Dublin bowed out of this year's Foras na Gaeilge championship when they fell to a heavy 6-10 to 0-07 defeat against a strong and determined Wexford side, who now meet Tipperary in the quarter-final on August 3. The Kelly sisters Kate and Mags put 2-05 on the scoreboard between them, with Kate grabbing the first goal of the game in the third minute. A second from Aoife O'Connor and a third just before the break from Michelle Hearne left the Slaney girls 3-05 to 0-03 ahead at the break, while the impressive Joan Morris scored all three Dublin points.
Two further second-half goals from Michelle Hearne and a third from Mags Kelly dashed any ideas Dublin may have had of a comeback, with their only scores of the second-half coming from the hard working Morris and corner forward Louise O'Hara, who sent over Dublin's final point in the 11th minute.
Elsewhere, Brennda Hanney was Galway's star performer as she knocked over 0-03 and was instrumental in the making of several other scores as the Connacht side beat Wexford 4-12 to 2-08 in the All-Ireland Minor A semi-final. Wind assisted Galway lead 2-05 to 1-03 at the break, the Wexford goal having come from top performer Una Leacy. Despite a second goal from Wexford's Emma Moran in the second-half the day belonged to Galway who are now through to the All-Ireland final on August 4.
Galway will meet defending champions Cork in next month's decider following their comprehensive 9-17 to 1-01 defeat of Derry in Lavey in the other semi-final. Cork's Emer Watson and Denise Twomey scored a hat-trick of goals to give The Rebel County an unassailable 6-03 to 0-0 lead at the break, Sinead Cassidy scored what was merely a consolation goal midway through the second-half. However, Cork piled on the pressure in the closing stages with some fine scores from Marian Murphy, Marie O'Neill and captain Elaine O'Riordan to ease through.
Meanwhile, the Minor B final will see Offaly meet Limerick following respective wins over Roscommon and Monaghan. The Faitfhful County ran out convincing 8-09 to 0-00 winners over a poor Roscommon, with Mairead Bergin and Tanya Coughlan grabbing a brace of goals each, while Limerick emerged 6-10 to 0-00 winners over the Ulster county with Lisa Kelly, Roisin Bruder and Sinead McAuliffe dominating the scoreboard.
Filed by Shane Murray
