Kerry end 31-year wait for All-Ireland title with victory over Galway

It was the Kingdom's third consecutive year reaching the decider.

Kerry captain Niamh Carmody lifts the Brendan Martin cup after the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Senior Championship final match between Galway and Kerry at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

All-Ireland Senior Ladies Football Championship final: Kerry 3-14 Galway 0-11

Kerry balmed the wounds of their All-Ireland final defeats the past two years with a convincing victory over Galway in Croke Park this evening.

Those heart-wrenching losses to Meath and Dublin were truly consigned to the past with this comprehensive victory to seal the county’s first senior All-Ireland since 1993.

For star player Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh, it was a crowning achievement and she contributed six points as well as assisting substitute Hannah O’Donoghue for Kerry’s second goal.

That 45th minute goal, which marked O’Donoghue’s first play, sent Kerry into an 11-point lead and their supporters in the 30,340 crowd could begin to celebrate. Galway’s day became longer when captain Ailbhe Davoren was yellow carded and sent to the sin bin a minute later. Ní Mhuircheartaigh was provider for O’Donoghue for a point and the margin grew to 12.

Galway could only play for pride and despite the numerical disadvantage cut the gap to 10 points only for O’Donoghue to bring her tally to 1-2 and another substitute Lorraine Scanlon to point.

Kerry’s joint managers Darragh Long and Declan Quill were hugging replaced players with joy long before the final whistle and who could blame them after the pain suffered by the group the past couple of seasons.

Emma Dineen capped a splendid outing with a 55th minute goal as the thrilling O’Donoghue turned provider. Soon after, Ní Mhuircheartaigh was called ashore to a rapturous ovation from the Kerry following in the Hogan Stand.

Kerry's Aoife Dillane celebrates after scoring her side's first goal of the match with Ciara Murphy. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher

Leading by five points, Kerry were in complete control of the game when they hit Galway for a goal on the cusp of half-time. Their deft hand-passes had been a hallmark of their first-half performance and a timely transfer by Aishling O’Connell to fellow back Aoife Dillane sent her through for a shot.

The strike in the third minute of additional time may have been a point attempt but it was good enough to foil Galway goalkeeper Dearbhla Gower and propel Kerry into an unassailable eight-point lead, 1-8 to 0-3.

Five minutes earlier, Galway had managed to convert just their third point, bridging a gap of 19 minutes to their previous score. In between, they kicked three wides and dropped a couple of efforts short.

Kerry’s discipline in shape was frustrating them and with no Galway forward seemingly confident enough to kick off their left Kerry were happy to allow them come in from their left corner.

Kerry themselves went 10 minutes without scoring between the seventh and 17th minutes but when Ní Mhuircheartaigh bridged that gap she didn’t keep scoring.

Two frees followed her first, which came after Jonathan Murphy played good advantage. The excellent Dineen won the first placed ball and a gorgeous Siofa O’Shea pass over the top to Aishling O’Connell forced Niamh Divilly into fouling the Kerry defender.

Danielle O’Leary’s swift pass set up Ní Mhuircheartaigh for her fourth point in the 23rd minute and she added a fifth when O’Shea was fouled after sending another lovely pass into Dineen.

Kerry had begun with purpose, going into a 0-3 to 0-1 by the seventh minute. Niamh Carmody and Dineen split the Hill 16 posts either side of a Róisin Leonard converted free at the other end.

Ní Mhuircheartaigh’s first effort at a point was a sixth minute free that dropped short but Galvin compensated for it with a fine kick from distance seconds later. Olivia Divilly brought Galway within a point in the ninth minute but Kerry’s purple patch followed and when Dillane landed her goal Galway’s task became insurmountable.

Scorers for Kerry: L. Ní Mhuircheartaigh (0-6, 4 frees); H. O’Donoghue, E. Dineen (1-2 each); A. Dillane (1-0); N. Carmody, A. Galvin, M. O’Connell, L. Scanlon (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: O. Divilly (0-4, 2 frees); R. Leonard (0-3, 2 frees); N. Divilly, A. Trill, C. Cooney, S. Hynes (0-1 each).

KERRY: C. Butler; E. Lynch, K. Cronin, A. Dillane; A. O’Connell, D. Kearney, C. Murphy; M. O’Connell, A. Galvin; N. Carmody (c), S. O’Shea, N. Ní Chonchúir; D. O’Leary, E. Dineen, L. Ní Mhuircheartaigh.

Subs for Kerry: H. O’Donohue for N. Ní Chonchúir (43); L. Scanlon for D. Kearney (48); K. Brosnan for N. Carmody (52); C. Lynch for A. Dillane (53); K. O’Sullivan for L. Ní Mhuirtcheartaigh (56).

GALWAY: D. Gower; M. Jordan, S. Lynch, K. Geraghty; C. Cooney, N. Ward, A. Ní Cheallaigh; M. Glynn, A. Davoren (c); N. Divilly, L. Ward, O. Divilly; E. Reaney, L. Coen, R. Leonard.

Subs for Galway: A. Trill for E. Reaney (26); E. Galvin for A. Ní Cheallaigh, M. Banek for M. Jordan (both 38); S. Hynes for M. Glynn (46); A. Morrissey for N. Divilly (48).

Referee: J. Murphy (Carlow).