Dublin power past Cork to book All-Ireland semi-final spot

SEMI-FINAL BOOKED: Hannah Tyrell led the way for Dublin as they powered past Cork to book All-Ireland SFC final spot

All-Ireland Ladies SFC quarter-final: Dublin 3-15 Cork 0-7

Dublin powered into the 2025 TG4 All-Ireland LGFA SFC semi-finals following a dominant performance against Cork at Parnell Park on Saturday.

Inspired by Hannah Tyrrell’s 1-5 and Kate Sullivan’s 1-3, Paul Casey’s side issued a timely reminder why they will have a big say in the destination of this year’s Brendan Martin Cup.

Dominating from start to finish, the winners kicked 1-6 against the wind in the opening half and kept their opponents at arms length in the second.

As for Cork, Joe Carroll’s first season ended in disappointment albeit at the All-Ireland quarter-finals stage. At the outset, promotion from Division 2 was paramount and achieved with the minimum of fuss.

Yet, Cork could have little complaint after coming up short to a sharper and more physical Dublin team that will be favourites to overcome either Galway or Waterford in the All-Ireland semi-finals.

Kate Sullivan opened the scoring after four minutes as Dublin, with Hannah Tyrrell, playing deep in Carla Rowe’s absence, settled quickly.

Katie Quirke got the Rebels on the scoreboard via a free but Tyrrell restored the hosts’ lead within 60 seconds. The scores kept coming as Máire O’Callaghan levelled matters for a second time.

Tyrell’s influence continued to grow and the Dublin forward setup Chloe Darby for a well-worked point.

Playing against the wind, Hannah McGinnis became the Dubs’ fourth scorer prior to Dara Kiniry hauling down Kate Sullivan in the square. Tyrell coolly dispatched the resulting penalty to make it 1-4 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

Nicole Owens added another prior to Laura O’Mahony firing over a badly needed Cork score.

Dominating their own kick outs as well as the middle sector, Dublin finished the half five points ahead after Tyrrell (free) and Quirke swapped scores.

Another Quirke free reduced the deficit early in the second half before the same player added her fourth to leave a goal between the teams.

Stung into action, Dublin responded with Nicole Owens fisting over the bar and Kate Sullivan adding their eighth point. A rampant Dubs smelt blood as Sullivan and Tyrrell (free) made it 1-10 to 0-6 heading into the final quarter.

The irresistible Tyrrell took her tally to 1-4 before Niamh Hetherton also got her name on the Dublin scoresheet.

Cork were fortunate not to concede a second goal when Tyrrell failed to capitalise on a defensive error, scraping the crossbar via a delicate chip.

Another Hetheron effort preceded a Quirke free as the hosts comfortably saw out the remaining time. Late Kate Sullivan and Sinead Goldrick goals heaped further misery on Cork’s defence and wrapped up a superb Dublin display.

Scorers for Dublin: H Tyrrell 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 frees); K Sullivan 1-3; S Goldrick 1-0; N Owens, N Hetherton 0-2 each; C Darby, H McGinnis, L Grendon 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork: K Quirke 0-5 (0-3 frees); M O’Callaghan, L O’Mahony 0-1.

DUBLIN: A Shiels; J Tobin, L Caffrey (captain), N Crowley; S Goldrick, M Byrne, N Donlon; É O’Dowd, H McGinnis; N Owens, C Darby, S McIntyre; H Tyrrell, N Hetherton, K Sullivan.

Subs: C O’Connor for C Darby (38); O Nolan for N Owens (44); T McDonnell for S McIntyre (53); L Grendon for N Hetherton (56); H Leahy for N Crowley (58).

CORK: S Murphy; D Kiniry, S Leahy (captain), M Duggan; A Corcoran, S Cronin, R Corkery; M O’Callaghan, A Healy; A O’Mahony, L O’Mahony, E Cleary; Á Terry O’Sullivan, H Looney, K Quirke.

Subs: A Ring for R Corkery (21); K Horgan for D Kiniry (38); S McGoldrick for A Healy (44); L Hallihan for Á Terry O’Sullivan (44); A Ryan for M Duggan (58).

Referee: B Rice (Down).