Dublin–Kerry Gaelic football rivalry

1975-1979: the greatest era

Their first meeting in a decade and their first All-Ireland final clash in twenty years, reigning champions Dublin faced a young and inexperienced Kerry team on 28 September 1975. The Dubs were stunned after just three minutes when John Egan pounced for the opening goal. At half-time, Kerry led by 1-6 to 0-4. Jimmy Keaveney points from placed balls kept the Dubs in touch to some degree in the second half, but Kerry always had that extra gear they could use and a Ger O'Driscoll goal and a Pat Spillane sealed a surprise 2-12 to 0-11 victory. Kerry captain Mickey "Ned" O'Sullivan was unable to accept the Sam Maguire Cup as he was knocked unconscious during the game and had to be hospitalised.

For the second successive year, Dublin and Kerry qualified for the All-Ireland final on 26 September 1976. The Dubs unveiled a new hero when Kevin Moran careered through the Kerry defence, took a return pass from Bernard Brogan and sent a shot screaming narrowly wide to set the pace for a fast, thrilling match. John McCarthy finished a five-man move for their first goal after fifteen minutes. Jimmy Keaveney converted a penalty at the start of the second half before Brian Mullins bagged a third with twelve minutes remaining. The 3-8 to 0-10 victory was Dublin's first defeat of Kerry since 1934.

On 21 August 1977, Dublin and Kerry met for the third successive year in what has been described as the greatest game of all time. Kerry were a goal to the good at the break - their green flag coming from Seán Walsh - in a period where Dublin hit eight wides. However, it was Dublin's dominance of midfield in the second period and Bernard Brogan's introduction in that sector, that saw Dublin gain a real foothold. John McCarthy goaled shortly after the break to bring the sides level. Points were exchanged thereafter as the intensity level ratcheted up. Yet, it was the Dubs' graph that was rising faster. In a move started by Brian Mullins, the ball eventually found its way to Tony Hanahoe, who slipped it off to David Hickey and the latter shot brilliantly to the back of the net for Dublin's second goal. Goal number three saw Hickey, Hanahoe and Bobby Doyle combine to set up Bernard Brogan for the clinching score as Dublin ran out five-point winners.

Dublin were the red hot favourites to make it three All-Ireland titles in-a-row in 1978 as they faced Kerry in the All-Ireland decider on 24 September 1978. All was going well for the Dubs as they had a five-point lead after twenty minutes. What subsequently unfolded was one of the most amazing turnarounds in All-Ireland final history. In the 32nd minute a foul was awarded against Dublin goalkeeper Paddy Cullen who continued to remonstrate with the referee as Mikey Sheehy lined up to take the free. Sheehy lobbed the ball into an empty net over the back-peddling Cullen who crashed into the side netting. The Kerry full-forward line scored 5-8 between them, with Eoin "Bomber" Liston scoring a hat-trick of goals in the second half to secure a 5-11 to 0-9 victory.

For the fifth successive championship season, Dublin and Kerry faced each other in the All-Ireland series on 16 September 1979. Starting without Ger Power, losing John O'Keeffe to injury and having Páidí Ó Sé sent off did not deter Kerry who crushed Dublin with a shattering Mikey Sheehy goal after ten minutes, another Sheehy penalty after 56 minutes and a John Egan goal eight minutes from the end. Jim Ronayne's controversial hand-passed goal provided little solace for Dublin, whose 3-13 to 1-8 defeat brought the curtain down on their great team of the decade.

1984-1985: Kerry dominate

After a five-year absence, Dublin and Kerry faced each other in the All-Ireland decider on 23 September 1984. Dublin were the reigning All-Ireland champions and were well fancied to retain the title as Kerry had lost the 1982 All-Ireland final to Offaly and the 1983 Munster final to Cork. Bizarrely, an article in the RTÉ Guide described the Kerry squad as "a cowardly blend of experienced players, has-beens and a few newcomers" and acted as motivation for the entire team. Kerry led by 0-7 to 0-3 at half-time and by six points when Barney Rock scored Dublin's goal. Kerry responded by stretching on again. Dublin's return of 1-6, from only two scoring forwards, was their lowest against Kerry since 1955. The 0-14 to 1-6 victory gave Kerry the Centenary All-Ireland title.

Dublin and Kerry qualified for the All-Ireland decider once again on 22 September 1985. Kerry proved that they were far from finished and seized the initiative with a Jack O'Shea penalty after 11 minutes. Dublin tailed by nine points at the interval, however, they came storming back with two goals by Joe McNally. A Timmy O'Dowd goal steadied Kerry as they went on to retain the title by 2-12 to 2-8.

2001-2009: 21st century revival

After a 17-year hiatus, Dublin and Kerry renewed their rivalry in an All-Ireland quarter-final at Semple Stadium, Thurles on 4 August 2001. Kerry had been in charge for three quarters of the match, with Dara Ó Cinnéide contributing six points, primarily from placed balls, and also providing the pass for Aodán Mac Gearailt to score a goal after just 11 minutes. For long stages it looked like Kerry would run out easy winners as Collie Moran and Dessie Farrell spurned two goal chances in the first half. After 46 minutes Kerry were eight points clear. When referee Michael Curley awarded Kerry a somewhat dubious free, Dublin manager Tommy Carr was quick to vent his frustration and remonstrated strongly with the Galway official. That face-off brought Dublin to life. Vinny Murphy and Darren Homan bagged quick-fire goals as Dublin scored 2-3 without replay to give them a one-point lead as the game drew to a close. When Dublin goalkeeper David Byrne miscued his kick-out, Maurice Fitzgerald responded with what has been described as the greatest point in the history of the championship. 45 metres out on the sideline and with the outside of his right boot, Fitzgerald steered the football over the bar to level the game. Dublin still had a chance to win but substitute Wayne McCarthy didn’t have the distance into the wind from a 45 straight in front of the posts and the game ended in a 2-11 to 1-14 draw.

The All-Ireland quarter-final replay a week later on 11 August 2001 was also played at the home of hurling. Johnny Crowley, who was held scoreless in the drawn match, was unmarkable in the replay as he helped himself to 2-2. He slipped past Paddy Christie on 13 minutes to score his first goal and when the Dublin defender slipped to the turf in the 22nd minute, Crowley once again fired the ball past David Byrne. In nine minutes Dublin went from being level to conceding 2-4 while managing just a point themselves. Kerry were reduced to fourteen men when Tomás Ó Sé was handed a straight red card for a foul on Collie Moran as the Dublin player bore down on goal. The Dubs had two opportunities to rescue a draw, the first of which occurred in the 69th minute when corner back Coman Goggins raced towards goal but Kerry goalkeeper Declan O'Keeffe managed to save and the ball was cleared after a goalmouth scramble. Dublin substitute Niall O'Donoghue had an injury-time shot on goal blocked by Kerry centre back Eamonn Fitzmaurice. A brace of late points from Wayne McCarthy narrowed the deficit to three points but there was to be no late heroics to rescue Dublin who were defeated by 2-12 to 1-12.

On 14 August 2004, Dublin and Kerry renewed their All-Ireland quarter-final rivalry in what was their first Croke Park meeting in almost twenty years. In a game of two halves, Dublin dominated the first in terms of territory, possession and goal chances. Midfielder Darren Homan kicked two points and dominated the middle of the pitch initially but, like his team, he could not sustain the challenge. Ciarán Whelan, operating between midfield and centre forward where he was named to start, saw a thundering shot rebound off the crossbar as the sides were level at the interval. In contrast there was a touch of good fortune about Kerry’s goal with Colm Cooper’s half-blocked shot coming back off an upright to the unmarked Dara Ó Cinnéide, who goaled on 47 minutes. Kerry went on to dominate the rest of the match and secured a 1-15 to 1-8 victory.

The All-Ireland semi-final meeting Dublin and Kerry on 26 August 2007 is regarded as a classic in its own right. Within four minutes Dublin trailed by three points, however, Kerry lost Darragh Ó Sé to injury after twenty minutes. Dublin led by 0-8 to 0-7 at the interval, however, within eight minutes of the restart they had shipped 1-3. Kerry made the match-winning break just after the interval when man-of-the-match and team captain Declan O'Sullivan’s goal was followed by a string of points which put them 1-12 to 0-9 ahead after 49 minutes. Dublin fought back, outscoring Kerry by seven points to two in a 17-minute spell but a number of unforced errors and a late point by O’Sullivan ensured the Kingdom’s progress on a score line of 1-15 to 0-16.

On 3 August 2009, Dublin faced Kerry in an eagerly-anticipated All-Ireland quarter-final, however, the game ended in a demolition of Dublin. Colm Cooper’s goal after just 40 seconds set the tone for Kerry supremacy. That score launched the Kingdom into a compelling, enthralling exhibition of controlled football that simply blew their opponents away and they led by 1-14 to 0-3 at the break, with Gooch hitting 1-4 and skipper Darran O'Sullivan three points. Conal Keaney netted a Dublin goal on 56 minutes, but Kerry responded with the last five points of the game to win by a massive 17 points margin, Cooper finishing with a 1-7 tally in a 1-24 to 1-7 rout.

2011-present: Dublin dominance

On 18 September 2011, Dublin and Kerry faced off in their first All-Ireland final meeting in 26 years. Declan O'Sullivan’s early fisted point was Kerry’s only score of the opening 18 minutes, while it took Dublin ten minutes to get their opening score from Alan Brogan. Kerry struck for a goal in the 19th minute when Darran O'Sullivan sliced through the Dublin defence, off-loaded to Colm Cooper, and the Kerry skipper beat Stephen Cluxton. Kieran Donaghy, having moved to full-forward after starting at midfield, was later denied a second goal for Kerry. Dublin pushed ahead with two Bernard Brogan efforts, as Kerry were held scoreless for 15 minutes until Paul Galvin - in as a sub after 24 minutes - found the target. Dublin led by 0-6 to 1-2 at the end of a low-scoring first half, and surged further ahead with points from Bernard Brogan and Denis Bastick. Kerry’s vast experience began to tell in the second half, and they eased into a four-point lead with seven minutes to play. But the game took a sensational twist in the 64th minute when Dublin dragged themselves back into it with a superb goal. Alan Brogan made the break, off-loaded to Kevin McManaman, and the substitute skipped past Declan O’Sullivan and fired low past Brendan Kealy. The sides were level for a fifth time a minute later when wing-back Kevin Nolan split the posts from distance. And in a gripping finish, Cluxton kept his cool to make history as the first goalkeeper to score an All-Ireland final winner, when he slotted over a stoppage time free to seal a 1-12 to 1-11 victory.

The championship draw pitted Dublin against Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final on 1 September 2013. Michael Darragh Macauley and Bernard Brogan struck early for the Dubs, but they were knocked back by James O'Donoghue’s seventh-minute goal. Donnchadh Walsh fired in a second goal four minutes later from a Darran O'Sullivan assist. 60 seconds later Diarmuid Connolly floated in a tantalising delivery from the left, and a flying Paul Mannion rose to punch to the net past a helpless Brendan Kealy. Dublin conceded a third goal in the 20th minute when Stephen Cluxton hauled down Walsh, and O’Donoghue drilled home the penalty for a three points advantage. Both sides exchanged several points as Kerry held a 3-5 to 1-9 half-time advantage. Having conceded five points in a row, Kerry regained their composure. Twice they went level through Colm Cooper and O’Donoghue, before Darran O’Sullivan streered over the lead point from a tight angle in the 63rd minute. But there was another fascinating twist in this memorable encounter, as Dublin cut loose with a devastating 2-2 salvo in the closing stages. Kevin McManamon plundered possession 50 metres out to drive through and plant the perfect shot past Kealy, and in stoppage time Eoghan O'Gara’s drive smashed against the crossbar and over the line for a 3-18 to 3-11 victory.

On 20 September 2015, Dublin faced Kerry in the All-Ireland final for the 13th time. The five-in-a-row Leinster champions were attack-minded from the off and opened up a two-point lead. Wet conditions conspired against a quality game and with 20 minutes on the clock it was poised at 0-3 apiece. Dublin found their best form after this and took over with a series of scores, including points from defenders Jack McCaffrey and Philly McMahon. Paddy Andrews also got on the score sheet after shrugging off Fionn Fitzgerald to give Dublin a deserved 0-8 to 0-4 double-scores advantage. Kerry were guilty of wasting their own great goal chance late on as substitute Kieran Donaghy fed Killian Young but the defender fumbled his catch close to goal, allowing Dublin to regroup and block the goal threat. From their next attack Dublin substitute Alan Brogan kicked a point that proved to be their insurance score. Kerry rallied late on and Donaghy did his best under the high ball to pinch a crucial goal, but the best they could muster in the closing stages was a converted free from Bryan Sheehan as Dublin ran out 0-12 to 0-9 winners.

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