Kerry have made three changes from the team that beat Cavan last time out and there’s no place for attacker Kieran Donaghy.
The Tralee man was omitted from the side that saw off Cork in the Munster final but won back his place for the All-Ireland last-eight victory.
Manager Eamon Fitzmaurice has instead given James O’Donoghue the nod in the full forward line this time out.
Elsewhere, Mark Griffin replaces the injured Killian Young in defence while Anthony Maher returns to take David Moran’s spot at midfield.
The recovering pair of Bryan Sheehan and Aidan O’Mahony are named among the substitutes.
KERRY: Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin); Marc Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore), Shane Enright (Tarbert); Tomás Ó Sé (An Ghaeltacht), Peter Crowley (Laune Rangers), Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes); Anthony Maher (Duagh), Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes); Paul Galvin (Finuge), Colm Cooper (Dr Crokes), Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane); Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), Declan O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), James O’Donoghue (Killarney Legion)
Dublin, meanwhile, have made just one change. On paper at least.
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Paddy Andrews comes in for Eoghan O’Gara for the capital but whether he takes the field on Sunday remains to be seen.
DUBLIN:
Stephen Cluxton (Parnell’s); Kevin O’Brien Naomh (Mearnóg), Rory O’Carroll (Kilmacud Crokes), Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna); James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams), Ger Brennan (St Vincent’s), Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf); Michael Darragh Macauley (Ballyboden St Enda’s), Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes); Paul Flynn (Fingallians), Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock), Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s); Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes), Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s), Bernard Brogan (St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh)
Checking the odds…
Dublin are the clear favorites at 1/2 with Kerry available at 21/10 and the draw can be got at 9/1.
Dublin manager Jim Gavin
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Clues from the form guide…
As debut managerial campaigns go, Jim Gavin’s makes for impressive reading. A league title collected after a final fight with Tyrone, a Leinster title collected after a feisty challenge from Meath and then they found a way to get a grip on the game against Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
The Cork match may have raised a couple of issues in the number of goal chances they spurned and the anxiety their full-back line displayed at times in dealing with aerial bombardments. But overall Dublin look to be in rude health.
Kerry enter the match as provincial champions as well after defeating Cork in Munster but their quarter-final win in a lacklustre affair against Cavan did little to inspire confidence in the Kingdom.
There is an argument that Kerry have been able to prime themselves for an autumn assault in Croke Park but certainly their form needs to improve.
Consistency is the buzzword for Eamonn Fitzmaurice with second-half fadeouts being a recurring and worrying trend this year. If they are to upstage Dublin, they will need to avoid falling into that pattern of play.
Dublin have pace to burn all over the pitch. Their rampaging half-backs Jack McCaffrey and James McCarthy have torched teams this summer and Kerry need to halt them.
Stifling the playmaking threat of Ciaran Kilkenny is another issue while elsewhere in the Dublin attack there is menace in newcomer Paul Mannion and Diarmuid Connolly. In addition there were signs against Cork that Bernard Brogan is returning to form.
Kerry’s match-up’s in defence will be crucial. Fitzmaurice is an astute manager and while the O Sé’s and Shane Enright are accustomed to this level it is a test for the talented trio of Mark Griffin, Peter Crowley and Fionn Fitzgerald.
Kerry will look to gain a foothold in midfield here. Do that and they can cut out the supply to Dublin’s much-vaunted attack. In turn they can feed their own forward line where the names of Cooper, O’Sullivan and Galvin ensure they will always provide a challenge.
Anthony Maher’s return to the team is interesting and Johnny Buckley has grown in stature this season. Their battle will be pivotal.
Kerry’s Anthony Maher
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Gazing into the crystal ball…
There have been plenty talk that this game resembles the 2009 meeting between the counties. Dublin are flying high while Kerry wait in the long grass pounced to surprise.
It’s hard to see Kerry capitulating. They have a core of class and will be ready for the challenge that Dublin will provide.
Their ability to spring a surprise centers on an ability to hone in on their best form and erase the inconsistencies that have plagued them this year.
That was something they achieved in 2009 but four years on is there enough in the tank of this experienced outfit? And this is a vastly different Dublin team now. Aside from being blessed with youth and dynamism, there is a hardened mentality and they do not panic.
Much like Cork in the quarter-final, Kerry will give Dublin plenty to think about. But Jim Gavin’s can get over the finish line in the end.
Dublin v Kerry, All-Ireland SFC semi-final match guide
All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Dublin v Kerry
Sunday, 3.30pm
Croke Park, Dublin
Ref: Cormac Reilly (Meath)
Latest from the medics and management…
Kerry have made three changes from the team that beat Cavan last time out and there’s no place for attacker Kieran Donaghy.
The Tralee man was omitted from the side that saw off Cork in the Munster final but won back his place for the All-Ireland last-eight victory.
Manager Eamon Fitzmaurice has instead given James O’Donoghue the nod in the full forward line this time out.
Elsewhere, Mark Griffin replaces the injured Killian Young in defence while Anthony Maher returns to take David Moran’s spot at midfield.
The recovering pair of Bryan Sheehan and Aidan O’Mahony are named among the substitutes.
Dublin, meanwhile, have made just one change. On paper at least.
Paddy Andrews comes in for Eoghan O’Gara for the capital but whether he takes the field on Sunday remains to be seen.
Checking the odds…
Dublin are the clear favorites at 1/2 with Kerry available at 21/10 and the draw can be got at 9/1.
Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Clues from the form guide…
As debut managerial campaigns go, Jim Gavin’s makes for impressive reading. A league title collected after a final fight with Tyrone, a Leinster title collected after a feisty challenge from Meath and then they found a way to get a grip on the game against Cork in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
The Cork match may have raised a couple of issues in the number of goal chances they spurned and the anxiety their full-back line displayed at times in dealing with aerial bombardments. But overall Dublin look to be in rude health.
Kerry enter the match as provincial champions as well after defeating Cork in Munster but their quarter-final win in a lacklustre affair against Cavan did little to inspire confidence in the Kingdom.
There is an argument that Kerry have been able to prime themselves for an autumn assault in Croke Park but certainly their form needs to improve.
Consistency is the buzzword for Eamonn Fitzmaurice with second-half fadeouts being a recurring and worrying trend this year. If they are to upstage Dublin, they will need to avoid falling into that pattern of play.
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
The game breakers are…
Dublin have pace to burn all over the pitch. Their rampaging half-backs Jack McCaffrey and James McCarthy have torched teams this summer and Kerry need to halt them.
Stifling the playmaking threat of Ciaran Kilkenny is another issue while elsewhere in the Dublin attack there is menace in newcomer Paul Mannion and Diarmuid Connolly. In addition there were signs against Cork that Bernard Brogan is returning to form.
Kerry’s match-up’s in defence will be crucial. Fitzmaurice is an astute manager and while the O Sé’s and Shane Enright are accustomed to this level it is a test for the talented trio of Mark Griffin, Peter Crowley and Fionn Fitzgerald.
Kerry will look to gain a foothold in midfield here. Do that and they can cut out the supply to Dublin’s much-vaunted attack. In turn they can feed their own forward line where the names of Cooper, O’Sullivan and Galvin ensure they will always provide a challenge.
Anthony Maher’s return to the team is interesting and Johnny Buckley has grown in stature this season. Their battle will be pivotal.
Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Gazing into the crystal ball…
There have been plenty talk that this game resembles the 2009 meeting between the counties. Dublin are flying high while Kerry wait in the long grass pounced to surprise.
It’s hard to see Kerry capitulating. They have a core of class and will be ready for the challenge that Dublin will provide.
Their ability to spring a surprise centers on an ability to hone in on their best form and erase the inconsistencies that have plagued them this year.
That was something they achieved in 2009 but four years on is there enough in the tank of this experienced outfit? And this is a vastly different Dublin team now. Aside from being blessed with youth and dynamism, there is a hardened mentality and they do not panic.
Much like Cork in the quarter-final, Kerry will give Dublin plenty to think about. But Jim Gavin’s can get over the finish line in the end.
Verdict: Dublin
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