillane (40), J Lucey for N Carmody (43), L Boyle for C Evans (55), K Brosnan for R Dwyer (58) R Rahilly for F O’Donoghue (64),

WATERFORD: K Gardiner; M Ryan, R Casey, C Murray; K McGrath, H Power, Á O’Neill; Á Power, E Power; C Fennell, K Hogan, L Ní Harta; K Murray, C Walsh, L McGregor. Subs: E Bolger for M Ryan (24), L O’Shea for C Walsh (43),

Referee: C McCarthy (Cork).

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