Cork ladies to face Kerry in All-Ireland semi-final

TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football champions Cork will face Kerry in the semi-finals of the 2013 competition.

In a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final, the Munster rivals will face off for the third time this summer.

Next Saturday (August 31), Ulster champions Monaghan will face Connacht standard-bearers Galway in the first of the TG4 All-Ireland semi-finals, with the Munster derby scheduled for a week later (September 7).

Kerry defeated Cork twice in this year’s provincial championship but the Leesiders produced one of their greatest ever second half displays in Birr on Saturday afternoon to clinch a 1-19 to 2-12 win.

Dublin looked on course for a landmark victory over Cork in the second half as they led by 2-12 to 0-9.

But after Sinead Aherne popped over a point to put the Sky Blues nine points in front, they would not score again for the remainder of the game.

Instead, All-Ireland champions Cork ran riot with a run of 1-10 without reply in the final twenty minutes to clinch a sensational four-point win.

There was also high drama in the first game of a double-header at St Brendan’s Park.

Kerry needed three late points to earn a 2-14 to 2-13 victory against a Mayo side inspired by Cora Staunton.

The ace forward scored 1-9 for Mayo, a tally matched by Kerry's Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, in a memorable tie.

With less than ten minutes remaining, 2-1 pre match outsiders Mayo were on course for victory as they led by 2-13 to 2-11.

But scores from player of the match Ní Mhuircheartaigh, impressive sub Margaret Fitzgerald and Louise Galvin snatched victory for the Munster champions.