Kerry beat Armagh to reach All-Ireland final

Armagh faded in Tullamore after a bright start to the game

Kerry overcame Armagh 1-8 to 0-7 at O'Connor Park to book their place in a third straight All-Ireland final.

It wasn’t a classic – with only three scores total taken in the second half - but Niamh Ni Chonchuir goal on 17 minutes changed the course of the game and ultimately proved crucial.

Kerry will now meet Galway in the decider, after the Connacht side triumphed over Cork with goals from Roisin Lennon and Ailbhe Davoren decisive in a 2-7 to 0-10 victory.

Armagh were hoping to follow the men’s lead and face Galway in two weeks’ time, but without their key forward Aimee Mackin, it was always going to be a tough task to win the All-Ireland title.

The Orchard County started brightly and went into an early lead when Eve Lavery found the target.

Although Kerry responded with Louise Ni Mhuircheartaigh converting a free, Armagh led 0-4 to 0-1 following scores from Lavery, Blaithin Mackin and Dearbhla Coleman.

Kingdom take control to claim victory

Ni Chonchuir's goal was crucial in turning the tide in Kerry's favour

However, it was all downhill from there for the Ulster side in the first half. Kerry’s Siofra O’Shea and Armagh’s Niamh Henderson traded scores.

Then, Kerry cut right through the middle of the Armagh defence, and Emma Dineen slipped in Ni Chonchuir, who fired into the back of Anna Carr’s net.

That gave Kerry a huge lift, and with a strong breeze at their backs they picked off five scores in succession throughout the remainder of the first half via Danielle O’Leary, Ni Mhuircheartaigh (free), Niamh Carmody (two) and O’Connell.

It took 10 minutes before the first score of the second half, which Niamh Coleman claimed - scoring Armagh’s first point of the game since the 13th minute in the process, and it was a one-score game when Mackin converted a free.

A Danielle O’Leary free then put Kerry four ahead with time running out, and Armagh’s chances of pulling the game back took a huge blow when Mackin was sent into the sin bin for a high tackle foul on Lorraine Scanlon – with nine minutes to go, they had to finish with 14 players.

There was to be no comeback and Kerry held on for a relatively comfortable four-point win at full-time.