All Ireland Senior Football Final – Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-11

Dublin end 16 years of hurt as heroic fightback sends capital into ecstasy

Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-11

By Martin Breheny for the Irish Independent newspaper

EMOTION dripping from his voice, Bryan Cullen spoke for the whole of Dublin when he said they had been “to hell and back over the last few years.” But as he stood on the presentation area on the Hogan Stand, clutching the Sam Maguire Cup, he was looking out on a scene which, in the space of 10 whirling minutes, had become blue heaven. Banked all around Croke Park on stand and terrace, thousands of Dublin supporters were inhaling deeply from a sweet-scented air which hadn’t wafted across the capital for all of 16 years, when they last won the All-Ireland football title. Dublin have new heroes, men whose names will be revered for a very long time, thanks to their exploits in an All-Ireland final which appeared all wrapped up in Kerry colours when Colm Cooper casually clipped over a point to put them four clear in the 63rd minute.

Kerry had outscored Dublin by 0-8 to 0-3 in the second half and were cruising at a speed which looked certain to carry them safely to the finish line. Indeed, there was every reason to suspect that Kerry would increase their advantage as Dublin had scored only one point in the previous 22 minutes. Dublin needed a goal to revive them, but where was it to come from?

Enter sub Kevin McManamon, the man who did so much to unpick the Donegal locks in the semi-final. This time, he made an even greater contribution, popping up to take a pass from Alan Brogan and burrowing his way in on the Kerry goal before driving the ball to the net. Kevin Nolan brought the sides level in the 65th minute and three minutes later Bernard Brogan put them ahead. Kieran Donaghy levelled it up in the 70th minute but just when it looked as if the first drawn final since 2000 was about to unfold, McManamon made another crucial intervention, winning a free 38 metres from the Kerry goal. Stephen Cluxton pointed it, crowning Dublin All-Ireland champions for the 23rd time. It was the goalkeeper’s 12th point of the championship campaign, making him Dublin’s fourth-highest scorer.

As the Kerry squad watched in silent misery as Cullen was presented with the cup, their minds were already on rewind as they tried to rationalise why they had been unable to close out the game from such an advantageous position. The answer, partially at least, rests not with them but with a Dublin team whose self-belief never wavered. They had lost only one game (to Cork in the league final) all year and while the odds were stacked against them when Kerry moved four points clear, they never lost faith in their own ability to plot a recovery course. It’s most unusual for any Kerry team to be outscored by 1-3 to 0-1 in the final seven minutes, which is why this success will go down as one of the sweetest in Dublin history.

After all, it’s only two years since they were humiliated by Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter-final and, even since then, they had to endure some very disappointing defeats, including in last year’s semi-final and this year’s NFL final. Significantly, though, they beat Kerry in the league in both 2010 and 2011, wins which may not have looked all that important at the time but which may have played their part in constructing a mental toughness that stood to them yesterday. The first clear evidence that it was underpinning Dublin’s approach came after Cooper had slipped through the narrowest of gaps to score a goal in the 19th minute. It put Kerry two points clear, a small margin in an overall context, but enough perhaps to raise doubt if Dublin were feeling insecure in any way.

Dublin’s response was so positive that Kerry didn’t score for 15 minutes, a period in which they conceded four points. Indeed, it would have been worse for Kerry except for a fine save from Brendan Kealy to deny Alan Brogan. Also, Jack O’Connor deemed it necessary to begin repair work during that period, sending Paul Galvin in for Kieran O’Leary. It was a signal that Kerry were unhappy with the amount of breaking ball which was being snapped up by Dublin in the middle third, thanks mainly to the alertness and hard work of Paul Flynn, Barry Cahill, Cullen, Michael Darragh Macauley, Ger Brennan and Nolan.

Dublin led by 0-6 to 1-2 at half-time and when Bernard Brogan (free) and Denis Bastick scored points in the opening five minutes of the second half, Kerry were facing a real challenge. Typically, they rose to it and began to impose their will on proceedings in a number of areas. Tomas O Se found room to go forward from the half-back line, Bryan Sheehan handled a lot of ball around midfield, while Darran and Declan O’Sullivan, Kieran Donaghy and Cooper increased the menace factor. Dublin’s discipline, which had been excellent in the first half, broke down somewhat under the intense pressure, allowing Sheehan and Cooper to punish them from frees.

At 1-10 to 0-9 in the 63rd minute, Kerry must have felt that their 37th title was on its way — indeed it might have been the case against the Dublin team of last year. The crucial difference this time was that Dublin used the experience gained in the interim in a constructive manner. They stayed with the task, even when it looked as if it might be beyond them, and were rewarded with the match-turning break provided by McManamon’s goal. Even then, they still had a lot of work to do, but they went about it calmly and systematically.

Kerry, in contrast, grew edgy in the closing minutes, losing possession on a few occasions before finally committing the foul on McManamon which gave Cluxton the chance to kick the winner. He held his nerve and steered the ball safely between the posts. Kerry won possession from the kick-out but couldn’t move the ball quickly enough to get into the danger area before referee Joe McQuillan blew the final whistle. Not that Kerry could have any complaints. They gave themselves every opportunity to win the game but were hustled into submission by opponents who refused to take no for an answer.

Scorers — Dublin: B Brogan 0-6 (4f), K McManamon 1-0, A Brogan, S Cluxton (2f) 0-2 each, D Bastick, K Nolan 0-1.

Kerry: C Cooper 1-3 (0-2f), B Sheehan 0-4 (2f, 1 ’45’), K Donaghy 0-2, Declan O’Sullivan, P Galvin 0-1 each.

Dublin — S Cluxton; C O’Sullivan, R O’Carroll, M Fitzsimons; J McCarthy, G Brennan, K Nolan; D Bastick, MD Macauley; P Flynn, B Cahill, B Cullen; A Brogan, D Connolly, B Brogan. Subs: P McMahon for McCarthy (46), K McManamon for Flynn (51), E O’Gara for Cahill (57), E Fennell for Bastick (63).

Kerry — B Kealy; M O Se, T O’Sullivan, K Young; T O Se, E Brosnan, A O’Mahony; A Maher, B Sheehan; D Walsh, Darran O’Sullivan; K Donaghy, C Cooper, Declan O’Sullivan, K O’Leary. Subs: P Galvin for O’Leary (24), BJ Keane for Walsh (51), D Bohan for Brosnan (63).

Ref — J McQuillan (Cavan)

Cluxton kick the signal for Dublin party

All-Ireland SFC final: Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-11

By John Fogarty for the Irish Examiner newspaper

IN a most remarkable gesture of sportsmanship, Tomás Ó Sé handed Stephen Cluxton the match-winning ball following yesterday’s final whistle. The Dublin goalkeeper shook his fallen opponent’s hand but subsequently booted the ball away as he made his way to the dressing room away from his team’s wildest of celebrations. If Cluxton was going to be sentimental about a crowning achievement for 10 years’ worth of service to the cause, it was going to be in private. To score the winning point to end 16 years without an All-Ireland title is one thing but as a goalkeeper it created an almost perfect dichotomy with the fate that befell his predecessor Paddy Cullen against Kerry 33 years ago. It was fitting too that nobody in a Dublin jersey yesterday had lost to Kerry in the championship more than the Parnells man (2001, 04, 07, 09).

Two minutes into injury-time and several seconds after Kevin McManamon had been fouled by Barry John Keane to win the free, Cluxton stepped up and took aim. Watching the kick sail over for what was his second point of the day, he briefly acknowledged its success before rushing back to his unattended goal-line. With it, unbridled and joyful delirium washed over the Dublin-dominated Hill 16 as they knew Joe McQuillan’s last blast was to soon follow. And it did, confirming a first defeat for Kerry against Dublin in 34 years.

Jack O’Connor’s men will be left wondering just where it all went wrong for them. Colm Cooper’s third point of the day in the 63rd minute had them four points to the good (1-10 to 0-9) and, with Dublin showing little in the way of retaliation, seemingly almost home and hosed. One point down at the break (0-6 to 1-2), Kerry bossed the majority of the second half with Bryan Sheehan, Darran O’Sullivan and Cooper doing the lion’s share of the damage. The quality of their football at such a critical juncture was ominous. Darran O’Sullivan won three frees in a row, only one of which wasn’t converted, as the ghosts of Dublin’s demise against Cork last year threatened to haunt them again. But then came the lifeline. Intercepting a Declan O’Sullivan pass, namesake Cian found Alan Brogan clear on the right with his team-mate McManamon for company.

The substitute made light work of O’Sullivan’s attempt to redeem himself to fire the ball past Brendan Kealy and send Dublin supporters into raptures. In the after-glow and driven on by the massive home presence in the 82,300 capacity crowd, the Dublin forwards then forced Tom O’Sullivan into an errant pass. Diarmuid Connolly quickly found Kevin Nolan and he shot confidently to tie up the game. Now gaining little purchase in the centre, Kerry found themselves trailing when Bernard Brogan received a Michael Darragh Macauley pass to split the posts. A towering Kieran Donaghy point in the final minute levelled matters for the sixth time in the game but the parity was short-lived as the menacing McManamon drew the foul from Keane.

A deserving triumph? There is no such thing in sport just as Kerry discovered there is no sure thing. For the first 40 minutes, they were second best as Dublin hounded them, refusing them the opportunity to impose themselves on the game. Kieran Donaghy’s switch to midfield had taken Dublin by surprise and it wasn’t until the 11th minute that they won their first kick-out. Kerry were winning in midfield but it wasn’t identifiable on the scoreboard in the opening 15 minutes. Two excellent Alan Brogan points in retort to Declan O’Sullivan’s opener was a justified reflection on the flow of play. The discipline of the Dublin defence was superb throughout, even if they couldn’t get a paw on Darran O’Sullivan when he sliced through to set up Cooper for Kerry’s 19th-minute goal. It was a fantastic move, indicative of the excellent championship O’Sullivan had, but most importantly it was a score that wasn’t followed up on.

Rather, Dublin responded four minutes later through a Bernard Brogan free when Aidan O’Mahony upended Barry Cahill. Dublin also had a goal chance in the 25th minute but Kealy was equal to Alan Brogan’s point-blank shot after his brother palmed down a ball to him. Paul Galvin had entered the fray for Kieran O’Leary just seconds later, although his opening minutes weren’t remotely auspicious. After Donaghy had beaten Rory O’Carroll in the air only to have his goal-bound shot blocked by O’Sullivan, Cluxton and Brogan fired over frees after Galvin fouled Paul Flynn and Connolly respectively. He repaired some of the damage with the last score of the half, taking a Cooper pass to point, but was counting his blessings a minute later when Brogan kicked wide after he had been deemed to illegitimately tackle Ger Brennan.

Dublin, who were more than good for their one-point lead, carried on in the second half where hey left off in the first with Brogan punishing Sheehan for holding back Macauley and Bastick kicking successfully following an exchange with Bernard Brogan. That put Dublin 0-8 to 1-2 up but for the next 20 minutes Dublin were outscored 0-1 to 0-8. Aside from Bernard Brogan and McManamon half-chances and the former’s free for handling on the ground by Eoin Brosnan, it was all Kerry. Four of their eight scores came from placed balls, one from Cooper and three from Sheehan, one of them a 45 after Cooper cleverly kicked a ball against Michael Fitzsimons’ feet in the 54th minute.

That put Kerry ahead for the first time in the second half and two more frees followed, courtesy of indiscretions on Darran O’Sullivan. Cooper’s point, the end product of a move instigated by Anthony Maher beating Macauley for a Cluxton kick-out, appeared to spell doom for Dublin. A good thing for them they couldn’t read it.

Scorers for Dublin: B Brogan 0-6 (5f); K McManamon 1-0; A Brogan, S Cluxton (2f) 0-2 each; D Bastick, K Nolan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kerry: C Cooper 1-3 (2f); B Sheehan 0-4 (2f, 1 45); K Donaghy 0-2; Declan O’Sullivan, P Galvin 0-1.

Subs for Dublin: P McMahon for McCarthy (46); K McManamon for Flynn (51); E O’Gara for Cahill (57); E Fennell for Bastick (63).

Subs for Kerry: P Galvin for O’Leary (24); BJ Keane for Walsh (51); D Bohan for Brosnan (63).

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

Dublin end 16-year wait for Sam

From the GAA.ie web site

Sunday, September 18, 2011

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

Dublin 1-12 Kerry 1-11

Dublin ended their long wait for an All-Ireland title in the most dramatic circumstances imaginable, as goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton kicked the winning point in added time to ensure Sam Maguire stays in the capital for the first time in 16 years. Pat Gilroy’s side trailed by four points with seven minutes left and looked set for further heartache, but they dug deep and defied the odds to pull off a stirring comeback in the closing stages. Just when it looked like their race was run, second half sub Kevin McManamon scored a brilliant goal seven minutes from the end. When Kevin Nolan followed it up with the equalising point with five minutes left, the momentum had suddenly and dramatically swung in their favour.

Inevitably, Kerry came back, but the Dublin defence stood firm, showed remarkable discipline in the tackle – having given away far too many frees in the 15 minutes before that – and moved the ball down the other end of the field, where Diarmuid Connolly’s industry opened up space for Bernard Brogan to land his sixth point of the game. But there was more drama to come…Kieran Donaghy looked to have sent the game to a replay when he dropped over a monster of a point from play a minute into added time. The script was written, it appeared, and it looked like Kerry would spoil the Dubs’ big day.

We hadn’t reckoned with the resolve and the character that Gilroy’s side now have in abundance. They went for the win, sensing the chance to make heroes of themselves. And how they did. McManamon was still full of running in the tension-filled, dying minutes and he was rewarded for his industry when he was awarded a free just inside the ’45. Cluxton, who has experienced more heartache than most in his 10 seasons in the Sky Blue jersey, stood up and fulfilled a Dublin dream that was 16 years in the making. “We’ve been to hell and back this year,” Dublin captain Bryan Cullen said when he became the first Dublin captain since John O’Leary to lift the Sam Maguire Cup.

This was a taste of heaven, Dublin’s 23rd All-Ireland title and their first win over their great rivals Kerry in the Championship since 1977. For Kerry, there is bitter taste of a second year without an All-Ireland title for the first time since 2003 and further question marks over whether this is the end of the team that has dominated the game for the last decade. Those questions probably do an injustice to Dublin, who can now become a real force after winning an All-Ireland title with a side that is young in years and lacking big game experience. Not that it showed. Gilroy’s players have always had question marks hanging over them since they were destroyed by 17 points by Kerry in the 2009 All-Ireland final. This, though, is a very different team both in character and confidence. When everyone in Croke Park expected them to capitulate in the last 10 minutes, they came back stronger, calling on the spirit that saw them beat Donegal in similarly trying circumstances.

Kerry made their first incision in the Dublin defence inside the second minute. Darran O’Sullivan’s searing pace was key, as the Glenbeigh man created space for Declan O’Sullivan – stationed at full- forward – to fist over the bar. Dublin’s defending was typically intense in the opening 10 minutes, with Nolan making a vital interception in the eighth minute when Donnchadh Walsh was played through on goal. Having soaked up the early pressure, Dublin went in search of scores and it was their most experienced player, Alan Brogan, who came up trumps, sending over two points from play to nudge Dublin into the lead.

However, on 19 minutes Kerry scored the kind of goal they are always capable of. Darran O’Sullivan lit the touchpaper with another jet-heeled run, shifting into top gear and racing through Dublin’s defence before picking out Kerry’s supreme finisher, Cooper, who picked his spot brilliantly, giving Cluxton no chance. Tight to this point, suddenly gaps started opening at either end. Kerry goalkeeper Brendan Kealy had to make a brilliant save to deny Alan Brogan, who had been played in by his brother, Bernard’s clever knock down. Two minutes later, and it was Kerry’s turn to cause havoc in the Dublin defence. Donaghy, who started at wing-forward, switched with Declan O’Sullivan on the edge of the square and was found with a superb, diagonal ball. Donaghy beat Rory O’Carroll to the high ball and turned sharply, but his shot was blocked by a last-gasp Cian O’Sullivan touch.

Paul Galvin had been brought into the Kerry attack for Kieran O’Leary at this stage, but his entrance didn’t seem to have the effect manager Jack O’Connor would have hoped. Indeed, Dublin hit three points in a row to take over. Bernard Brogan struck a brilliant score from play and added a free, while Cluxton also landed a free from nearly 50 yards out. Dublin led by 0-6 to 1-1 when Galvin made his first real impression, sweeping up the loose ball after Bryan Sheehan’s free fell short and popping over the bar to leave one between the sides at half-time.

Denis Bastick had Dublin three points clear within five minutes of the restart, but it was then that the Kingdom began to click, hitting four points in a row to reclaim the lead by the 50th minute. Bernand Brogan briefly arrested the slide with a point from a free, but it was then that Kerry landed another four points without replay in a nine-minute spell, Bryan Sheehan punishing Dublin’s indiscipline with a string of frees, while Colm Cooper dropped over two more points, the second ensuring he finished as top scorer in the 2011 Championship. It was then that Dublin did what was least expected of them, as McManamon’s goal sparked a never-to-be-forgotten comeback that culminated in Cluxton kicking the winning point in added time.

Dublin Scorers: B Brogan 0-6 (0-4f), K McManamon 1-0, S Cluxton 0-2 (0-2f), A Brogan 0-2, D Bastick 0-1, K Nolan 0-1.

Kerry Scorers: Colm Cooper 1-3 (0-2f), B Sheehan 0-4 (0-3f), K Donaghy 0-2, Declan O’Sullivan 0-1, P Galvin 0-1.

Dublin: S Cluxton; C O’Sullivan, R O’Carroll, M Fitzsimons; J McCarty, G Brennan, K Nolan; D Bastick, MD Macauley; P Flynn, B Cahill, B Cullen; A Brogan, D Connolly, B Brogan. Subs: P McMahon for J McCarthy (46), K McManamon for Paul Flynn (51), E O’Gara for B Cahill (57), E Fennell for D Bastick (63)

Kerry: B Kealy; K Young, M Ó Sé, T O’Sullivan; T Ó Sé, E Brosnan, A O’Mahony; A Maher, B Sheehan; D O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan, D Walsh; C Cooper, K Donaghy, K O’Leary. Subs: P Galvin for K O’Leary (24), K O’Leary for Declan O’Sullivan (44-45), BJ Keane for D Walsh (51), D Bohan for E Brosnan (63)

Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

Attendance: 82,300

Team News

The Kerry Team to play Dublin in the All-Ireland Final on Sunday 18th September is as follows:

1. Brendan Kealy Kilcummin

2. Killian Young Renard 3. Marc Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht 4. Tom O’Sullivan, Rathmore

5. Tomas Ó Sé An Ghaeltacht 6. Eoin Brosnan Dr Crokes 7. Aidan O’Mahony Rathmore

8. Anthony Maher Duagh 9. Bryan Sheehan St Marys

10. Darran O’Sullivan Glenbeigh/Glencar 11. Declan O’Sullivan Piarsaigh Na Dromada, 12. Donnchadh Walsh Cromane

13. Colm Cooper Dr Crokes 14. Kieran Donaghy Austin Stacks 15. Kieran O’Leary Dr Crokes

Subs: 16. Tomas Mac a’tSaoir, An Ghaeltacht, 17. Daniel Bohan, Austin Stacks, 18. Paul Galvin, Finuge, 19. Shane Enright, Tarbert, 20. James O’Donoghue, Legion, 21. Barry John Keane, Kerins O’Rahillys 22. Padraig Reidy, Scartaglin, 23. Peter Crowley, Laune Rangers 24. Tommy Griffin, Daingean Uí Chúis, 25. Johnny Buckley, Dr Crokes 26. Brian McGuire, Listowel Emmet’s 27. Seamus Scanlon, Currow, 28. Niall O’Mahony, Spa , 29. Daithí Ó Geibheannaigh, Daingean Uí Chúis, 30. Adrian O’Connell, St Michaels/Foilmore 31. Daithí Casey, Dr Crokes.

Bainisteóir: Jack O’Connor (Piarsaigh Na Dromada)

Physical Coach: Alan O’Sullivan (Kerins O’Rahillys)

Coach: Donie Buckley (Castleisland Desmonds)

Roghnóirí: Ger O’Keeffe (Austin Stacks) & Diarmuid Murphy (Daingean Uí Chúis)

Click here for profiles of the Kerry players

Dublin XV v Kerry in the All-Ireland Football final, Sunday, 18 September at 3.30pm:

Stephen Cluxton, Cian O’Sullivan, Rory O’Carroll, Michael Fitzsimons, James McCarthy, Ger Brennan, Kevin Nolan, Denis Bastick, Michael Darragh MacAuley, Paul Flynn, Barry Cahill, Bryan Cullen, Alan Brogan, Diarmuid Connolly, Bernard Brogan.

Paths to the final

Dublin

Dublin 1-16 Laois 0-11 (Leinster quarter-final)

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

Dublin 2-12 Wexford 1-12 (Leinster final)

Dublin 0-22 Tyrone 0-15 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

Dublin 0-8 Donegal 0-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)

Average For: 1-14; Average Against: 0-13

Dublin’s Top Scorers

Bernard Brogan…….0-23

Dermot Connolly…..1-10

Alan Brogan………..0-11

Stephen Cluxton……0-10

Paul Flynn…………..1-4

Bryan Cullen………..0-5

Kerry

Kerry 2-16 Tipperary 0-11 (Munster quarter-final)

Kerry 1-26 Limerick 3-9 (Munster semi-final)

Kerry 1-15 Cork 1-12 (Munster final)

Kerry 1-20 Limerick 0-10 (All-Ireland quarter-final)

Kerry 1-20 Mayo 1-11 (All-Ireland semi-final)

Average For: 1-20; Average Against: 1-11

Kerry’s Top Scorers

Colm Cooper………..1-24

Bryan Sheehan……..2-14

Darran O’Sullivan….3-10

Declan O’Sullivan…0-14

Kieran O’Leary…….0-6

Kieran Donaghy……0-6

Last Championship Clash…

Kerry 1-24 Dublin 1-7 (2009 All-Ireland Quarter-final)

Dublin were well fancied after winning the Leinster title for the 5th successive year but were overwhelmed by Kerry right from the start. Kerry led by 1-6 to 0- 1 at the end of the first quarter and by 1-14 to 0-3 at half-time.

Kerry: Diarmuid Murphy; Marc Ó Sé, Tommy Griffin, Tom O’Sullivan (0-1); Tomas Ó Sé (0-2), Mike McCarthy, Killian Young; Darragh Ó Sé, Seamus Scanlon (0-1); Donnacha Walsh (0-1), Tommy Walsh , Paul Galvin (0-2); Colm Cooper (1-7), Declan O’Sullivan (0-3), Darran O’Sullivan (0-3).
Subs: Tadhg Kennelly (0-2), for Tommy Walsh; Paul O’Connor (0-2) for Donnacha Walsh; Sean O’Sullivan for Darran O’Sullivan; Aidan O’Mahony for Young; Micheal Quirke for Darragh Ó Sé.

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Paddy Andrews, Denis Bastick, David Henry; Paul Griffin, Barry Cahill (0-1), Bryan Cullen; Ross McConnell, Darren Magee; Paul Flynn, Alan Brogan (0-3), Diarmuid Connolly; Conal Keaney (1-0), Bernard Brogan (0-3), Jason Sherlock.
Subs: Ciaran Whelan for Magee; Pat Burke for Sherlock; Cian O’Sullivan for Cullen; Alan Hubbard for Henry; Shane Ryan for Connolly.

Last Competitive Clash….

Dublin 3-10 Kerry 1-15 (Allianz Football League, 26 February 2011), Croke Park.

Dublin: S Cluxton; M Fitzsimons, S Murray, A Hubbard; D Lally (0-1), J McCarthy, P Casey; D Bastick, B Cahill; P Flynn (0-1), K McManamon (1-1), D Connolly; T Quinn (1-0), B Brogan (0-4), E O’Gara (0-1)
Subs: MD Macauley (1-1) for Bastick; A Brogan (0-1) for Quinn; B Cullen for Connolly; G Brennan for McCarthy; P Andrews for Flynn.

Kerry: B Kealy; P Reidy, M Ó Sé, K Young; T Ó Sé, E Brosnan, A O’Mahony; S Scanlon, B Sheehan (1-5); D Moran (0-1), Darran O’Sullivan (0-2), D Walsh (0-1); C Cooper (0-6), K Donaghy, D Geaney.
Subs: K O’Leary for Geaney; J Lyne for T O Se; A Maher for Brosnan, A O’Connell for O’Mahony.

Dublin v Kerry: Championship History

This will be the 26th championship meeting between the counties since they first met in 1892. Kerry have won 17 times to Dublin’s six while there were two draws.

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 twelve All-Ireland finals with the score 8-4 in Kerry’s favour.

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

BEN BROSNAN LEADS SCORING TABLE

Wexford’s Ben Brosnan has a five point lead at the top of the scoring ladder for the 2011 GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship but could be caught on All-Ireland final day. Kerry’s Colm Cooper is best placed to overtake the prolific Wexford man as he is only five points behind. Dublin’s top scorer, Bernard Brogan is nine points behind Brosnan. Johnny Doyle (Kildare), who topped the scoring lists last year is in joint second place with Cooper.

Championship 2011 – Top Scorers

Ben Brosnan (Wexford)……..0-32 (32pts)

Colm Cooper (Kerry)…………1-24 (27pts)

John Doyle (Kildare)………..2-21 (27pts)

Donncha O’Connor (Cork)…4-14 (26pts)

Cian Ward (Meath)………….4-12 (24pts)

Ciaran Lyng (Wexford)………1-21 (24pts)

Bernard Brogan (Dublin).…..0-23 (23pts)

Cillian O’Connor (Mayo)……1-19 (22pts)

Donie Shine (Roscommon)…1-19 (22pts)

Daniel Goulding (Cork)…….2-16 (22pts)

GAA FOOTBALL ALL-IRELAND SENIOR ROLL OF HONOUR

Between them, Kerry and Dublin have won 58 All-Ireland titles as they lead the way comfortably at the top of the honours’ table. Kerry are seeking their 37th title while Dublin are chasing their 23rd crown. Kerry have won six titles since Dublin were last successful in 1995.

36 – 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)

22 – DUBLIN (1891-92-97-98-99-1901-02-06-07-08-21-22-23-42-58-63-74-76-77-83-95)

9 – Galway (1925-34-38-56-64-65-66-98-2001)

7 – Meath (1949-54-67-87-88-96-99)

6 – Cork (1890-1911-45-73-89-90)

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 – Limerick (1887-1896)

2 – Roscommon (1943-44)

1 – Armagh (2002)