Jackies progress to All-Ireland semi-final

DUBLIN 1-13 DONEGAL 2-7

The Jackies will play Mayo in this year's TG4 All-Ireland ladies SFC semi-finals but their bid to reach a third senior final in-a-row only survived after a serious scare in Parse Park, Longford on Saturday.
It took an improvement in the second half by Dublin to overcome the Ulster side as the Dubs failed to turn possession into scores on too many occasions.

However, Gregory McGonigle's side did show good mettle in the second half to stick to their game-plan and eventually they began to unlock the resolute Donegal defence.
Dublin struggled badly to deal with Donegal’s blanket defence in the first half and trailed by two points (1-4 to 0-5) at half-time.
But then they made a breakthrough.
An inspirational point by Niamh McEvoy, followed by a brilliant Noelle Healy tackle and pass put Sinead Aherne through to goal, saw them finally pull clear in the third quarter.
Substitute Siobhan Woods, Carla Rowe and Lyndsey Davey also contributed as they built up a four-point lead with eight minutes left.
But then Geraldine McLaughlin, only recently back from America, was sprung from the Donegal bench at half-time and the Termon ace bagged a goal in the 55^th minute to leave just a point between the sides again.

However, this goal was not without debate as there looked to be a throw ball that went unspotted by the ref Gus Chapman in the lead up to this goal.
A great individual point from Rowe settled Dublin again and then Davey earned a free which Aherne slotted.
Gregory McGonigle’s side were reduced to 14 players in the final minute when Woods was sin-binned.
And they were under siege in their own square when sub full-back Muireann Ni Scanaill, just back from a long injury layoff, made one of the game’s most vital intervention.
When Donegal floated one last possession into the crowded goalmouth she leapt up to secure and clear it before the buzzer sounded.
In defence Sinéad Goldrick and Sinéad Finnegan worked tirelessly throughout and vitally Dublin pinned Ulster back in their own '45' for much of the second half.
Earlier they were rocked by a 21^st minute goal when Amber Barrett's point effort from close range dropping short resulted in Yvonne McMonagle getting up highest to punch the ball to the net.
But, in the end, the Dubs’ experience, athleticism and superior bench depth got them through.

SCORERS - Dublin: S Aherne 1-6 (0-3f), C Rowe 0-3, N McEvoy 0-2, S Woods,L Davey 0-1 each. Donegal: K Guthrie 0-4 (0-4f), Y McMonagle 1-1 (0-1f), G McLaughlin 1-0, A Barrett, K Herron 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: C Trant; O Carey, D Murphy, L Caffrey; S Goldrick, S Finnegan, N Collins; L Magee, S Furlong; N Healy, N Owens, C Rowe; N McEvoy, S Aherne, L Davey. Subs: S Woods for Owens (32), M Lamb for Furlong (41), C Ruddy for Collins (50), R McDonnell for Magee (55), M Ni Scanaill for McEvoy (58).
DONEGAL: A McColgan; T Doherty, C Hegarty, K Wilson; T McCafferty, K Herron, D Foley; G Houson, K Guthrie; R Friel, N Hegarty, K McKinney; E Ward, Y McMonagle, A Barrett. Subs: G McLaughlin for Ward (half-time), Niamh McLaughlin for McKinney (half-time), Nicole McLaughlin for Wilson (53), P McGroary for Friel (55).
REF: G Chapman (Sligo).