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Dublin and Kerry senior footballers will stage the 83rd meeting between the counties (31 championship, 52 League) this Sunday in Semple Stadium, Thurles (1.45, Live Tg4) when they meet in Round 2 of the Allianz FL Division 1 South - currently the results are as follows: Kerry wins 40; Dublin wins 32; Draws 10. It’s very close in the League: Kerry 23 Dublin 21, Draws 7.
Their most recent meeting ended level (1-19 each in Croke Park) in January of last year, with David Clifford grabbing the equaliser deep in stoppage time.
Here we look back at the most recent league and championship duels between the counties.
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2020 FL DIVISION 1
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25: Croke Park
DUBLIN 1-19 KERRY 1-19
Modern day meetings of Dublin and Kerry seldom disappoint and this FL Division 1 opener in Croke Park certainly didn't.
An attendance of 42,502 came through the turnstiles to experience a terrific tussle that ended in drama with David Clifford kicking an equalising free for the Kingdom in the tenth minute of added time.
Kerry moved three points clear inside the last ten minutes of normal time but as ever Dublin's resilience and will to win came to the fore and they looked to have snatched victory when Dean Rock converted his sixth free, to add to his first half penalty, in the 77th minute.
Points from Rock (free), the influential James McCarthy, Ciarán Kilkenny (two) including one mark after a powerful fetch, and point from lively sub Aaron Byrne saw Dublin reel in Kerry between the 62nd and 69th minute to draw level, 1-17 each, as the game moved into added time.
Niall Scully edged Dublin in front before Paul Geaney (free) brought the sides level when punishing a mix up in the Dublin defence.
Rock's free seven minutes into injury-time, after the Dubs had held possession for 26 passess and over two minutes, looked to have given new Dublin manager, Dessie Farrell, victory on his NFL bow as boss but Kerry got one last chance and they took it to share the spoils.
Dublin, despite only returning to training in the past two weeks, bolted out of the blocks at the start and engineered a 0-5 to 0-1 lead by the 14th minute.
Conor McHugh did well early on, kicking one excellent point from play as well as being fouled for two frees that Dean Rock converted.
However, David Clifford's superb individual goal rocked Dublin in the 18th minute to bring the sides level (0-5 to 1-2) after the impressive James O'Donoughe had three minutes earlier cut the deficit.
Then Brian Fenton took the game by the scruff and before the interval he had 0-4 in his account, all superb strikes.
Four minutes before the end of normal time in the opening half Dean Rock was fouled in the square and from the resulting penalty he sent Shane Ryan the wrong way to propel his side into a 1-8 to 1-6 lead.
By the break Dublin were 1-10 to 1-9 clear following Brian Fenton's fourth point from play in the opening period. The Dubs played out the conclusion of the first half and the early period of the second half with 14 men following defender Eric Lowndes being black-carded in the 38th minute.
SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 1-6 (1-0pen, 0-6f), B Fenton 0-4, C Kilkenny 0-3 (0-1m), C McHugh 0-2 (0-1m), K McManamon, J McCarthy, A Byrne. N Scully 0-1 each. Kerry: D Clifford 1-3 (0-2f), S O’Shea 0-5 (0-5f), J O’Donoghue 0-3, P Murphy 0-2, G Crowley, S O’Brien, G O’Brien, L Kearney, K Spillane (0-1m), P Geaney (0-1f) 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: E Comerford; D Byrne, P McMahon, E Murchan; E Lowndes, J Small, J McCarthy; B Fenton, B Howard; N Scully, C Kilkenny, K McManamon; C McHugh, P Andrews, D Rock. Subs: P Mannion for Andrews (43), S Bugler for McManamon (52), A Byrne for McHugh (55), R O’Carroll for McMahon (64), D O'Brien for Bugler (78).
KERRY: S Ryan; J Foley, T Morley, B Ó Beaglaoich; P Murphy, S Enright, G Crowley; S O’Shea, A Spillane; G O’Brien, P Geaney, S O’Brien; J O’Donoghue, T Walsh, D Clifford. Subs: L Kearney for A Spillane (inj, 16), G O’Sullivan for Ó Beaglaoich (inj, 33), K Spillane for O’Donoghue (50), M Burns for Walsh (58), D Moynihan for G O’Brien (70).
REF: S Hurson (Tyrone).
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2019 ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL REPLAY
DUBLIN 1-18 KERRY 0-15
Alive alive oh, the five in-a-row . . . Dublin senior footballers created history when becoming the first men’s team to win five All-Ireland senior championships in succession with this stunning victory over Kerry in this replayed All-Ireland SFC final at Croke Park.
They say the team that learns the most from drawn encounters wins replays and the Dublin management team and squad certainly had their homework done and delivered massively in this gripping clash played in front of a full house of 82,300.
Dublin’s second half display was immense, Eoin Murchan’s incredible goal from the throw-in on the restart giving them a dream start.
The pocket rocket from Na Fianna made a huge contribution especially with his crucial goal when picking the breaking ball up low to the ground and accelerating at the heart of the Kerry defence, Kingdom midfielder David Moran was breathing down his neck but Murchan showed terrific presence of mind to steer the ball to the net with the outside of his right boot.
Dublin had heroes all over the park paving the way for Stephen Cluxton to lift the Sam Maguire for the sixth time as captain as Dublin brought their unbeaten championship run to 37 games, their last defeat coming against Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final.
Forwards Ciarán Kilkenny, Con O’Callaghan and Paul Mannion all kicked four points from play on a night when all bar one of Dublin’s scores came from play, that a late successfully converted Dean Rock ‘45’.
There werer significant improvements on all lines of the pitch for Dublin from the drawn encounter with James McCarthy, Jonny Cooper and Michael Fitzsimons covering massive yardage in the second half, both on and off the ball, as they inspired their team-mates to rise to the challenge.
The sides were level 0-10 to 0-10 at the break to lead by four points early on, Dublin having started at great speed but reeled in by the Kingdom as the half progressed.
Dublin lost two key defenders to injury - Eoin Murchan and Jack McCaffrey - but they didn't blink and showed the temperament of champions to drive on to glory.
SCORERS - Dublin: C Kilkenny, P Mannion, C O’Callaghan 0-4 each, E Murchan 1-0, D Rock 0-3 (0-1 ‘45’), D Byrne, N Scully, J McCarthy 0-1 each. Kerry: D Clifford (0-1f), S O’Shea (0-3f) 0-5 each, P Geaney 0-4, A Spillane 0-1.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; E Murchan, D Byrne, M Fitzsimons; J Cooper, J Small, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, J McCarthy; N Scully, C Kilkenny, B Howard; P Mannion, C O’Callaghan, D Rock. Subs: D Connolly for McCaffrey (inj, ht), P McMahon for Murchan (inj, 55), C Costello for Scully (58), C O’Sullivan for Byrne (68), K McManamon for Mannion (68), MD Macauley for Howard (74).
KERRY: S Ryan; J Foley, T O’Sullivan, T Morley; P Murphy, G Crowley, B Ó Beaglaoich; D Moran, J Barry; D O’Connor, S O’Shea, A Spillane; D Clifford, P Geaney, S O’Brien. Subs: G White for A Spillane (52), J Sherwood for Ó Beaglaoich (52), T Walsh for O’Connor (55), K Spillane for Murphy (inj 60), J O’Donoghue for Barry (65), D Moynihan for Crowley (72).
REF: C Lane (Cork).
2019 ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL
DUBLIN 1-16 KERRY 1-16
Another of the modern great Dublin versus Kerry championship games in terms of tension, drama and excitement.
The game had everything - goals, sending off, a clearance off the line, a penalty save, shot off crossbar, Hawkeye cancelling out a point which had been signalled as a score by an umpire, a late equaliser by the Dubs, an even later chance for Dublin to win it (despite being down a man for over half the match) and then almost nine minutes of added time it was over.
The tension was unreal down the closing stretch with Kerry reeling in Dublin, thanks to sub Killiane Spillane's 56th minute goal, and then edging in front with the finishing line in sight.
But Dublin did not buckle, despite losing Jonny Cooper towards the close of the first half to a second yellow card, and Jim Gavin's side had the better of the late scoring opportunities with Dean Rock hitting the equaliser before missing a very difficult free, from practically on the Cusack Stand sideline, which would have seen his side to victory.
Dublin were more economical in the opening stages of the first half but the Kingdom were generating plenty of opportunities and had the Dubs in trouble at stages.
In the sixth minute Kerry went hunting for an early goal but Paul Geaney's low effort to the corner was cleared off the line by James McCarthy.
Six minutes later Kerry were awarded a penalty, with Cooper picking up a costly 'tick', but Stephen Cluxton showed all his experience and expertise to parry Geaney's spot-kick out for a '45' that was clinically scored by ace marksman Seán O'Shea.
It wasn't the first occasion Cluxton was to come to Dublin's rescue as he pulled off a great fingertip save that pushed a Paul Murphy goal attempt onto the crossbar in the second half.
Seán O'Shea nosed Kerry 0-5 to 0-4 up before in the 19th minute Jack McCaffrey exploded through the centre of the Kerry defence, following a superb Brian Howard fetch off a Cluxton kickout, and rattled the net.
By the break Dublin were 1-9 to 0-8 clear but had lost Cooper just before the close of the opening half.
Goal-scorer McCaffrey was Dublin's main threat overall and his penetrating runs drove on his men as their numerical disadvantage looked to take its toll at times.
The flying Clontarf clubman kicked three second half points and with 15 minutes of normal time remaining Dublin were 1-14 to 0-12 ahead.
Kerry sub Tommy Walsh had a hand in a few scores and a frenetic finish was in store.
The Kingdom got in front, Dublin replied and they lifted their game for one last effort.
Sub Paddy Small was fouled but Rock's free just faded to the left and the counties had to do it all again.
SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 '45'), J McCaffrey 1-3, P Mannion 0-2, C O’Callaghan 0-1. Kerry: S O’Shea 0-10 (0-4f, 0-3 '45'), K Spillane 1-1, D Clifford 0-2, G Crowley, T Walsh, S O’Brien 0-1.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Byrne, M Fitzsimons, J Cooper; J Small, J McCarthy, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, C Kilkenny, B Howard; P Mannion, C O’Callaghan, D Rock. Subs: P Small for Macauley (52), E Murchan for J Small (temp, 58), D Connolly for Howard (68), C Costello for Mannion (68), K McManamon for Scully (70).
KERRY: S Ryan; J Foley, T O’Sullivan, T Morley; P Murphy, G Crowley, B O Beaglaoich; D Moran, J Barry; G White, S O’Shea, A Spillane; D Clifford, P Geaney, S O’Brien. Subs: K Spillane for A Spillane (45), J Sherwood for White (49), T Walsh for O Beaglaoich (53), J Lyne for Crowley (68), D Moynihan for Barry (70+3), M Griffin for O’Brien (70+7).
REF: D Gough (Meath).
2019 NFL DIVISION 1
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9: Austin Stack Park, Tralee
KERRY 1-18 DUBLIN 2-14
The 50th league meeting between these great rivals was indeed a golden occasion as they served up a brilliant clash full of intensity at Austin Stack Park, Tralee
An attendance of 11,982 spectators got great value as Dublin came with a storming finish to come from five points in arrears to draw level, had chances to win, but fell foul to a well-worked late Kerry score.
Kerry looked in control when they moved 1-15 to 2-7 clear when sub Tommy Walsh scored with just less than a half hour remaining.
But heading into the last ten minutes Dublin summoned up all their battling spirit following the sending off of Michael Fitzsimons (second yellow card) to hit four unanswered points from Brian Fenton, Paul Mannion (free) and two (one free) from Cormac Costello to draw level three minutes into added time.
However, it was the Kingdom who had the final word when Stephen O’Brien and David Moran combined to release Peter Crowley to fist over the winner in the 74th minute.
The opening half was played at championship pace and when the dust settled Kerry were 1-11 to 2-6 to the good.
The Kingdom started the better but Dublin had just established a firm footing though trailing 0-6 to 0-5 when disaster struck in the 23rd minute.
A high delivery by Dara Moynihan into the danger area created confusion in the last line of the Dublin defence and Stephen O’Brien latched onto a breaking ball to beat Evan Comerford from close range.
Dublin responded in magnificent fashion when Con O’Callaghan cut a direct path for the Kerry goal and his shot took a deflection on its way past netminder Shane Ryan.
Back came Kerry with four points in succession - Tom O’Sullivan, two Seán O’Shea frees and Dara Moynihan – but before the interval Paul Mannion got a classic Mannion goal when he rounded his man and arrowed for goal firing low to the net for Dublin to trail by two points at the break.
SCORERS - Kerry: S O’Shea 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘45’), S O’Brien 1-1, P Geaney, D Moynihan 0-2 each, J Sherwood, T O’Sullivan, G O’Brien, T Walsh, P Crowley 0-1 each. Dublin: D Rock 0-5 (0-4f), P Mannion 1-2 (0-1m, 0-1f), J McCarthy 0-3, C O’Callaghan 1-0, C Costello 0-2 (0-1f), D Gavin, B Fenton 0-1 each.
KERRY: S Ryan; P Crowley, J Sherwood, B Ó Beaglaíoch; T Morley, P Murphy, T O’Sullivan; J Barry, A Spillane; D Moynihan, S O’Shea, G O’Brien; D O’Connor, S O’Brien, P Geaney. Subs: T Walsh for O’Connor (ht), M Griffin for Spillane (53), G Crowley for Geaney (55), D Moran for Morley (60), M Geaney for G O’Brien (70).
DUBLIN: E Comerford; M Fitzsimons, E Murchan, E Lowndes; J McCarthy, J Cooper, J Small; B Fenton, D Gavin; N Scully, C O’Callaghan, B Howard; P Mannion, D Rock, C Costello. Subs: P Andrews for Lowndes (ht), J McCaffrey for Cooper (47), K McManamon for Rock (61), P Flynn for Scully (61), MD Macauley for Gavin (61).
REF: M Deegan (Laois).
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A storming second half saw Dublin outclass Kerry by 12 points in this NFL Division 1 duel at Croke Park in front of an attendance of 24,026.
However, the sight of Cian O'Sullivan being taken off with what looked like a bad shoulder injury was a worrying concern as the Dubs are already without Jack McCaffrey for several more months.
Dublin led 1-8 to 0-8 despite a slow start but then hit the turbos to score 1-6 unanswered and but for spurning some second half goal chances could have prevailed by an even more convincing margin.
The Kingdom had the goal chances also, but let two opportunities go in the opening half when Paul Geaney hitting and upright and young Seán O'Shea, a minor All-Ireland winner in 2015 and '16, shanking wide from close range with Stephen Cluxton stranded and only Jonny Cooper on the line.
Kerry started well with David Clifford, a minor of the last two years, impressing early on and taking Cian O'Sullivan for two points form play as well as a free which he won himself.
The switch of Jonny Cooper onto Clifford helped Dublin but it was far more than that as Jim Gavin's men upped their tempo, movement and work-rate after a sluggish opening.
At midfield Brian Fenton and especially Michael Darragh Macauley took the game to Kerry and Dublin dictated the game for the most part bar the opening 20 minutes.
Dublin's first goal was a great example of their pace and power. A free from Clifford was brilliantly cut out by the impressive Cooper and eventual Dublin emerged a pace through David Byrne, the ball was taken on by Brian Fenton before Shane Carthy's point effort was parried upward with Niall Scully arriving to fist the ball to the net, much like he had done for his goal against Mayo.
Byrne performed the same lung-busting run in the second period also to become the link man for a second half point.
The second half was a different story as Dublin dominated the opening 20 minutes and overall, either side of half-time, it was almost 30 minutes between Kerry scores.
Ciarán Kilkenny, who enjoyed a very productive afternoon, grabbed Dublin's second goal as they came raiding with intent again.
His initial attempt was saved by Shane Murphy but he scrambled the rebound home.
Dublin could have had more goals but both Dean Rock and Ciarán Reddin were denied by the same upright at the Davin End.
SCORERS – Dublin: C Kilkenny 1-3, D Rock 0-4 (0-3f), N Scully 1-1, P Andrews 0-3, C Basquel 0-2, C Costello, J Cooper, P McMahon, P Small 0-1 each. Kerry: D Clifford 0-4 (2f), K McCarthy, M Burns 0-2 each, S O’Shea, P Geaney, M Geaney 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Byrne, J Cooper, C O’Sullivan; S Carthy, J Small, E Lowndes; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, C Basquel, B Howard; P Andrew, C Kilkenny, D Rock. Subs: P Small for Carthy (17), P McMahon for J Small (ht, black card), C Reddin for P Small (52, temporary), P Small for Rock (58), A McGowan for O’Sullivan (64 inj), C Costello for Kilkenny (68), E Ó Conghaile for Fenton (68).
KERRY: S Murphy; P Murphy, J Foley, R Shanahan; P Crowley, B Ó Beaglaoich, S Enright; J Barry, B O’Sullivan; M Burns, S O’Shea, A Spillane; D Clifford, P Geaney, K McCarthy. Subs: É Ó Conchúir for O’Sullivan (33, black card), M Geaney for O’Shea (ht, inj), BJ Keane for P Geaney (ht), F Fitzgerald for McCarthy (48), D Moran for Spillane (50), D Casey for Burns (64).
REF: C Branagan (Down).
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2017 NFL DIVISION 1 FINAL
SUNDAY, APRIL 9: Croke Park
KERRY 0-20 DUBLIN 1-16
Dublin's stranglehold on the NFL Division 1 title was broken by a ravenous Kerry side in this pulsating encounter in Croke Park.
An attendance of 53,840 flocked to GAA headquarters for a great double header and in the top-flight duel the Dubs fell just shy with Dean Rock hitting the right upright with the last kick of the match in the fourth minute of added time.
These counties have served up some memorable games during their modern rivalry and Sunday's most recent installment did not lack for intensity or drama.
Dublin led by the minimum, 0-10 to 0-9, at the break but it was Kerry's scoring surge on the restart which ultimately decided the game.
The Dubs, as ever, fought to the end with the introduction of Michael Darragh Macauley, Paul Mannion - who scored 1-2 from play - and Kevin McManamon injected life into a Dublin display that played second fiddle to the Kingdom for stretches of the contest.
Kerry looked hungrier around the breaking ball and in many respects beat Dublin at the own game with the half-back line breaking forward with pace and power to put the Dubs on the back foot, particularly during that key third quarter.
The black card for Diarmuid Connolly in the 30th minute didn't help Dublin's cause, to state the obvious, as the St Vincent's forward was showing signs of becoming an influential character in the game.
Goal-scoring chances were at a premium but Stephen Cluxton did superbly to deny Kerry on two occasions and after the second one Philly McMahon foiled Kerry on the follow-up.
Kerry hit five unanswered points at the start of the second half and unlike on so many occasions during this league Dublin could not find the winning scores.
Dublin's goal arrived eight minutes from time with Michael Darragh Macauley breaking though the Kerry defence before off-loading to Mannion who did excellently to cut back on his less favoured right foot and slide the ball to the net to make it 0-17 to 1-13.
However, a Paul Geaney free and David Moran score from play gave Kerry breathing space, Dublin came again but Bryan Sheehan curled over a fine point on the run.
But Dublin came once last time. Mick Fitzsimons was breaking through the middle at pace but was hauled down by Anthony Maher, who was shown a black card, up stepped Dean Rock but his long-range effort was inches away from forcing extra-time.
KERRY: B Kealy; R Shanahan M Griffin, F Fitzgerald; T Morley, P Murphy, P Crowley; D Moran, J Barry; J Lyne, M Geaney, D Walsh; K McCarthy, P Geaney, J Savage. Subs: G Crowley for Lyne (bc, 27), D O'Sullivan for Savage (59), BJ Keane for McCarthy (62), B Sheehan for Walsh (67), A Maher for Barry (70), A Spillane for M Geaney (72).
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, M Fitzsimons, D Daly; J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan E Lowndes; B Fenton, C Kilkenny; P Flynn, D Connolly, C Reddin; B Brogan, D Rock, P Andrews. Subs: N Scully for Connolly (bc, 30), P Mannion for Andrews (41), MD Macauley for Reddin (48), K McManamon for O'Sullivan (49), D Byrne for Lowndes (60), E O'Gara for Flynn (68).
REF: P Neilan (Roscommon).
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2017 NFL DIVISION 1
SATURDAY, MARCH 18: Austin Stack Park, Tralee
DUBLIN 0-13 KERRY 0-13
Dublin showed true grit to salvage a draw in this NFL Division 1 battle with Kerry in Austin Stack Park, Tralee.
In very blustery conditions it was a real physical contest with late scores from Dean Rock (free) and sub Paul Mannion deservedly granted the Dubs a share of the spoils.
The counties were level at half-time before a pulsating second half.
Kerry moved four up at one stage before Dublin brilliantly lifted their game massively following the introduction of Paul Flynn, Kevin McManamon and Eoghan O'Gara to move two up themselves.
The game oscillated in the dying minutes with Kerry looking set for victory as they established a two-point cushion but Dublin kept going to the end to secure the draw.
Kerry opened the better in the opening half with scores from Peter Crowley and Paul Geaney before Dublin eventually responded through a Dean Rock free and fine point from play from Conor McHugh, following good work from Eric Lowndes.
Three Dean Rock frees had Dublin in front heading towards the interval before Stephen Cluxton performed an excellent reflex save to deny Paul Geaney from close range as he redirected his thunderbolt over for a point.
The Kingdom began the second half in top gear with points from Paul Geaney, David Moran and Kevin McCarthy.
By the 45th minute Kerry were four points to the good, then Dublin hit their best passage of the night with the freetaking of Rock punishing Kerry's many indiscretions as well as McHugh and O'Gara firing points to put Dublin two up by the 55th minute.
Dublin almost had a goal but Conor McHugh was denied by Mark Griffin on the line, before Griffin and keeper Brendan Kealy stopped Brian Fenton's follow-up effort, with a suspicion of the ball being handled on the ground by the defender in-between.
The drama in this contest was far from over as Kerry made a resounding reply with Geaney slotting two frees and points from BJ Keane and Donnchadh Walsh edging the hosts two in front.
Dublin were not going to give up though as Rock (free) and Mannion, who had been introduced for the injured John Small, had the final words. Ciaran Kilkenny was dismissed in the last minute of added time for a second yellow card offence.
SCORERS - Kerry: P Geaney 0-7 (0-4f), P Crowley, D Moran, B Kealy (0-1 '45'), BJ Keane, K McCarthy D Walsh 0-1 each. Dublin: D Rock 0-9 (0-9f), C McHugh 0-2, E O'Gara, P Mannion 0-1 each.
KERRY: B Kealy; M Griffin, S Enright, R Shanahan; P Crowley, T Morley, K Young; D Moran, J Barry; A Spillane, P Murphy, D Walsh; J Savage, P Geaney, K McCarthy. Subs: J Lyne for Enright (16, inj), S O'Brien for Savage (ht), BJ Keane for Spillane (52), A Maher for Barry (54), D O'Sullivan for McCarthy (61), M Geaney for Young (61, inj).
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; D Daly, P McMahon, M Fitzsimons; J Small, D Byrne, E Lowndes; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, C Kilkenny, SB Carthy; D Rock, P Andrews, C McHugh. Subs: C O'Sullivan for Byrne (ht), P Flynn for Scully (41), K McManamon for Macauley (44), E O'Gara for Andrews (46), P Mannion for Small (48, inj), B Brogan for McHugh (69).
REF: S Hurson (Tyrone).
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2016 ALL-IRELAND SFC SEMI-FINAL
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28: Croke Park
DUBLIN 0-22 KERRY 2-14
The Dubs and the Kingdom have served up some of the most fabled duels over the years and this All-Ireland SFC semi-final was another epic game for the ages.
Jim Gavin's men led 0-9 to 0-4 by the 24th minute and were well in control of the game but by the break were 2-8 to 0-9 in arrears after Kerry had shocked them with 2-4 without reply.
It proved to be only a temporary blip in the Dublin defence who for the most part defended heroically in the face of some great Kerry interplay and movement.
Time and again the likes of Jonny Cooper provided a high-wire act as the timing of his interceptions was perfect to help his team out of what were potentially tricky situations.
In the 30th minute Kerry pressured Dublin on their kickout and then quickly transferred the ball for Darran O'Sullivan to fire to the net and disaster struck again for the Dubs before half-time when Paul Geaney got a flick on Anthony Maher's point effort dropping short and the ball was adjudged to have crossed the line by ref David Gough's umpires at the Hill 16 end.
Before the interval Colm Cooper tagged on a free to see the Kerry boys enter the break in ecstatic fashion and five points to the good.
While the walls might have looked to have caved in on the Dubs a strong restart to the second period was imperative.
They got out of the blocks well with deadball expert Dean Rock, who contributed a massive 0-12 (0-8f, 0-2 '45'), converting a 37th minute free after his Ballymun Kickhams club-mate John Small had been fouled.
Bernard Brogan fisted over following good work by Diarmuid Connolly and David Byrne and a fine Rock point from play in the 40th minute added to Dublin's momentum.
'The Gooch' halted the rising blue tide with a free but a Rock free and '45' was followed by a super Brian Fenton point off his left to bring the sides level 0-15 to 2-9 in the 50th minute.
However, Dublin could not edge in front and Kerry bounded back with points from BJ Keane, Geaney and James O'Donoghue to go three clear.
It set up a pulsating ending to the game and once again it was the Dubs who staged the grandstand finish.
Philly McMahon, Rock (two) and the tireless Kevin McManamon had Dublin in front 0-20 to 2-13 by the 70th minute but it was only momentarily as Stephen O'Brien equalised and a replay loomed large.
But Dublin continued to drive forward and were rewarded with two brilliant late, late scores from Eoghan O'Gara and Diarmuid Connolly to seal victory and see the Dubs record their fourth senior championship victory in-a-row against Kerry.
SCORERS - Dublin: D Rock 0-12 (0-8f, 0-2 '45'), D Connolly 0-3, K McManamon, B Brogan 0-2 each, P McMahon, B Fenton, E O'Gara 0-1 each. Kerry: P Geaney 1-4, C Cooper 0-5 (0-4f), D O'Sullivan 1-0, D Moran, P Murphy, S O'Brien, J O'Donoghue, BJ Keane 0-1 each.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; J Cooper, P McMahon, D Byrne; J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, J Small; B Fenton, MD Macauley; P Flynn, D Connolly, C Kilkenny, K McManamon, D Rock, B Brogan. Subs: P Andrews for Flynn (46), P Mannion for Small (50), E O’Gara for MacAuley (60), M Fitzsimons for Cooper (67), C Costello for Brogan (71).
KERRY: B Kelly; S Enright; M Griffin, K Young; A O'Mahony, P Crowley,T Morley; A Maher, D Moran; P Murphy, D O'Sullivan, D Walsh; P Geaney, K Donaghy, C Cooper. Subs: S O’Brien for O’Sullivan (39), J O’Donoghue for Donaghy (50), B.J. Keane for Walsh (52), B Ó Beaglaoich for Morley (56), B Sheehan for Maher (58), M Ó Sé for Geaney (67).
REF: D Gough (Meath).
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2015 ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20: Croke Park
DUBLIN 0-12 KERRY 0-9
For the third time in five seasons Dublin are All-Ireland senior football champions following their superb victory over Kerry.
At this stage it was three All-Irelands, five Leinsters, three National Leagues in recent times .... a remarkable haul from a remarkable bunch of players.
In very tricky weather conditions open, one touch, quick release football was always going to be close to impossible.
It was a day when resolute, determined defence was the hard currency and Dublin had it in large quantities as Jim Gavin's men put on an outstanding defensive display.
The impressive Brian Fenton opened Dublin's account inside 17 seconds and Dean Rock added a free soon after.
By the break Dublin were 0-8 to 0-4 clear.
Kerry showed glimpses of their capacity but overall they were outclassed by the brilliance of Jonny Cooper, Rory O'Carroll and Philly McMahaon.
McMahon also got forward to kick one of the points of the opening half while his half-back colleagues, especially Jack McCaffrey, had the Kingdom on the back foot as Dublin concluded the half on the up to lead by four points.
The introduction of Darran O'Sullivan in the second half lifted Kerry hopes as his searing pace began to haul the Kingdom closer.
But it was a day when an intercept, a half-back, winning a 50/50 ball brought supporters off the seats as Dublin proved the had learned the lessons of last year's defeat to Donegal.
Dublin saw the game out with great assurance as Kerry elected to go route one time after time while sub Alan Brogan brought all his experience to the game to kick an important point from play as Dublin ran out deserved winners.
SCORERS - Dublin: P Flynn, B Brogan (0-1f), D Rock (0-2f) 0-2 each, B Fenton, S Cluxton (0-1f), J McCaffrey, P Andrews, P McMahon, A Brogan 0-1 each. Kerry: J O'Donoghue 0-3, D O'Sullivan, P Geaney 0-2 each, J Lyne, B Sheehan (0-1f) each.
DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, R O'Carroll, J Cooper; J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, D Bastick; P Flynn, D Connolly, C Kilkenny; P Andrews, D Rock, B Brogan. Subs: K McManamon for Rock (ht), MD Macauley for Bastick (40), M Fitzsimons for Cooper (49), J Small for McCaffrey (53), D Daly for O'Sullivan (61), A Brogan for Fenton (67).
KERRY: B Kealy; F Fitzgerald, A O’Mahony, S Enright; J Lyne, P Crowley, K Young; A Maher, D Moran; S O’Brien, J Buckley, D Walsh; C Cooper, P Geaney, J O’Donoghue. Subs: D O'Sullivan for O'Brien (ht), B Sheehan for Buckley (44), K Donaghy for Geaney (50), P Galvin for Moran (57), P Murphy for O'Mahony (bc, 59), BJ Keane for O'Donoghue (61).
REF: D Coldrick (Meath).
