Kerry enjoyed similar dominance on their own side of the draw. An 18-point win over Tipperary was followed by bloodless victories over Kildare and Meath before they ended Dublin’s reign as All-Ireland champions with an emphatic 10-point victory<\/a> in the semi-final. An average winning margin of 13.5 points with seven green flags raised along the way.<\/p>\n Which all should be good news for the neutral fan at Croke Park this afternoon. Front-foot attacking football is the order of the day for both of these teams.<\/p>\n The LGFA’s adoption of the new rules that re-energised the men’s game has had a similar effect on the women’s game. Indeed, it’s only seven years ago that Galway lost a forgettable All-Ireland decider to Dublin<\/a> on a scarcely believable scoreline of 2-03 to 0-04 in front of over 56,000 fans.<\/p>\n Since their most recent All-Ireland title in 2004, Galway have lost three finals. A valiant attempt to defend their crown in 2005 fell short in the decider as Cork began a run of dominance in the women’s game that would see them win 11 of the next 12 All-Irelands.<\/p>\n And after that 2019 loss to Dublin – who were three-quarters of their way to a four-in-a-row themselves – they then suffered a 12-point reversal to today’s opponents two years ago<\/a> as Louise N\u00ed Mhuircheartaigh hit them for a half-dozen points.<\/p>\n Neither side graced the 2025 final as Galway went out at the semi-final stage to eventual champs Dublin after extra-time while Meath made it an all-Leinster final when they took care of the Kingdom by six points in the other semi.<\/p>\n So, all told, Galway have been waiting 24 months or so for another crack at Kerry.<\/p>\n Galway captain Kate Geraghty suggested this week that a lingering feeling may hang around the Galway camp that they simply didn’t do themselves justice two years ago.<\/p>\n ‘When we got to play Kerry two years ago, we were probably just a bit underprepared, and they were better than us’<\/p>\n “In 2019, it was a bit different. It was the first final in a long time,” Geraghty offered. “So there was probably huge excitement.<\/p>\n “It was my first year on the panel, and it felt like it was gonna happen every year after that. But I know now that it’s hard come by, and the work that you have to put in.<\/p>\n “When we got to play Kerry two years ago, we were probably just a bit underprepared, and they were better than us on the day.<\/p>\n “But I don’t think that makes or breaks us this year. We have a lot of different players, and the way that we’ve been playing and consistent performances makes a huge difference.”<\/p>\n![\"18](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/0024c9c9-614.jpg\"\/)
\nS\u00edofra O’Shea and Kerry had too much for Dublin in the semi-final<\/p>\n