Result: Kerry 3-14 Galway 0-11
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Afternoon all and welcome to our coverage of the 2024 All-Ireland senior ladies football championship final.
It’s Kerry against Galway in the pursuit of the Brendan Martin Cup, throw-in is 4.15pm.
For whoever takes the spoils today, it is going to represent a major breakthrough. Kerry must go back 31 years for their last senior title win and have suffered the agony of losing the last two finals.
Meath saw them off 3-10 to 1-7 in the 2022 decider, while Dublin defeated the Kingdom last year by 0-18 to 1-10.
Galway have endured a 20-year barren spell since their 2004 success. Their most recent final appearance came in 2019 when they lost out to Dublin.
Here are the teams named to start today’s game:
Galway
1. Dearbhla Gower (Kilmacud Crokes)
2. Maryanne Jordan (Caltra Cuans), 3. Sarah Ní Loingsigh (Naomh Anna Leitir Móir), 4. Kate Geraghty (Tuam Cortoon)
5. Aoife Ní Cheallaigh (Caltra Cuans), 6. Nicola Ward (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 7. Charlotte Cooney (Claregalway)
8. Mairéad Glynn (Dunmore McHales), 9. Ailbhe Davoren (Kilmacud Crokes — captain)
10. Olivia Divilly ((Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 11. Louise Ward (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 12. Niamh Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)
13. Emma Reaney (Caltra Cuans), 14. Leanne Coen (Corofin), 15. Róisín Leonard (Corofin).
Kerry
1. Ciara Butler (Castlegregory)
2. Eilís Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds) 3. Kayleigh Cronin (Dr Crokes) 4. Ciara Murphy (MKL Gaels)
5. Aishling O’Connell (Éire Óg) 6. Deirdre Kearney (Na Gaeil), 7. Aoife Dillane (Austin Stacks)
8. Mary O’Connell (Na Gaeil), 9, Anna Galvin (Southern Gaels)
10. Niamh Carmody (Finuge St Senans — captain), 11. Niamh Ní Chonchúir (Corca Dhuibhne, 12. Síofra O’Shea (Southern Gaels)
13. Danielle O’Leary (Rathmore), 14. Emma Dineen (Glenfesk), 15. Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh (Corca Dhuibhne).
Here the respective managers, Galway’s Daniel Moynihan and Kerry’s Declan Quill.
Kerry 0-1 Galway 0-0
3 mins – No mistake this time from Kerry as they get off the mark. A powerful run by captain Niamh Carmody is capped off with a score off her left.
Kerry 0-2 Galway 0-1
4 mins – Roisín Leonard nails her kick from a free to tie the teams with a Galway point, but Kerry quickly counter and go back in front courtesy of Emma Dineen.
Kerry 0-3 Galway 0-1
8 mins – Kerry turn Galway over as they try to break from defence, hold their composure and the move is capped off by Anna Galvin firing over a nice point into Hill 16. Louise Ní Muircheartaigh’s free had earlier dropped short but Kerry still got a score from the attack to go two clear.
Kerry 0-3 Galway 0-2
9 mins – Olivia Divilly cuts the deficit Galway face to the bare minimum.
Kerry 0-4 Galway 0-2
16 mins - A few Galway attacks fail to yield a score and Kerry are more efficient as Ní Muircheartaigh cuts inside and rifles over a point off her left.
Kerry 0-5 Galway 0-2
17 mins - They may have lost the last two finals but Kerry have settled well here, Ní Muircheartaigh pointing a free to send them three clear.
Kerry 0-6 Galway 0-2
21 mins - Superb defence-splitting pass by Síofra O’Shea finds Anna Galvin who is fouled close to goal, Ní Muircheartaigh calmly taps over the resultant free. Four points ahead and Kerry in control of this one.
Kerry 0-7 Galway 0-2
22 mins - And now Ní Muircheartaigh bags a score from play, Kerry are five clear approaching half-time.
Kerry 0-8 Galway 0-2
25 mins - A sizeable gap is opening up now. Ní Muircheartaigh is handed the responsibility of another free and obliges with the score to extend Kerry’s advantage.
Kerry 0-8 Galway 0-3
27 mins - Galway desperately needed something to ignite their challenge, Roisín Leonard obliges with a score from play.
Goal for Kerry!
Half-Time: Kerry 1-8 Galway 0-3
A massive boost for Kerry before the break and a huge blow for a Galway team that were already struggling. Aoife Dillane’s left-foot shot flew over Dearbhla Gower in goal as she couldn’t adjust her feet to stop the ball looping in.
Suddenly there’s an eight-point gap at the break and Kerry are firmly in the driving seat.
Kerry 1-8 Galway 0-4
31 mins - It’s a bright start for Galway as Olivia Divilly points. They’ll need something special here for a comeback but that’s a positive.
Kerry 1-9 Galway 0-4
33 mins - But Kerry quickly hit back as Mary O’Connell points, moments after Ní Muircheartaigh had a great chance to increase her team’s advantage.
Kerry’s defensive play has been outstanding, consistently frustrating Galway with the players they get back in defence and their scrambling to cover.
Kerry 1-9 Galway 0-5
40 mins - More promising signs for Galway as they come close to finding the net but they do get a score a couple of minutes later, Niamh Divilly firing over from the right wing. Seven between them.
Kerry 1-10 Galway 0-5
41 mins - Kerry counter as Emma Dineen punches over a point. The reward could have been greater as a goal looked on due to Kerry’s move cutting the Galway rearguard apart, but they were content to take the point through Dineen.
Kerry 1-11 Galway 0-5
43 mins - And Ní Mhuircheartaigh taps over another free, confidently kicking over from outside the D, in a central position in front of goal. Kerry are nine clear and look to have weathered that mini-storm Galway produced since half-time.
Goal for Kerry!
Kerry 2-11 Galway 0-6
44 mins - Olivia Divilly converted a free to ensure Galway kept the scoreboard ticking over but then Kerry countered for a score that looks like sealing this final as we enter the final quarter.
Hannah O’Donoghue, moments after coming on to the field, surges through the central channel of the Galway defence and crashes home an unstoppable drive for Kerry’s second goal.
11 points between the teams and Kerry in total control here.
Kerry 2-12 Galway 0-6
49 mins - Hannah O’Donoghue taps over another point as Kerry bring on Lorraine Scanlon for Deirdre Kearney. Galway introduce Ailish Morrissey for Niamh Divilly.
Kerry 2-12 Galway 0-7
51 mins - Andrea Trill bags a point for Galway but it looks a consolation score at this stage.
Kerry 2-12 Galway 0-8
52 mins - Incisive break by Galway’s Charlotte Cooney and she caps off her strong run with an impressive point. Katie Brosnan in for Kerry for captain Niamh Carmody.
Kerry 2-13 Galway 0-8
53 mins - Brilliant catch from the Kerry kickout by Lorraine Scanlon, that sets in motion a team move that culminates in Hannah O’Donoghue racing clear to point. She’s hit 1-2 now since coming in off the bench in a brilliant showing.
Kerry 2-14 Galway 0-9
54 mins - And there’s another score for Kerry, Lorraine Scanlon on target. Cáit Lynch is in for Kerry for goalscorer Aoife Dillane. Roisín Leonard taps over a free for Galway.
Goal for Kerry!
Kerry 3-14 Galway 0-10
57 mins - That 31-year wait for All-Ireland senior glory is almost over for Kerry. A third goal arrives, Hannah O’Donoghue finding Emma Dineen, who sidesteps the Galway cover and taps home her shot.
Kate O’Sullivan in for Kerry for their star forward Ní Muircheartaigh who comes off to huge applause and is embraced by the Kerry management. Another Galway consolation score courtesy of Olivia Divilly.
Full-Time: Kerry 3-14 Galway 0-11
What a day for Kerry as they end their long wait since 1993 for the Brendan Martin Cup and they atone for the losses in the last two finals. A huge breakthrough for their squad.
A tough day at the office for Galway, their ladies side losing out by 12 points, a week after their male counterparts also lost at Croke Park.
But it’s Kerry’s a day after that dominant performance. They will celebrate their All-Ireland victory, we’ll be back later with a report and reaction from their success. Thanks for joining us today.
