Image via Getty

FT: Kerry 2-18 0-20 Dublin

Kerry booked their place in the All Ireland Senior Football Championship final for the second time in as many years, as they defeated Dublin by four points at Croke Park this afternoon.

It was the first meeting in the Championship between these two sides since 2023, the last time Dublin would reprise their status as All Ireland champions by beating the then title holders in the final. 

Both teams suffered blows before even lining out on the pitch. Dublin were forced to withdraw Sean MacMahon due to a hamstring injury, while Jack O’Connor saw a key cog in his attack line pull out in the form of Paul Geaney. 

Sean O’Shea was named to start for the Kingdom, with Alex Gavin coming in for the Raheny clubman, who had been expected to cope with Kerry’s star man David Clifford until his withdrawal.

It was Dublin who drew first blood, with Cormac Costello popping a two-point free kick over the bar to open the proceedings. However, the champions weren’t phased, pulling ahead just moments later. A penalty from David Clifford was well saved by Evan Comerford, before being smashed home by the Kerry star on the rebound. 

The Kingdom managed to hold their advantage for much of the second half, with a back and forth game ensuing. Points from Costello, Con O’Callaghan and Paddy Small kept Dublin hot on their heels. 

Despite Dublin’s solid defensive display, Kerry proved difficult to contain at times. The Dubs also had a near miss, with Comerford’s poor kickout gifting Dylan Geaney a chance at goal, only for him to smash it over and settle for a point. 

Cormac Costello eventually saw Dublin take back the lead for the first time since their opening score just on the stroke of half time. The Whiteha Colmcille’s man followed up Charlie McMorrow’s leveller to see Dublin take a slim one-point advantage with the clock ticking down. 

But Kerry managed to call it evens just before the hooter rang at HQ, with the late addition O’Shea firing over a tidy point. 

With the wind no longer on their side in the second half, the Dubs didn’t seem phased. Early points from Colm Basquel, Brian Howard and Paddy Small created a three-point lead within minutes of their return. But it was wiped out in a moment of madness at the back. 

A high ball dropped just ahead of Comerford in the Dublin goal, which was flicked on by Sean O’Brien. The Dublin shotstopper got a hand to it, only for his luck to turn as it smacked the crossbar and dropped over the line for Kerry’s second goal. 

The tit-for-tat returned, as both sides continued to rack up scores throughout the second half. Paudie Clifford was the star of the show, as he scored three in as many minutes from open play. The first, a two-pointer, with a darting run opening up an avenue for a shorter kick just after. 

As his brother added a two-pointer, the momentum started to shift around Croke Park. A four-point lead had opened up, the highest of any until this point. Dublin responded with one, before Sean O’Shea picked up another two to stretch the advantage to five. 

If ever there was a moment to sum up Dublin’s day, a series of goal chances were somehow missed, with one appearing to cross the line as Nially Scully’s effort was blocked by the face of Mike Breen. However, it was a marginal call and a difficult one for the umpire to get correct.

Dublin continued to knock at the door, but a series of missed points in the closing stages came back to bite them. A final point from David Clifford proved the final nail in the coffin, as they ran out four-point winners to remain on course to retain their title.

Full Time: Dublin 0-20 2-18 Kerry

Dublin: Comerford; Gavin, Kennedy, Byrne; Gannon, Clancy, McMorrow (0-2); Ó Cofaigh Byrne, Howard (0-2); Basquel (0-3), C O’Callaghan (0-2), Scully; Small (0-2), Kilkenny, Costello (0-7)

Substitutes: O’Sullivan, Lahiff, Smith, E O’Callaghan, Murphy, Guiden, Bannon, McGarry, Lundy, Bugler (0-1), Deering

Kerry: S Murphy; P Murphy, Foley, Casey; G O’Sullivan (0-2), Breen, White; M O’Shea, O’Brien (1-0); J O’Connor, P Clifford (0-5), D O’Connor; D Clifford (1-5), S O’Shea (0-4), Geaney (0-1)

Substitutes: Broderick, Looney, Brosnan, Evans, Spillane, Heinrich, Ó Beaglaoich, Morley, Burns, T O’Sullivan, Kennedy (0-1)

Referee: Brendan Cawley

Attendance: 82,300