Dublino guadagna una vittoria drammatica contro Cork per assicurarsi un posto nelle semifinali di tutta l'Irlanda .

In a thrilling encounter at Parnell Park, Dublin secured a hard-fought victory over Cork in the TG4 All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-final, thanks to late goals from Orlagh Nolan and Kate Sullivan. The match, which saw both sides battle fiercely throughout, ended with Dublin triumphing 3-11 to 2-13, booking them a place in the All-Ireland semi-finals where they will face Kerry. The result came after a tense and dramatic finish, with both teams trading blows in the closing stages before Dublin managed to edge ahead.

The game began with Cork showing immediate intent, as corner-forward Leah Hallihan scored a goal within the first two minutes. This early success was followed by a response from Dublin, with Orlagh Nolan and Jodi Egan contributing to their cause. However, Cork continued to press, with Aine Terry O’Sullivan adding to their tally, while Niamh Hetherton made an impactful entrance, scoring her fourth goal in just three championship games. Despite some strong performances from Cork, including points from Melissa Duggan and Katie Quirke, Dublin remained competitive, with Egan and Sullivan replying with crucial scores.

As the first half progressed, Cork found themselves in a strong position, with Sadbh McGoldrick and Aine Terry O’Sullivan kicking three consecutive points in a span of two minutes. This surge allowed Cork to take a slight lead, although Sullivan’s remarkable score kept the contest balanced. At halftime, Dublin led 1-7 to 1-6, thanks to an impressive performance from Emma Cleary.

The second half started with Dublin looking to capitalize on their momentum, as Nolan and Sullivan quickly added points to their tally. However, Cork once again showed their strength, with Grace Murphy scoring on 35 minutes. Laura Grendon briefly gave Dublin the lead, but Cork retaliated with a series of unanswered scores from Hallihan and Quirke. As the game entered its final stages, the pressure mounted, with Dublin managing to reduce the deficit to one point following a free from Nolan.

With just over three minutes remaining, the match took a decisive turn when Nolan rose to meet a cross from Hetherton, scoring a vital goal to put Dublin back in front. Moments later, Sullivan capitalized on a loose kick-out from Cork, securing Dublin’s third and deciding goal of the match. The result was confirmed when a fine point from Kate Donaghy brought Dublin to the brink of a semi-final berth, and despite a late free from Quirke, the Jackies held on to claim victory.

The final scores reflected the intensity of the match, with Dublin’s scorers including K Sullivan (1-4), O Nolan (1-3, 1f), N Hetherton (1-0), J Egan (0-2), L Grendon (0-1), and K Donaghy (0-1 each). Cork’s contributions were led by K Quirke (0-5, 5f), L Hallihan (1-1), A Ring (1-0), and Aine Terry O’Sullivan (0-3), among others.

Both teams fielded strong lineups, with Dublin featuring notable players such as A Shiels in goal, and defenders like N Crowley and R Hartnett. Cork, meanwhile, had a solid defensive unit led by S Murphy, supported by forwards like M Duggan and S Kelly. The referee for the match was Eoghan O’Neill from Kildare.

Looking ahead, Dublin now prepare for their semi-final clash against Kerry, a team known for its resilience and tactical discipline. With the tournament still wide open, fans can expect more high-stakes matches in the coming days.