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All-Ireland Senior Football Final – Dublin 0-12 Kerry 0-9

September 20, 2015 @ 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Dublin defeated Kerry by 0-12 to 0-9 in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final on Sunday September 20th at Croke Park.

Dublin grind down Kerry to enter the Pantheon

ALL-IRELAND SFC FINAL: DUBLIN 0-12 KERRY 0-9

By Arthur Sullivan at Croke Park for GAA.ie

Some day, these days will be referred to as the rare oul times of Dublin GAA. Jim Gavin’s side ground down Kerry in Sunday’s All-Ireland final, claiming a third All-Ireland title in the space of five seasons and thus entering that space reserved for the truly great sides.

Although the great Dublin side managed by Kevin Heffernan won three All-Irelands in four seasons, this modern day side can now justifiably claim to have equalled their deeds and the likes of Paul Flynn, Bernard Brogan, Stephen Cluxton, Michael Darragh Macauley and many others now have three All-Ireland medals to their name.

It was not a glorious final, the grim weather conditions and high stakes of the occasion ensuring a low-scoring contest. That said, even though they only won by three points, Dublin were by a distance the better side and should have wrapped up the game sooner than they did.

After dominating the second quarter, Dublin led by four at the break and although Darran O’Sullivan, introduced at the break, made a difference for Kerry at the start of the second half, it didn’t take Dublin long to get back on top again. They went four clear with 20 minutes to go and had a particularly dominant spell around that period which should have yielded what would have been a match-killing goal. Brian Fenton came closest, hitting the post after powering through, and in the end the goal never came. It didn’t matter though.

Kerry got back within two points following scores from James O’Donoghue and O’Sullivan, and a series of Dublin wides raised the tension levels in Croke Park. With 15 minutes to go, there was a growing sense that the match was on a knife-edge and that Kerry could yet overhaul Dublin.

But Dublin held firm and Kerry, who never really got into the game, faded out. Paul Flynn’s second point of the half proved vital as it put them three clear, but then came the decisive moment of the game. A throw-up close to the Dublin goal was palmed by Kieran Donaghy into the path of Killian Young. Young looked certain to fire to the net, but he mishandled at the key moment and Dublin broke. Alan Brogan, just on the field as a substitute, finished the move with a classy score to send Dublin four clear. A four point swing in less than a minute. Kerry needed a goal to rescue it, but they didn’t come close again and Dublin held out, deservedly, for victory.

With a soft sheet of misty rain falling at the start of the game, it wasn’t a surprise that the opening quarter was littered with handling errors. In the testing conditions, a poor opening to the game ensued. Dublin started the game strongly, and had two points on the board by the end of the first five minutes, Brian Fenton pointing after just 18 seconds and Dean Rock slotting a freely shortly afterwards.

However, Dublin’s kicking game started to unravel on the slippy pitch and with James O’Donoghue influential in the Kerry attack, coming out the field for possession-gathering, the Munster side had a purple patch in the next 10 minutes. O’Donoghue and Geaney kicked two clever scores to draw Kerry level and then O’Donoghue hit his second to put them ahead. Rock levelled with a free at the end of the first quarter and then, a significant moment.

Rock called Stephen Cluxton up to kick a long range free on the left and the goalkeeper planted the kick between the posts – a welcome boost to his kicking confidence. Geaney levelled shortly afterwards but Dublin controlled the rest of the half. With their defence growing increasingly influential, winning their individual battles and dictating the ebb and flow of attacks. Bernard Brogan kicked Dublin ahead with a magical score on the turn and then McCaffrey, rampaging forward, kicked an excellent score to open up a two point lead for the first time in the game.

Philly McMahon scored the point of the half moments later, driving forward and splitting the posts from an extremely tight angle on the right wing, beside the Hogan Stand and into the Canal End. When Paddy Andrews pointed moments later, Dublin were four clear. They had a chance to go five clear just before the break through Ciarán Kilkenny, and although his shot dropped into Brendan Kealy’s hands, the situation was clear – Kerry needed to do something fast.

Fitzmaurice acted, and brought Darran O’Sullivan into the attack in place of Stephen O’Brien. He made an instant impact, setting up a Jonathan Lyne point and then firing over himself to cut the gap to two points early in the second half. But Dublin didn’t wobble and a Bernard Brogan free, followed by a Flynn point, put them four clear as the game entered the final quarter. Dublin had chances to kill the game in this period, but they kicked a number of wides and also failed to find the net when chances were there.

O’Sullivan got Kerry to within two again with 15 minutes to go, and tension levels grew as it looked as though Kerry could find a way back in despite having been outplayed for most of the game. But Dublin have the real measure of champions and they closed out the game well, with just one blip – that goal chance for Young. When that was spurned, the result seemed inevitable.

Alan Brogan’s point put Dublin four clear with time almost up, and a scrappy closing few minutes, dominated by lengthy breaks in play, suited Dublin as they moved inexorably towards victory.

***

Scorers for Dublin: P Flynn 0-2, B Brogan 0-2 (1f), D Rock 0-2 (2f), B Fenton 0-1, S Cluxton 0-1 (1f), J McCaffrey 0-1, P Andrews 0-1, P McMahon 0-1, A Brogan 0-1

Scorers for Kerry: J O’Donoghue 0-3, D O’Sullivan 0-2, P Geaney 0-2, J Lyne 0-1, B Sheehan 0-1 (1f).

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Philly McMahon, Rory O’Carroll, Jonny Cooper; James McCarthy, Cian O’Sullivan, Jack McCaffrey; Brian Fenton, Denis Bastick; Paul Flynn, Diarmuid Connolly, Ciarán Kilkenny; Paddy Andrews, Dean Rock, Bernard Brogan
Subs: Kevin McManamon for D Rock (HT), Michael Darragh Macauley for D Bastick (40), Michael Fitzsimons for J Cooper (49), John Small for J McCaffrey (53), Darren Daly for C O’Sullivan (61), Alan Brogan for B Fenton (67)

KERRY: Brendan Kealy; Fionn Fitzgerald, Aidan O’Mahony, Shane Enright; Jonathan Lyne, Peter Crowley, Killian Young; Anthony Maher, David Moran; Stephen O’Brien, Johnny Buckley, Donnchadh Walsh; Colm Cooper, Paul Geaney, James O’Donoghue
Subs: Darran O’Sullivan for S O’Brien (HT), Bryan Sheehan for J Buckley (44), K Donaghy for P Geaney (50), Paul Galvin for D Moran (57), Paul Murphy for Aidan O’Mahony (BC, 59), Barry John Keane for J O’Donoghue (61).

Fixture Details

20.09.2015 (Sun)
GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final
Páirc an Chrócaigh 15:30
Áth Cliath v Ciarraí
Referee: David Coldrick (An Mhí)

Match Preview – All-Ireland SFC Final, @DubGAAOfficial v @Kerry_Official, Croke Park, Sunday, 3.30pm: http://t.co/f4UhdctR6L #GAA

— The GAA (@officialgaa) September 18, 2015

Team News

The Kerry team for Sunday's All Ireland Final is as follows:… http://t.co/HhoZrryaK1

— Kerry GAA (@Kerry_Official) September 17, 2015

The Kerry Senior Football Team to play Dublin in the All Ireland Football Final in Croke Park on Sunday next at 3:30pm shows three changes in personnel from the side that defeated Tyrone in the semi final. Fionn Fitzgerald and Aidan O’Mahony come into the full back line instead of Paul Murphy and Marc Ó Sé while Paul Geaney takes over from Kieran Donaghy in the full forward position.

The team, captained by David Moran is as follows:
1. Brendan Kealy Kilcummin
2. Fionn Fitzgerald Dr Crokes
3. Aidan O’Mahony Rathmore
4. Shane Enright Tarbert
5. Jonathan Lyne Killarney Legion
6. Peter Crowley Laune Rangers
7. Killian Young Renard
8. Anthony Maher Duagh
9. David Moran (C) Kerins O’Rahillys
10. Stephen O’Brien Kenmare
11. Johnny Buckley Dr Crokes
12. Donnchadh Walsh Cromane
13. Colm Cooper Dr Crokes
14. Paul Geaney Dingle
15. James O’Donoghue Killarney Legion
Fir Ionaid
16. Brian Kelly Killarney Legion
17. Kieran Donaghy Austin Stacks
18. Marc Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht
19. Paul Murphy Rathmore
20. Bryan Sheehan St Marys
21. Barry John Keane Kerins O’Rahillys
22. Darran O’Sullivan Glenbeigh-Glencar
23. Paul Galvin Finuge
24. Tommy Walsh Kerins O’Rahillys
25. Pa Kilkenny Glenbeigh/Glencar
26. Alan Fitzgerald Castlegregory

Bainisteóir: Eamonn Fitzmaurice (Finuge)
Róghnóirí: Diarmuid Murphy (Dingle), Mikey Sheehy (Austin Stacks), Cian O’Neill (Moorefield, Kildare).
On Field Medical Team for Sunday:
Dr Linda O’Callaghan
Ed Harnett (Physio)

Additional Information:
Additional Squad Members
Mark Griffin St Michaels-Foilmore
Jack Sherwood Firies
Padraig O’Connor Killarney Legion
Philip O’Connor Cordal
Michael Geaney Dingle (Injured)
Kieran O’Leary Dr Crokes (Injured)

Backroom Team
S & C Coach & Rehab – Padraig Corcoran –
Nutritionist – Kevin Beasley
Physiotherapists – Eddie Harnett, Ger Keane and Brian O’Dwyer
Performance Analysts – Paudie McCarthy, Pat Duffy and Jason McGahan
Doctors – Dr Linda O’Callaghan and Dr John Rice
Logistics – Niall O’Callaghan, Vincent Linnane and Eddie Walsh

11 of the Starting 15 for Sunday started in the All Ireland defeat of Donegal in last year’s final – Brendan Kealy, Shane Enright, Jonathan Lyne and Colm Cooper being the odd ones out. Aidan O’Mahony made his Championship debut back in 2004 against Clare and has made 66 championship appearances for Kerry. Paul Geaney made his Championship debut for Kerry in 2013 against Cavan having made his League debut two years earlier. He is Kerry’s leading scorer in this year’s Championship to date. Colm Cooper played his 81st Championship game for Kerry in the Semi Final – he joins the 3 Ó Sé’s on 80 Championship appearances or over.

The Lynes of Cleeney, within earshot of the Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, are a very well known footballing family who played their Club Football with Killarney Legion. Denny, Jackie and Fr Mickey all won All Irelands with Kerry at senior level – and Denny captained Kerry in the Polo Grounds final in ’47, a game in which Jackie also played. Jackie went on to train Kerry to 2 All Ireland titles in ’69 and ’70. Their sister, Maura, married Tom Spillane and was of course mother of Pat, Mick and Tom of Kerry Golden Years fame – Sunday’s No. 5 Jonathan Lyne is a grandson of Denny Lyne. Jonathan, who made his Championship debut against Clare in 2012, made his full championship debut against Tipperary in this year’s semi final, and started in all of Kerry’s seven AFL games this season.

Marc Ó Sé, who played his 85th Championship game for Kerry in the Semi Final is now in second place on that honours list, 3 behind his other sibling, Tomás, who played 88 championship games for Kerry which is a record.

PATHS TO THE SENIOR FINAL

DUBLIN
Dublin 4-25 Longford 0-10 (Leinster quarter-final)
Dublin 5-18 Kildare 0-14 (Leinster semi-final)
Dublin 2-13 Westmeath 0-6 (Leinster final)
Dublin 2-23 Fermanagh 2-15 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Dublin 2-12 Mayo 1-15 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Dublin 3-15 Mayo 1-14 (All-Ireland semi-final) Replay
Average For: 3-18; Average Against: 1-11

DUBLIN SCORERS
Bernard Brogan…………… 6-19
Dean Rock………………….. 2-21 (0-12 frees, 0-3 ‘45s’)
Diarmuid Connolly……….4-10 (2-0 penalties, 0-1 free)
Ciaran Kilkenny……………0-18
Paul Flynn……………………2-04
Kevin McManamon………2-07
Alan Brogan…………………0-05
Jack McCaffrey…………….1-01
Philly McMahon…………..1-05
Brian Fenton…………………0-03
Paddy Andrews…………….0-08
James McCarthy……………0-02
Tomas Brady………………..0-01
Eric Lowndes……………….0-01
MD Macauley………………0-01

KERRY
Kerry 2-14 Tipperary 2-8 (Munster semi-final)
Kerry 2-15 Cork 3-12 (Munster final)
Kerry 1-11 Cork 1-6 (Munster final replay)
Kerry 7-16 Kildare 0-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
Kerry 0-18 Tyrone 1-11 (All-Ireland semi-final)
Average For: 2-16; Average Against: 1-11

Kerry Scorers
Bryan Sheehan……………..0-17 (0-12 frees)
Colm Cooper………………. 2-09 (0-3 frees)
Paul Geaney……………….. 2-08 (0-1 free)
Barry John Keane………… 2-08 (0-1 free)
James O’Donoghue……… 1-10 (1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees, 0-1 ‘45’))
Stephen O’Brien………….. 1-07
Darran O’Sullivan……….. 2-01
Donnchadh Walsh……….. 1-03
Johnny Buckley…………… 0-04
Kieran Donaghy………….. 1-01
Anthony Maher…………… 0-03
Michael Geaney………….. 0-01
Fionn Fitzgerald………….. 0-01
Jonathon Lyne…………….. 0-01

DUBLIN v KERRY: CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
This will be the 28th championship meeting between the counties since they first met in 1892. Kerry have won 17 times to Dublin’s eight while there were two draws from the previous 27 clashes.
2013: Dublin 3-18 Kerry 3-11 (All-Ireland semi-final)
2011: Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-11 (All-Ireland final)
2009: Kerry 1-24 Dublin 1-7 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
2007: Kerry 1-15 Dublin 0-16 (All-Ireland semi-final)
2004: Kerry 1-15 Dublin 1-8 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
2001: Kerry 2-12 Dublin 1-12 (All-Ireland quarter-final replay)
2001: Kerry 1-14 Dublin 2-11 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
1985: Kerry 2-12 Dublin 2-8 (All-Ireland final)
1984: Kerry 0-14 Dublin 1-6 (All-Ireland final)
1979: Kerry 3-13 Dublin 1-8 (All-Ireland final)
1978: Kerry 5-11 Dublin 0-9 (All-Ireland final)
1977: Dublin 3-12 Kerry 1-13 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1976: Dublin 3-8 Kerry 0-10 (All-Ireland final)
1975: Kerry 2-12 Dublin 0-11 (All-Ireland final)
1965: Kerry 4-8 Dublin 2-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1962: Kerry 2-12 Dublin 0-10 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1959: Kerry 1-10 Dublin 2-5 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1955: Kerry 0-12 Dublin 1-6 (All-Ireland final)
1941: Kerry 2-9 Dublin 0-3 (All-Ireland semi-final replay)
1941: Kerry 0-4 Dublin 0-4 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1934: Dublin 3-8 Kerry 0-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1932: Kerry 1-3 Dublin 1-1 (All-Ireland semi-final)
1924: Kerry 0-4 Dublin 0-3 (All-Ireland final)
1923: Dublin 1-5 Kerry 1-3 (All-Ireland final)
1908: Dublin 0-10 Kerry 0-3 (All-Ireland final)
1904: Kerry 0-5 Dublin 0-2 (All-Ireland final)
1892 Dublin 1-4 Kerry 0-3 (All-Ireland final)

DUBLIN-KERRY ALL-IRELAND FINALS
They have met in thirteen All-Ireland finals with the score 8-5 in Kerry’s favour
2011: Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-11
1985: Kerry 2-12 Dublin 2-8
1984: Kerry 0-14 Dublin 1-6
1979: Kerry 3-13 Dublin 1-8
1978: Kerry 5-11 Dublin 0-9
1976: Dublin 3-8 Kerry 0-10
1975: Kerry 2-12 Dublin 0-11
1955: Kerry 0-12 Dublin 1-6
1924: Kerry 0-4 Dublin 0-3
1923: Dublin 1-5 Kerry 1-3
1908: Dublin 0-10 Kerry 0-3
1904: Kerry 0-5 Dublin 0-2
1892: Dublin 1-4 Kerry 0-3

Last Championship Clash…
Dublin 3-18 Kerry 3-11 (2013 All-Ireland semi-final)
Two late goals by Kevin McManamon and Eoghan O’Gara and a point by Diarmuid Connolly gave Dublin a seven-point win after the sides were level in the 67th minute. It was a classic contest all through on a day when only six points of the 6-29 total came from frees. Kerry led by 3-5 to 1-9 at half-time.

Dublin: S Cluxton (0-1 free); Kevin O’Brien, Rory O’Carroll, Jonny Cooper; James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Jack McCaffrey; Michael Darragh Macauley (0-1), Cian O’Sullivan (0-1); Paul Flynn, Ciaran Kilkenny (0-1), Diarmuid Connolly (0-4, 0-1 free); Paul Mannion (1-0), Paddy Andrews (0-1), Bernard Brogan (0-6, 0-2 frees).
Subs: Philly McMahon (0-1) for O’Brien; Denis Bastick for Brennan; Dean Rock (0-2) for Kilkenny), Eoghan O’Gara (1-0) for Mannion; Kevin McManamon (1-0) for Brogan.

Kerry: Brendan Kealy; Marc O Se, Mark Griffin, Shane Enright; Tomas O Se, Fionn Fitzgerald, Peter Crowley; Anthony Maher, Johnny Buckley; Donnchadh Walsh (1-0), Colm Cooper (0-4, 0-2 frees), Paul Galvin (0-2); Darran O’Sullivan (0-1), Declan O’Sullivan (0-1), James O’Donoghue (2-3).
Subs: David Moran for Buckley; Eoin Brosnan for Enright; Kieran Donaghy for Galvin; Aidan O’Mahony for Griffin; Jack Sherwood for Crowley.

GAA ALL-IRELAND SF ROLL OF HONOUR
37 – Kerry (1903-04-09-13-14-24-26-29-30-31-32-37-39-40-41-46-53-55-59-62-69-70-75-78-79-80-81-84-85-86-97-2000-2004-2006-2007-2009-2014)
24 – Dublin (1891-92-97-98-99-1901-02-06-07-08-21-22-23-42-58-63-74-76-77-83-95-2011-2013)
9 – Galway (1925-34-38-56-64-65-66-98-2001)
7 – Meath (1949-54-67-87-88-96-99)
7 – Cork (1890-1911-45-73-89-90-2010)
5 – Down (1960-61-68-91-94)
5 – Cavan (1933-35-47-48-52)
5 – Wexford (1893-1915-16-17-18)
4 – Kildare (1905-19-27-28)
4- Tipperary (1889-95-1900-1920)
3 – Louth (1910-12-57)
3 – Mayo (1936-50-51)
3 – Offaly (1971-72-82)
3- Tyrone (2003-2005-2008)
2- Donegal (1992-2012)
2 – Limerick (1887-1896)
2 – Roscommon (1943-44)
1 – Armagh (2002)
1 – Derry (1993)

ALL-IRELAND FINAL SHORTS
 Éamonn Fitzmaurice is in his third season as Kerry manager, leading them to Munster titles in 2013-2014-2015 and to last year’s All-Ireland title. Kerry’s championship record under Fitzmaurice reads: Played 16; Won 13, Drew 2, Lost 1. The defeat came against Dublin in the 2013 semi-final.
 Jim Gavin is also his third season as Dublin manager, leading them to Leinster titles in 2013-2014-2015 and to the 2013 All-Ireland title. Dublin’s championship record under Gavin reads: Played 17; Won 15, Drew 1, Lost 1. The only defeat was against Donegal in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final.
 The last competitive clash between Dublin and Kerry was in this year’s Allianz Football League on March 1 last when Kerry won by 0-15 to 1-10 in Killarney.
 This is the fifth successive year that the All-Ireland final will be contested by provincial winners. The last final not involving provincial winners was Cork vs Down in 2010.