After 31 years, Kerry ended the wait to secure an All Ireland Title, as they produced a strong showing over Galway, aided by goals from Aoife Dillane, Hannah O’Donoghue and Emma Dineen.

The wait is over and the hurt of the last two year’s goes with it. Kerry have won their 12th All Ireland title and they did it in style. Dillane scoring just before the break for a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the break, inspired Kerry and with those two key second half goals they pushed on.

Galway huffed and puffed but Kerry were rigid. Kayleigh Cronin immense in the backline, Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh kicked Kerry into gear early in that opening half. The Queens Of Kerry ascend the throne for the first time since 1993.

Kerry started on top as Captain Niamh Carmody split the posts after two minutes. Just two short minutes later Roisin Leonard struck a free off the Croke Park turf to equalize. Kerry replied well, Emma Dineen and Anna Galvin added points for a 0-3 to 0-1 lead after seven minutes.

The Tribeswomen were sharp to reply as Olivia Divilly quickly reduced the margin back to a single point. Kerry’s red- headed warrior from the west of the county soon propelled the Kingdom further into the lead.

Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh added the next five scores, three from frees, as Kerry moved 0-8 to 0-2 ahead by the 25th minute mark. Leonard added her second free as a badly needed score for Galway in response.

Kerry ended the half in strong fashion. A lightning quick attack cut through the Galway defense, quick passes from Anna Galvin and Aishling O’Connell, allowed Aoife Dillane to exploit space behind the Galway cover and she struck a shot that looped over Dearbhla Gower and into the net. Kerry with a big score for a 1-8 to 0-3 lead at the break.

Galway drew first blood in the second half when Olivia Divilly pointed in the opening minute, Mary O’Connell gathered a kick out to score Kerry’s opening score in the 33rd minute. Smart defending by Kayleigh Cronin prevented Andrea Trill rattling the net in the 34th.

Niamh Divilly and Emma Dineen exchanged points as the score read 1-10 to 0-5 after 41 minutes. As the sides swapped scores Kerry hit another big score by the third quarter mark. Again Kerry used their attack well with Ni Mhuircheartaigh striding forward, she slipped a hand pass for Hannah O’Donoghue, O'Donoghue created space and fired to the net for a 2-11 to 0-6 lead.

O’Donoghue quickly added a point but Andrea Trill and Charlotte Cooney cut the gap to ten points in the 52nd minute. The Kerry bench was seeing the game out in style. O’Donoghue added another point before Lorraine Scanlon pointed to make it 2-14 to 0-8 after 54 minutes.

Leonard grabbed the next score, and while Olivia Divilly and Shauna Hynes added scores, Emma Dineen added the third goal in the 57th minute. O’Donoghue produced the pass Dineen with the dummy before firing to the net.