Kildare put in a dominant display as they advanced to the All-Ireland Intermediate semi-finals with a 10 point win over Tyrone at Manguard Park this afternoon.

It was an excellent team performance from Diane O’Hora’s side. Tyrone just couldn’t contain their pace or break down their resolute defence. The Lilywhites signaled their intentions and will be hard beaten in their quest to claim the Mary Lynch Memorial Cup. 

The opening score of the game came in the fourth minute when Nessa Dooley pointed after good play from Róisín Byrne. She followed up with a fine point from a tight angle to give her side an early two point lead.

Tyrone’s first score of the game didn’t come until the 14th minute when Maria Canavan hit over a free. That point was cancelled out by a free from the boot of Byrne. Grainne Rafferty’s free in the 14th minute was Tyrone’s last score of the first half.

Kildare’s defence were solid and a turned over a lot of Tyrone’s attacks which resulted in scores for the home side. Aoife Rattigan kicked over an excellent point in the 19th minute and minutes later another Byrne free put three between the sides.

Tyrone found it hard to breach the Kildare rearguard. Dooley got her third point of the game in the 24th minute. Two minutes later she kicked over a fantastic score for her fourth point of the game as the Lilywhites went in at the break 0-07 to 0-02 in front.

Two points from Byrne (one free) extended the lead to seven in the 33rd minute. Tyrone squandered opportunities. In the 37th minute Kildare got a goal through Rattigan. Tyrone netminder Sinead McVey pulled off a superb point blank save to deny Rattigan but she found the back of the net with the rebound.

McVey pulled off another fantastic display in the 43rd minute to deny Ruth Sergeant. Down the other end Tyrone got their first point from play and their first since the 19th minute when Aoife Horisk pointed.

The exceptional McVey got a touch on Lauren Murtagh’s effort to divert it over the bar in the 47th minute. Byrne kicked over another free in the 50th minute to stretch their advantage to 11 points.

Points were traded between Aoife McGahan and Rattigan. Tyrone were awarded a penalty in the 60th minute but Rafferty blasted the ball over the bar for a point.