IS THERE AN underappreciated Dublin-Kerry football clash, one that flies under the radar?
On this week’s episode of Warriors, the GAA podcast for The42 members, we went back 13 years to an All-Ireland senior football semi-final and wondered is it a game that does not get the acclaim it deserves?
Maurice’s sideline in 2001, the startled earwigs of 2009, Cluxton’s free in 2011, Kevin McManamon’s goal in 2013 and a couple of classics from 2016 and 2019 ensure there has been a rich catalogue of games built up between the counties over the last two decades.
But we make the case for the merits of the 2007 clash when Kerry won out 1-15 to 0-16 in a pulsating finale over Dublin to set up a decider with Cork where they would go on to retain the Sam Maguire.
Fintan O’Toole and Kevin O’Brien look at how the attacking genius of Colm Cooper and Declan O’Sullivan was key at that time, compare the different culture in Dublin football then and the scale of the personnel change before they started to make the Sam Maguire breakthrough.
We reflect on the impact of the Ó Sé brothers, 2007 the one year where all three won All-Star awards, ask is Pat O’Shea an under-rated manager and assess Pillar Caffrey’s influence on Dublin football after nearly taking down the All-Ireland champions in this game.
Check out this week’s episode of Warriors which is available to members of The42 and let us know your suggestions for future episodes on Twitter at @Warriors_GAA or email sport@the42.ie.
Declan O’Sullivan was a serious player for the Kingdom. One of their best ever forwards.
@Ned Flanders: agreed
@Ned Flanders: absolutely and he never got the credit he deserved
An outstanding player and ambassador for Kerry
I was at a Munster final in the park in cork a few years previous and a section of people wearing Kerry jerseys ( I won’t call them Kerry supporters ) were calling him sickening names and actually applauded when he was taken off that day
It was absolutely disgusting
@Ned Flanders: a class act.
Was gutted leaving Croke Park that day. Donaghy dragging Shane Ryan down as he went clear through. Never believe the “yerra we are never cynical” line from that crowd. They invented it
@Conor Pocock: All the teams at the top have a cynical side. You don’t get there otherwise
@Mel Roberts: completely agree Mel. It’s the “keepers of the flame that only play football the right way” rhetoric coming out of Killarney for years that annoys me
@Mel Roberts: ask Tyrone shur
Specialists in it
Dublin have brought it to a new level
I watched the 1976 final the other day. It was like a different sport……lads kicking the ball as far as they could and spilling possession so easily. it’s amazing how the game has evolved
@Phil O Stine: The final in 1977 between Dublin and Armagh was prob the worst AIF I’ve ever seen. Armagh were shocking – even for the ‘catch and root it’ era.
@Insider at RTE: yep. The teams looked unfit and the way possession was coughed up was shocking
@Phil O Stine: If this lockdown has thought me anything, I will never listen to another person tell me Football was better in the 70s, 80s and 90s then today from the games I seen. Eir Sports recently showed the 1994 Connacht Final. The standard especially in the 1st half was appalling. You honestly see better today in a Junior club match
Any chance Eir Sports, TG4 or RTE could show this game? Its the same games being repeated over and over again. This was the best Dublin vs Kerry game of the 2000s
Great pic of Whelan and Darragh fielding. Dublin got cute and tapped the ball from long kick outs and reaped rewards. Miss GAA
I often come on this site but dont post much but every time u see articles about Dublin/ kerry/ donegal i see” mel roberts ” post some s*** about how Tyrone were better some how . They had one good period in the 2000s where they contested with the big teams they didn’t before and haven’t after. If all your opinions relate to Tyrone so much why don’t u watch reeling in the years .