Dublin through to ladies' football final

Dublin qualified for their first TG4 All-Ireland Ladies SFC final since 2004 following a 2-14 to 1-15 win over Monaghan in a high-scoring encounter at St. Mary's, Ardee tonight.

The Metropolitans gave an outstanding second half display with a real team performance from defence right through to attack.

Sinead Ahern bagged 1-9 for the eventual winners, while Dublin defender Siobhan McGrath earned the player of the match award.

Monaghan began in determined fashion and really gave an excellent first half performance, ensuring a 1-9 to 1-6 interval lead.

The Farney County's only goal of the night arrived in the seventh minute, when Ellen McCarron's looping shot finished in the back of the net after a well-placed pass from Edel Byrne.

Byrne was one of Monaghan's best players in the opening half, as her side blazed a trail early on to ensure a 1-9 to 0-4 advantage by the 24th minute.

However, Dublin finished strongly with a Lyndsey Davey goal cutting the gap to three points for half-time, after Davey slotted to the net following an Amy McGuinness pass.

Monaghan rallied on the restart, but Dublin failed to lie down and a goal from Ahern with 18 minutes left on the clock pushed her side back into contention.

Ahern put in a superb display in the closing 10 minutes - landing four unanswered points - as Monaghan failed to quell an eager Dublin attack and the Leinster champions held on for victory.

Meanwhile, Fermanagh claimed a 2-11 to 1-10 win over Longford to ensure a place in the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate final against Clare at Croke Park.