Monaghan and Mayo advance

WOMEN'S FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER-FINALS:TWO FORMER champions, Monaghan and Mayo, advanced to the semi-finals of the TG4 Women's All-Ireland senior football championship with varying degrees of difficulty in last Saturday's quarter-finals at Croke Park.

In the first game, Ulster champions Monaghan enjoyed a comfortable nine-point victory, 0-19 to 0-10, against beaten Connacht finalists Sligo.

Later, Connacht kingpins Mayo survived a late fightback from beaten National League and Munster finalists Kerry before running out one-point winners, 2-12 to 1-14.

Monaghan captain Niamh Kindlon made light of the miserable conditions against Sligo with a superb individual performance which yielded eight points, six of those from frees. Four of Catriona McConnell's five points were from frees while Therese McNally and Edel Byrne both scored three points from play.

Monaghan, aided by the wind, led by 0-7 to 0-0 after 14 minutes and 0-10 to 0-4 at half-time.

After the break, two-time winners Monaghan tagged on five unanswered points to open up a 0-15 to 0-4 advantage.

Sligo's Therese Marren and Stephanie O'Reilly were denied goals by the crossbar during the second half. Sligo still cut the gap back to seven with six minutes remaining but late scores from McConnell and McNally eased Monaghan into the last four.

Meanwhile, Mayo were left hanging on for a narrow victory against Kerry, despite leading by seven points with 20 minutes remaining, 2-10 to 0-9.

Kerry had cut the gap to just a single point by the finish as Geraldine Ó Sé's injury-time goal ensured a nervy finish for four-time champions Mayo.

Decorated Mayo forward Cora Staunton chipped in with a 1-7 haul but the Kingdom's corner forward Ó Sé matched that tally with her late goal adding to seven pointed frees during the game.

Staunton struck for her superb solo goal after 23 minutes to help open up a 1-6 to 0-5 lead. Kerry hit back with three unanswered points before Marcella Heffernan's injury-time point ensured a 1-8 to 0-8 half-time lead for Mayo.

Inspired by midfielder Martha Carter, Mayo dominated the early stages of the second half and Kathryn Sullivan forced home a scrappy goal to extend their lead to 2-9 to 0-8.

SCORERS

Monaghan: Niamh Kindlon 0-8, six frees; Catriona McConnell 0-5, frees; Therese McNally 0-3; Edel Byrne 0-3. Sligo: Therese Marren 0-3; Noelle Gormley 0-3, frees; Stephanie O'Reilly 0-2; Louise Brett 0-2.

Mayo: Cora Staunton 1-7, six points from frees; Kathryn Sullivan 1-0; Lisa Cafferky 0-2; Fiona McHale 0-1; Martha Carter 0-1; Marcella Heffernan 0-1. Kerry: Geraldine Ó Sé 1-7, points from frees; Patrice Dennehy 0-4, two frees; Deirdre Corridon 0-2; Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh 0-1.