Offaly and Cork battle through

Offaly and Cork cemented their places in the All-Ireland senior championship quarter-finals following play-off victories over Kilkenny and Tipperary respectively.

Elaine Dermody’s 48th minute goal broke the Kilkenny resistance as Offaly secured a 2-13 to 1-11 win in Birr.

The hosts had a great start with an Arlene Watkins’ goal after seven minutes but Kilkenny, led by Katie Power and Miriam Walsh, stormed back. Power goaled as the Cats led 1-6 to 1-5 at half-time. With Siobhán Flannery driving them on from midfield, Offaly edged in front. Then came Dermody’s goal which sucked the life from the Kilkenny challenge.

There was nothing like the same flow of scores or play in the clash of Cork and Tipperary in Ballincollig but it was all about the result for the Rebels.

Katrina Mackey’s first half goal was the key moment in the game, and with Jenny O’Leary adding three points it gave the home side a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead.

Nicole Walsh provided all Tipperary’s first half scores from frees and she added another brace after the resumption but Cork had the superior artillery up front although goalkeeper Aoife Murray was forced into making a couple of outstanding saves. The excellent Mackey brought her tally to 1-4 with three points from play. O’Leary and Orla Cotter were also on the mark as Cork advanced to the top six, 1-13 to 0-9.

Wexford and Galway await the winners of the two quarter-finals in the semi-finals.