Kerry 0-12  Dublin 0-11

12 minutes from the end of normal time, Dublin held a comfortable 0-11 to 0-8 lead aided by the slight breeze.   But despite this they failed to add to their tally in the remaining 17 minutes of play and were punished by the brilliant Patrice Diggin who scored all bar two points of the Kingdom tally.

This was a game Dublin should have won.   Kerry were heavily reliant on the talents of their superb centre back who starred for Munster in the introprovincial series earlier in the season.   In a desperate bid to garner scores the Kerry management moved Diggin to the attack and her four closing points rescued the game for her side.

Dublin were guilty of 11 wides including a levelling free in the 64 ^th minute which unfortunately for Faye McCarthy drifted wide.   Dublin were also not helped when Elaine Gallery collided heavily with her marker Elizabeth Houlihan.   Having scored 0-3 from play by that stage, the Portobello player was in great form and the major threat from play.   However the knock seemed to limit her play and she would not really feature again in the game.

Aided by the breeze   Kerry raced into a 0-4 to 0-0 lead after 8 minutes wth four scores from Patrice Diggin – including one from play.   But gradually Dublin settled.   Danielle Powell was solid at full-back, Christina O’Reilly and Shauna McBride were on top in the half back line and Emma Loo was doing very well in goals.

Three points from placed balls – Faye McCarthy (0-2) and Michelle Kelly saw Dublin trail by 0-6 to 0-4 by the 26 ^th minute – Norette Casey scoring a fine point from play for Kerry.   Orla Young added another from play for Kerry to build a three points lead before Elaine Gallery got Dublin’s first score from play on the stroke of half-time.

However the game seemed to be tilting Dublin’s way early in the second half with Faye McCarthy again on target to be followed by two superb points from play by Elaine Gallery.   Patrice Diggin was now operating in the attack and she levelled with her sixth point in the 37 ^th minute.

Kirsten Farrell and Lynn Devoy had been introduced at the interval and began to exert an influence.     With Diggin now operating in attack, Kerry’s defence was momentarily weakened.   Kirsten Farrell capitalised with two neat points to stretch Dublin’s lead to three but that was as good as it got.

Kerry regrouped and showing commendable fighting spirit Jacqueline Horgan and Saidbhbe Horgan were outstanding and four points from star Patrice Diggin the last one the winner from play saw the visitors claim two valuable points.

Scorers:

Kerry Patrice Diggin (0-10), Orla Young and Norette Casey (0-1 each)

Dublin Faye McCarthy (0-5), Elaine Gallery (0-3), Kirsten Farrell (0-2), Michelle Kelly (0-1)

Referee Julie O’Neill