Improving Dublin can book final place

Will Dublin progress to a first TG4 All-Ireland ladies senior football championship final since 2010 or can Galway end a nine-year wait?

That question will be answered at Cusack Park in Mullingar this afternoon when the Leinster and Connacht champions clash in the first semi-final.

The indications from last weekend’s quarter-finals suggest that this one will be close.

Galway had three points to spare against a Monaghan side that has regressed since contesting last year's final while Dublin did enough to get past Kerry.

Both sides will have been happy with the tests they received but Dublin showed a steely resistance in the face of a Kerry second half revival, a marked contrast to their collapse against Cork at the same stage of last year’s competition.

Former Monaghan boss Gregory McGonigle took over a talented Dublin panel and, with a slightly more defensive emphasis, they are a better outfit in 2014, as evidenced by progression to a league final with Cork and subsequent Leinster glory. Galway, meanwhile, are contesting a third successive semi-final and will hope that the door can finally swing open. Verdict: Dublin