Kindlon and co back in the final

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL Monaghan 2-16 Mayo 1-12 : MONAGHAN returned to the TG4 All-Ireland women's senior football final for the first time since 2002 after scoring a comfortable seven-point victory over Connacht champions Mayo at Páirc Tailteann on Saturday evening.

The Ulster champions produced a fantastic attacking performance, particularly in the second half, to see off the challenge of the westerners in Navan.

Player of the match Niamh Kindlon, full forward Edel Byrne and corner forward Ciara McAnespie were in brilliant form throughout for Monaghan, who will fancy their chances of securing a first All-Ireland title since 1997 when they meet Cork or Tyrone on September 28th.

Monaghan led 1-8 to 0-10 at half-time, but outclassed Mayo in the second half with a devastating display as last year's beaten finalists were restricted to just 1-2.

With some brilliant point-taking from both sides in the opening 17 minutes, they were level on five occasions before Byrne found the net nine minutes before the interval.

After she was hauled down by Mayo full back Helena Lohan, Byrne drilled the resultant penalty straight down the middle past Mayo goalkeeper Yvonne Byrne.

Monaghan could have been further ahead at the break but for the attacking brilliance of Mayo's decorated forward Cora Staunton, who scored 0-8 of her 1-9 in the opening half.

Mayo remained in contention for the opening stages of the second half but Monaghan upped the tempo and after Catriona McConnell banged over a superb left-footed point midway through, they never looked back.

Leading 1-15 to 0-12 with eight minutes left, Monaghan killed the game stone dead when wing forward Therese McNally cut in from the left and slotted past Yvonne Byrne for a superb solo goal.

Staunton stepped up and lashed a last-gasp penalty past Linda Martin for a consolation goal.

SCORERS: Monaghan - E Byrne 1-4 (1-0 pen); N Kindlon 0-7 (four frees); T McNally 1-0; C McAnespie 0-3; Catriona McConnell 0-2 (one free); Mayo - C Staunton 1-9 (1-0 pen, 0-5 frees); C McDermott, F McHale, L Cafferky 0-1 each.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times