By Jackie Cahill

Mick Bohan says that Dublin remain on a steep learning curve ahead of a TG4 All-Ireland semi-final clash with Kerry on August 26.

Bohan described his side's 2-15 to 1-7 quarter-final victory over Waterford on Saturday as "patchy" and admits that there is "loads to work on" ahead of the Kingdom showdown.

The Sky Blues are many people's favourites for Brendan Martin Cup glory in September but after watching his side bow out, Waterford boss Pat Sullivan reflected: "Dublin have a fair chance but I don't think I'd put my money on them."

Bohan said: "We played well in patches and controlled the game.

"Disappointed we allowed them back into it - silly mistakes to give away a goal and we had load of opportunities to turn the screw.

"We have to learn from that. There are a lot of positives, they worked extremely hard but we just have to make better decisions at key times."

Dublin had captain Sinéad Aherne and player of the match Nicole Owens in excellent form.

Aherne collected 1-9 and Owens 1-4 during a game that saw Bohan's charges tested by Munster runners-up Waterford.

Runners-up for the last three seasons, Dublin advanced to the last four with an 11-point win at Nowlan Park and the Waterford challenge suffered a major setback with 14 minutes left when Gráinne Kenneally was sent off for an off-the-ball incident with Lauren Magee.

And the Déise would finish with 13 players when Megan Dunford was sin-binned late on.

Dublin led by 1-8 to 0-4 at the break but Waterford's challenge was hampered by eight wides in the first half, including four from normally reliable free-taker Maria Delahunty.

Massive underdogs before throw-in, Waterford needed to take the vast majority of the chances that presented themselves but they were competitive before Dublin opened up with an unanswered 1-5 approaching the interval.

Dublin went at Waterford from the start and were 0-3 to 0-0 up within seven minutes, an Owens point sandwiched between two Aherne efforts.

But Waterford responded with four points in succession to move in front, Aoife Murray, Eimear Fennell, Katie Murray and Michelle Ryan all on target.

That was Dublin's cue to up the ante considerably, as Aherne popped over three frees to push them 0-6 to 0-4 clear.

Noelle Healy blazed over as Dublin cut through Waterford in the 25th minute but the goal did arrive a minute later, Owens palming the ball to the net to cap good work by Aherne and Healy.

Aherne's free in the final minute completed the first half scoring, and opened up a seven-point lead for the Sky Blues.

Dublin lost Leah Caffrey to the sin-bin early in the second half after she picked up a yellow card but that loss didn't derail Mick Bohan's Leinster champions.

Waterford lost the services of Kenneally in the 46th minute but they had the ball in the net when Róisín Tobin capitalised on a poor re-start.

But Dublin scored their second goal with eight minutes left, Carla Rowe setting up Aherne for a clinical finish off the underside of the crossbar.

Dublin went into battle without Sinead Goldrick and Sarah McCaffrey, and Bohan said: "The balance of the team was affected a little bit. We were nervous but that's part of the package in these games.

"This is a learning process - and we're all on board to try and do that.

"We saw Waterford as a huge threat but we're over the line in an All-Ireland quarter-final, done and dusted and with loads to work on."

Deflated Waterford boss Sullivan said: "We didn't come here to make up the numbers - I'm very, very disappointed. There's a lot more in that team."

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