Waterford will point to six second half wides as being detrimental to their cause whilst Kerry will be happy to face into a Munster Final after a win in a game that they might well have lost.
Kerry were first off the mark when Jadyn Lucey pointed a free following a foul on Hannah O’Donoghue and in the 6th minute Lorraine Scanlon got on the scoresheet after some very good play from Eilis O’Connor.
Waterford’s Kelly Ann Hogan pointed a free following a foul on the impressive Aoife Murray and Kerry had a huge let off in the 12th minute when Lauren McGregor rattled the post with a superb shot at goal.
A Kelly Ann Hogan free in the 16th minute brought Waterford level and straight from the resulting kick out Hogan put her side one up from play.
We had to wait another six minutes for the next score and it was Kerry’s Hannah O’Donoghue who finished to the back of the net after a sweeping move involving Lorraine Scanlon, Amy Harrington and Emma Dineen.
The lively Katie Murray and Jadyn Lucey traded scores before Niamh Ní Chonchúir put Kerry 1-4 to 0-4 ahead in the 28th minute. Kelly Ann Hogan pointed a free soon afterwards , and it was Kerry that took a 1-4 to 0-5 lead in at half time.
Waterford spurned a goal chance early in the second half when Eve Power had to be content with a point, but they got the goal they craved from a Kaci Brazil penalty following a foul on Aine O’Neill.
Cora Murray made a brilliant block from Jadyn Lucey at the other end and although Waterford took control of proceedings, they were wasteful in possession.
Niamh Ní Chonchuir got a welcome point for Kerry in the 48th minute to bring them to within one, 1-5 to 1-6, but Kelly Ann Hogan slotted over to give Waterford the lead once more.
Katie Brosnan, looking sharp, hit a brace of scores to draw Kerry level but with time running out it was another substitute, Fiadhna Tangney, who sealed the win for Kerry.
Scorers – Kerry: K Brosnan 0-2, H O’Donoghue 1 goal, J Lucey 0-2 (1f), L Scanlon 0-1, F Tangney 0-1, N Ní Chonchúir 0-2. Waterford: K A Hogan 0-5 (3f), K Brazil 1 goal (pen), E Murray 0-2.
Kerry: C Butler; K O’Sullivan, E Lynch, A Dillane; E O’Connor, A O’Connell , R Rahilly; L Scanlon, R Smith; A Harrington, H O’Donoghue, N Ní Chonchúir; D Kearney, E Dineen, J Lucey. Subs: C Murphy for R Rahilly 16, K Brosnan for A O’Connell , F O’Donoghue for E Lynch (both H/T, L Ní |Mhuircheartaigh for A Harrington 38, C McCarthy for D Kearney, C O’Brien for R Smith (both 45), A Curtin for J Lucey, F Tangney for H O’Donoghue (both 51).
Waterford: E O’Brien; C Murray, H Power, A Waring; N Power, E Murray, E Power; A O’Neill, K Murray 0-1; A Murray, E Bolger, C McCarthy; K A Hogan 0-5 (3f) L McGregor, L O’Shea. Subs: K Brazil for L McGregor, E Fitzgerald for L O’Shea(both H/T), M Comerford for A Waring 34, O Kennedy for E Bolger 51, A Brazil for K Brazil 58.
Referee: Justin Murphy (Cork).
