By Jackie Cahill In-form champions Cork and beaten Ulster finalists Tyrone will meet in an eagerly-anticipated TG4 All-Ireland Ladies senior football semi-final in Tullamore on September 6. The Rebelettes, chasing a fourth successive title, booked their place in the last four with a comfortable 2-11 to 1-7 victory over Galway at a soggy Dr. Hyde Park in Roscommon last Saturday. In the first game of a quarter-final double bill, last year's beaten All-Ireland semi-finalists Tyrone proved far too good for Leinster champions Dublin as the Red Hands ran out 2-12 to 1-9 winners. Munster kingpins Cork were inspired by two-goal hero Valerie Mulcahy and a majestic midfield performance from Juliette Murphy, who captained the team to All-Ireland glory in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Murphy scored five of her six points after half-time as Cork outscored the Westerners 1-8 to 1-2 in the second half. Galway, with corner forward Una Carroll in good scoring form, had raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes but Cork recovered to lead 1-3 to 0-5 at half-time, two-goal hero Valerie Murphy on target with the first of her brace in the 22nd minute. Amanda Murphy brought Cork on level terms before Mulcahy turned provider for Mary O'Connor five minutes before half-time, but O'Connor sent her shot sailing just over the crossbar. Eleven minutes after the break, Mulcahy collected a precise pass from O'Connor before shooting to the net as Cork moved seven points clear, 2-6 to 0-5. The Rebelettes, who had goalkeeper Elaine Harte to thank for some fine saves during the game, were 2-11 to 0-6 clear with five minutes left before Galway substitute Kara Mullins nabbed a consolation goal in the 56th minute. Mullins rattled the crossbar moments later but Cork were home and hosed and march on with confidence. Meanwhile, Tyrone have recovered well from their Ulster final defeat to Monaghan and after impressing against Armagh in the qualifiers, they upped the ante again to see off the challenge of Dublin. This was a powerful attacking performance from the Red Hands, as all six of their forwards scored during the game, but their first half goal from wing-back Aisling Hagan was a fortuitous effort. Dublin goalkeeper Cliodhna O'Connor made a superb point-blank save after 15 minutes to keep out Tyrone full forward Eilish Gormley but her net bulged just two minutes later when Hagan's speculative shot looped into the far corner. That goal provided a real platform for Tyrone, who moved into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead, and the Sky Blues were undone again just seconds before the half-time hooter. Tyrone top-scorer and play maker Gemma Begley brought Gormley into play before player of the match Lynette Hughes finished brilliantly to open up a 2-4 to 0-3 half-time lead. Things looked ominous for Dublin and after leading by seven points at the break, Tyrone had moved eleven clear midway through the second half. Approaching the finish, Dublin had managed just one point from play in the entire game as Sinéad Aherne kicked seven points. Sub Niamh Hurley pointed from play in the final minute and seconds before the full-time hooter, Anne Marie Murphy bundled home a consolation goal for Dublin. The scene is now set for a thrilling finish to this year's TG4 championship and next Saturday, two former winners will clash in the first of the two semi-finals when Monaghan and Mayo collide at Páirc Tailteann in Navan. Cork scorers: Juliette Murphy 0-6 (2f), Valerie Mulcahy 2-2 (0-2f), Mary O'Connor, Amanda Murphy & Deirdre O'Reilly 0-1 each. Galway scorers: Una Carroll 0-5 (2f), Kara Mullins 1-0, Gillian Joyce 0-1. Scorers for Tyrone: Gemma Begley 0-5 (4f), Lynette Hughes 1-1, Aisling Hagan 1-0, Cathy Donnelly 0-3, Claire McAliskey, Eilish Gormley & Catriona McGahan 0-1 each. Scorers for Dublin: Sinéad Aherne 0-7f, Anne Marie Murphy 1-0, Lyndsey Davey & Niamh Hurley 0-1 each. TG4 All-Ireland Ladies senior football semi-final details: Saturday, August 30 in Navan. Monaghan v Mayo Saturday September 6 in Tullamore. Cork v Tyrone Throw-in times to be confirmed. Tweet

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