Dublin have ruled their great rivals with an iron fist over the past few years, but a new-look Kerry side is emerging.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
Their 20 scores was the highest tally against Jim Gavin’s team since Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland final, but more significantly Kerry have proved they are Dublin’s equals – for the moment at least.
Kerry avoided defeat for a second straight game against Dublin and picked up just their second win over the Metropolitans in 11 attempts. They proved that draw in Tralee was no fluke.
Dublin’s run of big game wins over Kerry over the past two years came to an end, after their All-Ireland final victory two years ago and the 2016 league final and All-Ireland semi-final wins for Gavin’s men.
The seismic impact this win will have on the mindset of the Kerry players shouldn’t be downplayed. The prospect of returning back down south empty-handed would have left a nagging doubt in their minds about their ability to beat this Dublin side.
There’s no doubt about it, Kerry now know for sure they have what it takes in the locker. That’ll count for a lot when it comes to the white heat of battle later in the summer.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
2. Dublin’s 36-game unbeaten run comes to an end
Dublin’s loss to Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final has been hailed as a watershed moment, and they haven’t lost a championship game since.
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This was a first game of major consequence Dublin have lost under Gavin since that day three years ago. It was just his seventh competitive defeat as Dublin boss and a second post-St Patrick’s Day loss of any kind under Gavin.
In the long-run, this defeat may not prove to be a bad thing for Gavin’s side. While a fifth straight league crown went amiss, it’ll provide the Dubs with fresh impetus heading into the championship.
The hype surrounding their lengthy unbeaten run will now disappear, and Kerry proved today the chasing pack aren’t quite as far behind as we imagined.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
3. Kerry’s ‘moving’ quarter dominance
Kerry left Dublin waiting on the field before the start of the second-half, and they proceeded to completely dominate the third quarter.
Dublin didn’t trouble the scoreboard in the second-half until the 54th minute, by which time Kerry had streaked five in front. That set the platform for the victory.
Dublin’s recent comebacks have made it clear that you have to be four or five points better to beat them by one, and that’s exactly how it transpired today.
Geaney chipped in with four points during that spell, including three frees as Kerry troubled their opponents with a lively running game.
Kerry had just enough of a cushion to survive Dublin’s blitz of 1-4 in the between the 54th and 61s minute, and see home the victory.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
4. Another physical encounter between these rivals
This was nowhere near the fractious affair in Tralee three weeks ago, but there was a simmering tension throughout the game.
Diarmuid Connolly, Jonathan Lyne and Anthony Maher were deservedly black-carded for cynical fouls. Maher’s blatant pull-down on Michael Fitzsimmons at the death left Dean Rock standing over a 48m free which struck the upright. Such are the inches that the big games come down to.
Philly McMahon had at least three notable fouls during the third quarter and can consider himself very lucky to stay on the field, while James McCarthy and Donnchadh Walsh both went dangerously close to picking up reds when they quarrelled under the Hill.
Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
5. Kerry get their tactics right
Kerry operated with Jack Savage and Paul Geaney as a two-man full-forward unit, with the hard-working trio of Kevin McCarthy, Michael Geaney and Donnchadh Walsh employed on the half-forward line.
Lyne, and later Gavin Crowley, dropped to wing-back when Kerry lost possession with Paul Murphy freed up to cover the D.
It was tactic that served the winners well. Dublin like to leave the space in front of the full-forward position empty to allow runners from deep, but Murphy’s positioning clogged up that space and denied Dublin the chance to find their inside forwards with the sort of early ball they thrive on.
It meant that Paddy Andrews and Bernard Brogan endured quiet days at the office by their lofty standards. But the real heroes where the McCarthy, Geaney and Walsh syndicate.
They kicked five points between them and ran Dublin’s half-back line ragged. O’Sullivan and Lowndes were replaced during the second-half. It was about as ordinary as we’ve ever seen O’Sullivan look at centre-back.
Geaney intelligently dragged the Kilmacud Crokes man wide on occasions and denied him the chance to get his usual sweeping game going. Fitzmaurice got his tactics spot-on today. Kerry have officially leapfrogged Mayo as the biggest challengers to Dublin’s throne in September.
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5 talking points as Kerry inflict a 7th competitive defeat on the Jim Gavin regime
1. Kerry finally scratch that itch
THIS ONE WAS a long time coming.
Dublin have ruled their great rivals with an iron fist over the past few years, but a new-look Kerry side is emerging.
Their 20 scores was the highest tally against Jim Gavin’s team since Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland final, but more significantly Kerry have proved they are Dublin’s equals – for the moment at least.
Kerry avoided defeat for a second straight game against Dublin and picked up just their second win over the Metropolitans in 11 attempts. They proved that draw in Tralee was no fluke.
Dublin’s run of big game wins over Kerry over the past two years came to an end, after their All-Ireland final victory two years ago and the 2016 league final and All-Ireland semi-final wins for Gavin’s men.
The seismic impact this win will have on the mindset of the Kerry players shouldn’t be downplayed. The prospect of returning back down south empty-handed would have left a nagging doubt in their minds about their ability to beat this Dublin side.
There’s no doubt about it, Kerry now know for sure they have what it takes in the locker. That’ll count for a lot when it comes to the white heat of battle later in the summer.
2. Dublin’s 36-game unbeaten run comes to an end
Dublin’s loss to Donegal in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final has been hailed as a watershed moment, and they haven’t lost a championship game since.
This was a first game of major consequence Dublin have lost under Gavin since that day three years ago. It was just his seventh competitive defeat as Dublin boss and a second post-St Patrick’s Day loss of any kind under Gavin.
In the long-run, this defeat may not prove to be a bad thing for Gavin’s side. While a fifth straight league crown went amiss, it’ll provide the Dubs with fresh impetus heading into the championship.
The hype surrounding their lengthy unbeaten run will now disappear, and Kerry proved today the chasing pack aren’t quite as far behind as we imagined.
3. Kerry’s ‘moving’ quarter dominance
Kerry left Dublin waiting on the field before the start of the second-half, and they proceeded to completely dominate the third quarter.
Dublin didn’t trouble the scoreboard in the second-half until the 54th minute, by which time Kerry had streaked five in front. That set the platform for the victory.
Dublin’s recent comebacks have made it clear that you have to be four or five points better to beat them by one, and that’s exactly how it transpired today.
Geaney chipped in with four points during that spell, including three frees as Kerry troubled their opponents with a lively running game.
Kerry had just enough of a cushion to survive Dublin’s blitz of 1-4 in the between the 54th and 61s minute, and see home the victory.
4. Another physical encounter between these rivals
This was nowhere near the fractious affair in Tralee three weeks ago, but there was a simmering tension throughout the game.
Diarmuid Connolly, Jonathan Lyne and Anthony Maher were deservedly black-carded for cynical fouls. Maher’s blatant pull-down on Michael Fitzsimmons at the death left Dean Rock standing over a 48m free which struck the upright. Such are the inches that the big games come down to.
Philly McMahon had at least three notable fouls during the third quarter and can consider himself very lucky to stay on the field, while James McCarthy and Donnchadh Walsh both went dangerously close to picking up reds when they quarrelled under the Hill.
5. Kerry get their tactics right
Kerry operated with Jack Savage and Paul Geaney as a two-man full-forward unit, with the hard-working trio of Kevin McCarthy, Michael Geaney and Donnchadh Walsh employed on the half-forward line.
Lyne, and later Gavin Crowley, dropped to wing-back when Kerry lost possession with Paul Murphy freed up to cover the D.
It was tactic that served the winners well. Dublin like to leave the space in front of the full-forward position empty to allow runners from deep, but Murphy’s positioning clogged up that space and denied Dublin the chance to find their inside forwards with the sort of early ball they thrive on.
It meant that Paddy Andrews and Bernard Brogan endured quiet days at the office by their lofty standards. But the real heroes where the McCarthy, Geaney and Walsh syndicate.
They kicked five points between them and ran Dublin’s half-back line ragged. O’Sullivan and Lowndes were replaced during the second-half. It was about as ordinary as we’ve ever seen O’Sullivan look at centre-back.
Geaney intelligently dragged the Kilmacud Crokes man wide on occasions and denied him the chance to get his usual sweeping game going. Fitzmaurice got his tactics spot-on today. Kerry have officially leapfrogged Mayo as the biggest challengers to Dublin’s throne in September.
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