All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Dublin v Kerry
Sunday, 3.30pm
Croke Park, Dublin
Ref: Cormac Reilly (Meath)
Latest from the medics and management…
Kerry have made three changes from the team that beat Cavan last time out and there’s no place for attacker Kieran Donaghy.
The Tralee man was omitted from the side that saw off Cork in the Munster final but won back his place for the All-Ireland last-eight victory.
Manager Eamon Fitzmaurice has instead given James O’Donoghue the nod in the full forward line this time out.
Elsewhere, Mark Griffin replaces the injured Killian Young in defence while Anthony Maher returns to take David Moran’s spot at midfield.
The recovering pair of Bryan Sheehan and Aidan O’Mahony are named among the substitutes.
KERRY: Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin); Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore), Shane Enright (Tarbert); Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers), Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes); Anthony Maher (Duagh), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes); Paul Galvin (Finuge), Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes), Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane); Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)
Dublin, meanwhile, have made just one change. On paper at least.
Paddy Andrews comes in for Eoghan O’Gara for the capital but whether he takes the field on Sunday remains to be seen.
DUBLIN:
Stephen Cluxton (Parnell’s); Kevin O’Brien Naomh (Mearnóg), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna); James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Ger Brennan (St Vincent’s), Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf); Michael Darragh Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes); Paul Flynn (Fingallians), Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock), Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s); Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes), Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s), Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh)
Checking the odds…
Dublin are the clear favorites at 1/2 with Kerry available at 21/10 and the draw can be got at 9/1.
Dublin manager Jim Gavin
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Clues from the form guide…
As debut managerial campaigns go, Jim Gavin’s makes for impressive reading. A league title collected after a final fight with Tyrone, a Leinster title collected after a feisty challenge from Meath and then they found a way to get a grip on the game against Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
The Cork match may have raised a couple of issues in the number of goal chances they spurned and the anxiety their full-back line displayed at times in dealing with aerial bombardments. But overall Dublin look to be in rude health.
Kerry enter the match as provincial champions as well after defeating Cork in Munster but their quarter-final win in a lacklustre affair against Cavan did little to inspire confidence in the Kingdom.
There is an argument that Kerry have been able to prime themselves for an autumn assault in Croke Park but certainly their form needs to improve.
Consistency is the buzzword for Eamonn Fitzmaurice with second-half fadeouts being a recurring and worrying trend this year. If they are to upstage Dublin, they will need to avoid falling into that pattern of play.
Kerry manager Eamon Fitzmaurice
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
The game breakers are…
Dublin have pace to burn all over the pitch. Their rampaging half-backs Jack McCaffrey and James McCarthy have torched teams this summer and Kerry need to halt them.
Stifling the playmaking threat of Ciaran Kilkenny is another issue while elsewhere in the Dublin attack there is menace in newcomer Paul Mannion and Diarmuid Connolly. In addition there were signs against Cork that Bernard Brogan is returning to form.
Kerry’s match-up’s in defence will be crucial. Fitzmaurice is an astute manager and while the O Sé’s and Shane Enright are accustomed to this level it is a test for the talented trio of Mark Griffin, Peter Crowley and Fionn Fitzgerald.
Kerry will look to gain a foothold in midfield here. Do that and they can cut out the supply to Dublin’s much-vaunted attack. In turn they can feed their own forward line where the names of Cooper, O’Sullivan and Galvin ensure they will always provide a challenge.
Anthony Maher’s return to the team is interesting and Johnny Buckley has grown in stature this season. Their battle will be pivotal.
Kerry’s Anthony Maher
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Gazing into the crystal ball…
There have been plenty talk that this game resembles the 2009 meeting between the counties. Dublin are flying high while Kerry wait in the long grass pounced to surprise.
It’s hard to see Kerry capitulating. They have a core of class and will be ready for the challenge that Dublin will provide.
Their ability to spring a surprise centers on an ability to hone in on their best form and erase the inconsistencies that have plagued them this year.
That was something they achieved in 2009 but four years on is there enough in the tank of this experienced outfit? And this is a vastly different Dublin team now. Aside from being blessed with youth and dynamism, there is a hardened mentality and they do not panic.
Much like Cork in the quarter-final, Kerry will give Dublin plenty to think about. But Jim Gavin’s can get over the finish line in the end.
Verdict: Dublin
Please god let Kerry beat them, Jesus the dubs must be the WORST fans to have to listen to!
Actually they are not. Good craic at games. Its the Bandwagon supporters of every team that is the problem.
Even the dogs on the streets of Kerry know that the team were told to ease up against Cavan and Cork at halftime. There’ll be no easing up against Dublin.
As a Mayo fan I’d have to disagree. Yeah they can be cocky but every county has them including my own. When we beat them last year their fans were very gracious in defeat and are always good fun in the bars etc.
Hard to know what to hope for from or point of view. We have no fear of the dubs but Dublin are due a win against us and we have mental baggage against Kerry. Having said that I’d love to beat Kerry in a final.
May the best team win.
Well then you have never come across ‘real Dub’ supporters.
Listening to the anyone but Dublin brigade is getting tiring.
At least the Dubs wish other counties well.
Well said. But this HAS to be our year;right???? Oh the
@steve501 may(o) the best team win!
Dogs on the street me arse Kerry didn’t ease up on purpose they ran out of steam and ideas and this is something that Dublin will expose to the max tomorrow and comfortably win by 6-7 points
COME ON YOU BOYS IN BLUE!!!
Please tell me Amanda that that’s not your real name!! Sounds sore ;)
Ha ha I’m afraid it is!!
Nearly as bad as mine ;)
And that picture says it all too!
Overdressed? It’s what I’m wearing to Croker tomorrow for the half time streak!!!
I will be glued to the tv! Please wear a mayo thong!
It’s good to have these two teams back playing each other at the business end of the season again. Kerry v Dublin in Croke Park is possibly the crème de la crème of Gaelic Football.
I think Kerry need goals to win this game, this is not any Dublin team.
@ Begrudgy: It’s the El Classico of Gaelic football. All set for a humdinger!!
Personally I feel Dublin will win this game by 2 or 3 points.
But with any Kerry team you never write them off. This Kerry panel have over 40 All Ireland medal between them. I was a little suprised at Donnaghy not starting at Full forward. We have seen this Dublin team panic in the full back line this year. They could have started him and bomb the full back line to test them out from the start.
The other big question is can Kerry keep up with Dublins pace.
Great game in store. Best of luck to the two teams.
As I said above that’s exactly how I see this game.
Surprised Donaghy isn’t starting as i think he could really dominate O’Carroll in the air, if he was on song. But Meath showed that Dublin full back line can be got at with long, direct, low ball into the inside forwards and there’s hardly a better passer of the ball in the country than Cooper.
Dublins strength and pace are frightening though and I’d expect then to pull a couple of points clear in the last 5-10 mins.
Come on you boyz in blue #UpTheDubs
Always a great atmosphere playing Dublin. It’s the Dublin fans that make it. Some tough areas in the north Dublin stronghold – great that they finally have a brilliant team to follow. More atmosphere there than the biggest Leinster games.
It’s going to be tough but I feel & pray if Dublin play to their full potential they will win as the pace of the Dublin team could destroy the Kerry back line however anything less and Kerry will punish them especially under the high ball into their full forward line. Would be nice to have some constructive comments rather than just the C’mon you boys in blue and Dublin fans are this that and the other.
Was at the cork-Dublin game – the pace of the Dublin forwards is scary. They need to display a bit of composure though – cork should have been dead and buried by half time. Interesting to see if Kerry come out blazing as they have done all year it will be interesting but I think they ate reliant upon too many elderly statesmen and with the experience of an all Ireland win Dublin will come through.
They key in these matches is the winners experience – Kerry held that over Dublin for years – that is not a mental weakness now for Dublin.
If you take your goal chances I don’t think they will be able to stop you, that Dublin team from number 10 to 15 are exceptional footballers, along with both your wing backs. Id have question marks over your midfield, not convinced by Brennan and to be honest I think your full back line is there for the taking.
That said, I think Dublin will win by 3 or 4 pulling away in the last 10 mins. If kerry can get good ball into their full forward line, and they will with Copper pulling the strings out on the 40, they have an outside chance.
Looking forward to a cracker
Look back at most games this season, Brennan’s distribution has been immense
Yeah I could be wrong about Brennan, just never convinced with him at centre back. I’ll have a closer look at him to tomorrow and get back to you!!
Will he pick up Cooper?
And then he got roasted by cooper, but to be fair, cooper played unreal, was impossible to stop
Ill be keeping a ‘close’ eye on James McCarthy…fnarr fnarr….
Go on the Dubs! Practising painting the kids faces blue as we speak. Can’t wait to be in Croke park tomorrow.
M
its pretty sad they way a lot of the GAA stories on this site turn into a chance for people to have a dig at either a county or the GAA in general. The above story is an analysis of one of the biggest games in the country. 82,500 people crammed into our finest stadium watching our native games between the two most successful counties in the history of the GAA.
An yet you have people moaning about Dublin fans being annoying and bandwagon fans getting tickets. Get over it. Probably the same people who will be watching an english premier league game instead of Dublin Kerry. DUBLIN KERRY FFS! IN AN ALL IRELAND SEMI!
UP DA DUBS…. UP DA KINGDOM…. UP THE GAAA!!!
Kerry are Kerry we wont panic but iv never been so nervous this is a Good Dublin side. I think Eamon Fitzmurice is a smart manager and has something up his sleeve…i hope….
Kerry by 4 points
It will be a good match to watch; looking forward to it….any chance they’ll give a copy of the rule book to the jump on the bandwagon supporters??? One thing Dublin is famous for and yes the same people being a bad winner; a true dub fan is good to listen to and discuss (I’m not on either side tomorrow!!) would love to see the gaa introduce a loyalty system though for games like tomorrow as people that go to every match in all types of weathers across the country don’t get into the big games because they’re sold out to people that only go when a team is doing well…really not fair!! Rant over
there is a season ticket offered at a very reasonable price by the GAA. It pretty much guarantees the real fans get a ticket. What else can they do?
Something like a stamp on a book everytime you go to a match and then be able to get tickets then before the general public along with clubs and seasonal ticket holders…I would love to buy a season ticket for my county football but I don’t have the amount to pay so I pay as I go to each match and I know that If my county does well I probably won’t get to see them win Sam Maguire even though I’ve been sitting/standing at league matches in jan/feb no matter what the weather is like. It would be something back for loyal fans who just don’t have the money for lump sum purchases…. Just a thought
Get a bit tired of the talk of bandwagon supporters, every team in the country has a low enough attendance and when something good happens go. There are reasons for this. Clubs put a lot of in, bus loads of kids, club teams having a day out together and families and individuals who couldn’t afford to go before now make the sacrifice because the tie is just too tempting. Every game has new people who don’t know the rules etc and long may it last, it helps the GAA grow. And may I add, the last Dublin Kerry game I was at, I met loads of Kerry fans who had a very basic and in many cases non existent knowledge of the game, but they had tickets and cheered their team on. Same for every county, I’d be worried in the future if big games were not attracting new people.
I just can’t wait to see Paul Flynn hammer home three goals before half time. Yis are goin down down down. Up the Dubs whoo whooooooo….!!!!!
Yes Sharon I’d say you know a lot about going down..!
Up the Dubs !!!! Looking forward to this one , but would me more worried about Kerry than even a Mayo , that ageing team has one last championship in them and I hope its not this year lol . Best of luck to both teams tomorow , Dublin V Kerry becoming a regular fixture again in the championship ….. there really is nothing like it
Genuinely can’t call this match! As a Mayo supporter I am hoping we can bring Sam back to the west this year! Whatever about the fans, Dublin are a serious outfit but I would never doubt Kerry either! Regardless of who wins tomorrow I think the All Ireland final will result in a serious game of PROPER football! Please God I get a ticket now to see it :)
I think the dubs will just about edge it, I’d be concerned about Cooper and O’Brien in at corner backs, Darren and Declan O’Sullivan can cause havoc on their day. Think Dean Rock will have a big game when he gets on. Hoping for a cracking game!
A lot of pressure on Kerry, team staying silent, it’s either the end of an era or proof that class is timeless! Dublin are young and have plenty of years left in the tank with the same players