Mayo lead but Dubs still in hunt

Dublin 0-2 Mayo 0-4 - HT

Mick Bohan’s Dublin side are right in contention for the capital’s first ever ladies All-Ireland title as they are just two points behind three-times champions Mayo at half-time in Croke Park.

But they’ll need inspirational midfielder Angie McNally to repeat her semi-final run of five straight second half points to take the title.

Bohan’s charges had to wait just three minutes to gain the game’s first score through full-forward Karen Hopkins.

A slip by Mayo captain Helena Lohan on a greasy surface almost allowed Louise Kelly a shot at the westerners’ goal, but the prominent Mary Nevin dispatched Kelly’s offload over the bar.

The Connacht champions were struggling for possession but the physical presence of ’99 captain Diane O’Hora and three-time All-star Cora Staunton in the forward line allowed Michelle McGing slot over a neat right-footed score on 7 minutes.

Four placed balls had slipped wide off the boots of Staunton and Nevin before O’Hora muscled her way through to level at 0-2 apiece in the twelfth minute.

Just as she had done in their semi-final win over Galway, Staunton was markedly wayward with her first-half free taking, hitting her fifth wide by the midway point of the half.

O’Hora, the star of the first half, fired Mayo into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead before another mix-up in the Mayo defence saw keeper Denise Horan and skipper Lohan almost gift Dublin another goal chance.

Emma Mullins’ 26th minute point saw Mayo end the half’s scoring.