DUBLIN versus Kerry is one of the iconic fixtures in Gaelic football. It’s townies versus culchies, the green-and-gold versus the sky-and-navy blue, the waters and the wild versus mean streets and tower blocks.
This age-old rivalry dates back to when the counties first clashed in the All-Ireland final in 1892 and, since 2011, the Dubs have held sway, with three wins on the spin. But before then, Kerry reigned supreme for over two decades.
After Dublin had backed up wining the 1976 All-Ireland final with a five-point success in the 1977 semi-final, Kerry took control of the fixture, beginning with the 1978 Sam Maguire decider. The 5-11 to 0-9 whipping they administered that day ushered in their period of dominance and Dublin lost seven, drew one and won none of their Championship meetings up to the 2011 final, when Stephen Cluxton landed a late free to seal a breakthrough win.
Since then, Dublin have extended their winning streak to a best-ever three by winning a semi-final clash and, of course, last year’s final. Two former skippers, Collie Moran (Dublin) and Ambrose O’Donovan (Kerry) look back on the past and forward to Sunday with Andy Watters…
COLLIE MORAN (DUBLIN)
Collie Moran slaved away at the coalface from 1998 to 2009, when the Dubs couldn’t catch a break against the Kingdom.
Moran played in the unforgettable quarter-final in Thurles back in 2001, when the Dubs rallied in the second-half to push Kerry to the brink, only for Maurice Fitzgerald to draw the game at the death with arguably the greatest point ever scored.
Kerry won the replay and so, given his experiences, it’s no surprise Moran fears the green-and-gold jersey: “I’m hopeful that Dublin will do it and I think they will, but I’m apprehensive of Kerry,” he said.
“I think they’ve been focusing on Dublin all year. The TV picked Eamonn Fitzmaurice up in the crowd at a Leinster Championship game in June and, even when I watched them in the Munster final, I thought they set up more with Dublin in mind than Tipperary. The way they pushed up on the kick-outs and, then, if they didn’t win primary possession, they all filtered back…
“What any side needs to test Dublin is the right gameplan and the right bench. The last day against Clare, they had Barry John Keane, Aidan O’Mahony, Marc O’Se, Bryan Sheehan… a lot of experience. Some of those players wouldn’t have the legs for 70 minutes against Dublin, but you wonder is that Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s strategy? When things open up in the last 20 minutes, he has fresh legs and experience to bring in. I’d be very cautious over this one.”
Looking back on last year’s final, Moran says Dublin always had the look of winners about them and, in the end, they were good value for a three-point win: “We used to be sick listening to Kerry players talking about the great Dublin-Kerry relationship. It was 30 years in their favour,” he said.
“But the psychology seems to have completely changed in the last few years. The amazing thing about last year’s final was Dublin’s attitude on the day. They had a cut of winners about them all day, whereas Kerry, to me, seemed hesitant and unsure. Even though it was close and Dublin were making loads of mistakes and it was difficult conditions, psychologically, they seemed to be in a much stronger position. It really amazed me.”
Dublin have lost Jack McCaffrey and Rory O’Carroll this year and there are also question marks over the fitness of James McCarthy: “The guys that have come in have done well, but this is a different test,” said Moran.
“When I look at Kerry, they still have excellent attacking talent and they will ask questions of Dublin.”
AMBROSE O’DONOVAN (KERRY)
Midfielder Ambrose O’Donovan climbed the steps of the Hogan Stand to accept the Sam Maguire after Kerry had beaten the Dubs 0-14 to 1-6 in the GAA centenary final of 1984.
The Kingdom fielded a side packed with all-time greats of the game, including Paidi O Se, Pat Spillane, Eoin Liston, Jack O’Shea and ‘Ogie’ Moran and proved too strong for the Dubs. That September day is the Gneeveguilla clubman’s fondest memory of the fixture.
“I was captain of the side,” he said.
“There’s a special rivalry and it’s very hard to explain to someone from outside Dublin or Kerry. There’s a rivalry there, but there’s also a great respect between both sets of players - we do see ourselves as being age-old rivals and we also seem to produce good football.
“That’s the one thing about Kerry versus Dublin - you’d expect a good game of football. Given the matches this year, we could do with a good game and I’m hoping that Sunday will provide it and, hopefully, we’ll be on the right side of it.”
He admits he’ll travel up to Croke Park “hopeful more than confident”: “We know there’s not much between the sides - the big thing for me is, can we stay with them for 75 minutes? There’s no doubt we can stay with them for 55, but the game is longer.
“We don’t underestimate them either - if you go toe-to-toe with Dublin, they’re a very good side. They have pace, they have a lot of good forwards and good defenders. We’ll need to have our strategy well worked and well planed in training.”
Like Moran, he sees the Kerry bench as having the experience and class to have an impact on the crucial last 15 minutes: “Dublin base a lot of their game on power and athleticism,” said the three-time Sam Maguire winner.
“They are good footballers, there’s no doubting that, but they have good, strong runners, powerful men. Dublin will go for 75 minutes and, to beat them, you have to have the legs to do it and the bench to come on and do a job for you.
“If the ‘Gooch’ [Colm Cooper] isn’t fit, he’ll be there and we have the likes of Aidan O’Mahoney and Marc O Se, who are vastly experienced in Croke Park and you’d hope, by the fact that they’re on the panel, that there’s 20-25 minutes in them.”
