Must-win games for ladies and hurlers

There is nothing like a local derby in any sport and, in a dramatic finish, the Cork ladies came from nowhere to earn a draw with Kerry (2-14 each) in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

This Kerry team have been in splendid form all season and they must have been confident meeting Cork in the championship. They were coasting to victory, but Cork scored 2-4 without reply down the stretch. Orlaith Cahalane, from that famed multi-sport family that includes Niall Cahalane, did the damage with her well-taken goal after being sprung from the bench. Once again Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh was outstanding, scoring 1-7, but she went off injured in the closing stages. Kerry will be hoping the western star will have recovered for the next round. Now they must beat Tipperary (Sunday at 2pm, Galtee Rovers GAA) to qualify for the Munster final.

HURLERS

No joy for the Kerry hurlers who lost out 1-24 to 0-16 in Tullamore. Offaly will now go directly into the Joe McDonagh Cup final.

This is the one title that has eluded Kerry after coming up short in three finals in recent years. In the last round of games, Offaly do not have to beat Carlow but can do Kerry a favour – if Kerry can also succeed in defeating Laois at Austin Stack Park tomorrow (5.30pm).

Kerry will be expected to win. Nothing else will do. They are very dependent on sharpshooter Shane Conway to build up a winning score and usually need in the region of 10 points from him. He scored 0-7 in Tullamore. The other main scorers were Pádraig Boyle (0-3) and Gavin Dooley (0-2).