Recent meetings: Dublin v Kildare (football)

Dublin senior footballers face Kildare in this Sunday's Leinster SFC final at Croke Park (4.0).

Sunday's clash will be the 55th SFC meeting of the Dubs and the Lilywhites with the men from the capital having prevailed on 36 occasions, five draws, 13 Kildare victories.

They last met in the Championship in the 2019 provincial semi-final, a game the Dubs won 0-26 to 0-11.

Here we look back at the most recent encounters between Dublin and Kildare.

-----------------------------------------

MOST RECENT CHAMPIONSHIP CLASHES

2019: Dublin 0-26 Kildare 0-11 (Leinster semi-final)

2017: Dublin 2-23 Kildare 2-17 (Leinster final)

2015: Dublin 5-18 Kildare 0-14 (Leinster semi-final)

2013: Dublin 4-16 Kildare 1-9 (Leinster semi-final)

2011: Dublin 1-12 Kildare 1-11 (Leinster semi-final)

2009: Dublin 2-15 Kildare 0-18 (Leinster final)

2002: Dublin 2-13 Kildare 2-11 (Leinster final)

2000: Kildare 2-11 Dublin 0-12 (Leinster final replay)

2000: Dublin 0-14 Kildare 0-14 (Leinster final)

1998: Kildare 0-12 Dublin 1-8 (Leinster quarter-final replay)

1998: Dublin 0-10 Kildare 0-10 (Leinster quarter-final)

------------------------------------------

2019 LEINSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL

DUBLIN 0-26 KILDARE 0-11

Dublin progressed to the Leinster SFC final following this 15-point victory over Kildare in Sunday's provincial semi-final at Croke Park in front of an attendance of 36,126.

While the Dubs were convincing winners on the final scoreboard there were aspects of their play they will be working on ahead of the Leinster decider against Meath in two weeks' time.

While Jim Gavin's men didn't raise a green flag they had to thank Stephen Cluxton for his razor reflexes to deny the Lilywhites on two occasions as the bore down on goal.

The Parnell's man marked his 100th SFC appearance with a top quality display.

Cluxton made a point-blank save from Ben McCormack in the opening half. After the break Ben McCormack looked set to score before he sliced wide as Cluxton advanced and with 20 minutes to go McCormack angled in on the Dublin goal but lost his footing under pressure before offloading to Keith Cribbin who had his goal effort brilliant thwarted by Dublin's captain.

Dublin's scoring heroes though were Cormac Costello again and Paul Mannion as both gave a masterclass in precision and accuracy.

Costello, who hit 1-12 last time out against Louth, tallied 0-9 while Mannion's tally of seven points included some very stylish long-range points off his left foot.

Dublin hit pockets of impressive football including the opening 13 minutes at which stage they led 0-7 to 0-1 and again over the concluding 20-plus minutes when the outscored their opponents 0-11 to 0-2.

Kildare opened the day's scoring with a pointed free from the impressive Adam Tyrrell but Dublin found their stride early on as points from Mannion (two), Costello (three, one free, one '45'), Cian Kilkenny and Brian Fenton had Dublin 0-7 to 0-1 clear after just 13 minutes.

The Lilywhites though responded as Dublin's work-rate dropped and clipped the next three points before the 16th minute with the potent Ben McCormack on target on two occasions.

By the interval Dublin were 0-11 to 0-7 in front with Cluxton having to make a great close-range save to deny McCormack following a good ball from the high-fielding Kevin Feely.

Dublin got the opening three points of the second half when Costello (free), Mannion and Brian Howard were on target to make it 0-14 to 0-7 but in between Kildare's McCormack blazed wide with the goal at his mercy.

In the 50th minute Cluxton showed his athleticism to deny Keith Cribbin and with that Kildare's challenge faded.

Over the concluding 20 minutes Dublin played some fine combination football to outscore their opponents convincingly and set up their Leinster final against the Royal County.

One concern for Dublin was the sight of Darren Gavin hobbling off injured in added time, as the Dubs had used their allowed subs he could not be replaced.

SCORERS - Dublin: C Costello 0-9 (0-2f, 0-2 ’45’), P Mannion 0-7, C O’Callaghan, C Kilkenny 0-3 each, B Fenton 0-2, B Howard, P Small 0-1 each. Kildare: A Tyrrell 0-4 (0-1f), B McCormack 0-3, N Flynn (0-1f), M O’Grady, K Feely, D Hyland 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, C O’Sullivan, D Byrne; J McCarthy, J Small, J McCaffrey; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, C Kilkenny, B Howard; P Mannion, C Costello, C O’Callaghan. Subs: P Small for Macauley (53), P McMahon for O’Sullivan (53), E Murchan for McCaffrey (62), D Gavin for Kilkenny (62), P Andrews for O’Callaghan (64), R O’Carroll for Fitzsimons (65), D Gavin (inj, 72).

KILDARE: M Donnellan; P Kelly, M O’Grady, M Dempsey; D Hyland, E Doyle, K Cribbin; K Feely, T Moolick; D Slattery, F Conway, C Healy; A Tyrrell, B McCormack, N Flynn. Subs: K O’Callaghan for Flynn (29), C O’Donoghue for Moolick (57), J Hyland for Healy (59), E O’Flaherty for Cribbin (61), C Hartley for Slattery (67).

REF: C Lane (Cork).

------------------------------------------

2017 LEINSTER SFC FINAL

SUNDAY, JULY 16: Croke Park

DUBLIN 2-23 KILDARE 1-17

This Dublin team keeps on rewriting history when securing the county’s seventh Leinster SFC title in-a-row for the first time with this provincial decider victory over Kildare at Croke Park.

The crowd of 66,734 were treated to an intense battle that started at break-neck pace.

The early moments contained plenty of decisive moments as the Dubs stole an early march on their way to victory.

Daniel Flynn had pointed for the Lilywhites before Tommy Moolick missed a gilt-edged goal opportunity and his side quickly paid the price.

Points from Paul Mannion, Ciarán Kilkenny, off his left, and the outstanding Con O’Callaghan had Dublin 0-3 to 0-1 in front before they struck for two goals in quick succession.

A great handpass from Kilkenny found Dean Rock strolling through the heart of the Kildare defence and his finish was ruthless.

A minute later James McCarthy fired to the net, after dove-tailing with Con, before an O’Callaghan point, following a brilliantly timed shoulder by James McCarthy on Daniel Flynn at the other end, had Jim Gavin’s men 2-4 to 0-1 clear by the 17th minute.

Dean Rock was black-carded in the 24th minute but his replacement Bernard Brogan enjoyed a superb afternoon when scoring five points from play.

By the break Kildare had steadied themselves and had cut the deficit to 2-8 to 0-10.

The Dubs restarted well and by the 41st minute were 2-11 to 0-11 clear following points from an O’Callaghan free, for a foul on Philly McMahon, Paddy Andrews, following great defence by Jack McCaffrey, and Bernard Brogan, again with McCaffrey to the fore.

Kildare though were still going strong but spurned another great goal opportunity when marauding forward Daniel Flynn was denied by Stephen Cluxton.

Dublin kept Kildare at arm’s length to the finish and could have had a third goal but ref Anthony Nolan whistled back for a free as Paul Mannion was clipping the ball to the net.

Victory completed the treble of provincial football championships for Dublin at senior, under-21 and minor level while for captain Stephen Cluxton he joined Kerry’s Marc and Tomás O Sé as the most ‘capped’ players at senior football intercounty championship level with his 88th appearance.

SCORERS - Dublin: C O’Callaghan 0-12 (0-6f), B Brogan 0-5, D Rock, J McCarthy 1-0 each, C Kilkenny 0-2, P Mannion, P Andrews, S Carthy, B Howard 0-1 each. Kildare: P Brophy 1-3 (0-1f), K Feely 0-5 (0-4f), D Flynn, C McNally 0-2 each, K Cribbin, J Byrne, D Slattery, N Kelly, F Dowling 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; P McMahon, C O’Sullivan, M Fitzsimons; E Lowndes, J Small, J McCaffrey; J McCarthy, B Fenton; N Scully, C Kilkenny, C O’Callaghan; P Andrews, P Mannion, D Rock. Subs: B Brogan for Rock (24, black card), S Carthy for Scully (47), D Daly for McMahon (49), K McManamon for Andrews (52), D Byrne for O’Sullivan (59), B Howard for Fenton (67).

KILDARE: M Donnellan; M O’Grady, D Hyland, O Lyons; J Byrne, E Doyle, K Cribbin; K Feely, T Moolick; D Slattery, N Kelly, F Conway; C McNally, D Flynn, P Brophy. Subs: P Cribbin for Conway (44), F Dowling for Moolick (49), P Kelly for Doyle (52), B McCormack for McNally (57), E Bolton for Byrne (63), E Callaghan for Feely (BC 64).

REF: A Nolan (Wicklow).

------------------------------------------------------------------------

2018 FL DIVISION 1 - ROUND 1

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27: Croke Park

DUBLIN 2-17 KILDARE 2-10

A superb opening to the second half saw Dublin turn a two-point deficit into a strong match-winning position in this NFL1 clash with Leinster rivals Kildare at Croke Park.

A first half goal from Luke Flynn helped Kildare to a 1-6 to 0-7 as Dublin looked a little off the pace in the early stages but the second half was a different tale. Kildare could have lead by more but squandered a good few chances.

However, with 14 minutes of the restart Dublin had tallied 2-5 without reply as they hit the turbo button to burn off the Lilywhite challenge.

In the first half Dublin were a bit ponderous as Kildare got plenty of bodies back to clog up the scoring zone, however, in the second period Dublin played the game at a higher tempo and their use of possession was more accurate.

Dublin, in fact, could have scored more with Niall Scully and Bernard Brogan missing goal chances, and Dean Rock skewing wide a follow-up chance after Bernard's goal attempt was saved by keeper Mark Donnellan.

The experienced St Oliver Plunkett's/Eoghan Ruadh forward more than made amends with some clever assists as Dublin put together some sparkling moves.

The first of these Brogan flicked the ball into the path of the in-rushing Dean Rock who angled his shot low to the far corner of the net.

From the next kickout Dublin went on the attack again and Brogan released the marauding Brian Fenton who made no mistake.

Dublin's confidence was high now and several players got in on the scoring act with ColmBasquel (0-3) and Brian Howard (0-2) contributing well to Dublin's display as the Dubs ran out easy winners despite Daniel Flynn's brilliantly taken late goal.

"We are up and running and we will take that result," said Dublin manager Jim Gavin.

"We are back training two weeks now. We were opened up a little bit and not as controlled as we would like to be.

"Our hand-passing, kick-passing and the fundamentals of our game weren’t what they should have been, I wouldn’t use the two weeks as an excuse, we just need to go after that now.

"We took some great shots and we were very clinical but how we closed out the game wouldn’t be to our standards that’s a credit to Kildare."

SCORERS - Dublin: B Fenton 1-3, D Rock 1-2 (0-2f), C Basquel 0-3, C Kilkenny, N Scully, B Howard 0-2 each, B Brogan, J Small, K McManamon 0-1 each. Kildare: D Flynn 1-2, L Flynn 1-0, E Callaghan 0-3 (0-3f), K Feely 0-2 (0-2f), N Flynn (0-1f), P Cribbin, M Donnellan (0-1f) 0-1 each.

DUBLIN: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, D Byrne, D Daly; J Cooper, J McCarthy, J Small; B Fenton, MD Macauley; N Scully, C Kilkenny, B Howard; C Basquel, D Rock, B Brogan. Subs: K McManamon for Macauley (46), E Lowndes for Cooper (51), P Mannion for Rock (55), P McMahon for Fitzsimons (55), C O'Shea for Daly (59), P Andrews for Brogan (60).

KILDARE: M Donnellan; D Hyland, M O'Grady, P Kelly; J Byrne, E Doyle, C O'Donoghue; K Feely, L Flynn; F Conway, C Healy, P Cribbin; N Flynn, D Flynn, C McNally. Subs: D Slattery for N Flynn (inj, 5), N Kelly for Healy (bc, 20), T Moolick for Conway (51), B McCormack for L Flynn (56), E Callaghan for Feely (61), M Hyland for P Kelly (61).

REF: C Lane (Cork).