Cork looking good for five-in-a-row

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: TWO OF the game's big-hitters will collide in Saturday's semi-final in a repeat of the 2007 final as Cork continue on their seemingly unstoppable march towards a fifth successive crown.

The champions will lock horns with Mayo at McDonagh Park in Nenagh (6pm), with the Dublin-Monaghan game fixed for September 5th at a venue to be confirmed.

Cork were superb in their 4-23 to 0-6 demolition of Kildare in Saturday’s quarter-final at Nowlan Park. Captain Mary O’Connor scored an early goal to set the winners on their way and the Rebelettes led by 1-12 to 0-4 at half-time.

Earlier at the Kilkenny venue, Dublin ran out 1-13 to 2-6 winners against Munster finalists Kerry.

Dublin had not played for five weeks since winning their provincial final and Kerry started well, before falling away, as Dublin took a 1-9 to 0-3 half-time lead.

Dublin were never unduly troubled in the second half although Kerry substitute Joanne Brosnan made a real impact and bagged 1-1 after being introduced.

Meanwhile, Cork retained the Aisling McGing memorial championship with a 3-11 to 1-6 victory against Dublin at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Saturday.

ALL-IRELAND WOMEN'S FOOTBALL Senior Championship quarter-finals: Dublin 1-13(S Ahern 0-5 (two frees), K Flood 1-0, A McGuinness, L Davey 0-2 each, E Kelly, M Nevin, C Barrett,N McEvoy 0-1 each), Kerry 2-6(J Brosnan 1-1, M O'Donoghue 1-0, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-2, L Scanlon, S Houlihan, P Dennehy (free) 0-1 each); Cork 4-23(V Mulcahy 0-7, D O'Reilly 1-3, M O'Connor, L McMahon 1-2 each, R Buckley 1-0, C O'Sullivan, N Cleary 0-2 each, A O'Shea, J Murphy, A Walsh, G O'Flynn, AM Walsh 0-1 each), Kildare 0-6(N Earley 0-2, A Jennings, A Herbert, D Gately, T Noone 0-1 each).

Semi-final draw: Cork v Mayo; Dublin v Monaghan.

AISLING McGING Memorial championship final: Cork 3-11, Dublin 0-6.

FIXTURES: Saturday, August 29th: All-Ireland IFC semi-final: Clare v Waterford, McDonagh Park, Nenagh, 4.15. All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Cork v Mayo, McDonagh Park, Nenagh, 6pm. Saturday, September 5th: All-Ireland I FC semi-final: Longford v Fermanagh, TBC; All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Dublin v Monaghan, TBC.