THE HEADLINE QUOTE is attributed to celebrated American author Mark Twain, and Dublin and Kerry’s quest for the Sam Maguire trophy this weekend in many ways mirrors Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn’s search for buried treasure.

Although the Dubs were victors the last time the pair met on All-Ireland final day, it is the Kingdom who have historically reigned supreme in September meetings between the two in Croke Park. Having played each other 12 times in finals, it is Kerry who have won the majority (eight) of those. And although the holders will fancy their chances of retaining the title on Sunday afternoon, Jim Gavin’s charges will hope to replicate scenes like those following Stephen Cluxton’s superb last-gasp winner four years ago.

Perhaps Dublin’s greatest victory over Sunday’s opponents occurred during the ‘Heffo’s Heroes’ era in the 1977 All-Ireland semi-final. Kerry led by two points with six minutes left on the clock, but goals for the capital side from David Hickey and substitute midfielder Bernard Brogan in the latter stages brought the Dubs through to the decider against Armagh, which they won 5-12 to 3-6 in a game remembered for Jimmy Keaveney’s highly impressive individual haul of 2-6.

It was of course Bernard Brogan senior, father of current stars Bernard Jr and Alan, whose goal helped seal that thrilling win over Kerry in ’77, and the latter pair will hope to keep the scoreboard ticking at all costs on Sunday against a Kerry side whose defence have been fairly solid in the All-Ireland series this season, conceding just 10 points to a lacklustre Kildare in the quarter-final, and 1-11 to Tyrone in the semis (the Red Hand goal came from the penalty spot).

In the all-time roll of honour, Kerry lead the football stakes with 37 All-Ireland football triumphs, while the Dubs lie in second place on 24. The two sides contested four of the five finals in the late 70s, with Kerry’s 17- and 11-point winning margins in 1978 and 1979 respectively not necessarily indicative of the closely-fought rivalry that existed at the time. The ’78 final was of course the scene of THAT Mikey Sheehy lob over the head of Dublin net-minder Paddy Cullen.

The 82,000 sell-out crowd this weekend will be hoping for another gargantuan affair, and history certainly points towards a classic. For the neutral looking on it is another case of the two top teams in the country taking each other on in the GAA’s showpiece football event, and it is certainly the game the pundits were hoping would materialise.

People will certainly not be all that surprised if we get a draw this weekend, and the GAA head honchos will certainly not sniff their noses at another lucrative capacity crowd replay. Perhaps the most thrilling draw between the pair in recent memory was the 2001 quarter-final draw in which a late wonder point from St Mary’s clubman Maurice Fitzgerald snatched a stalemate for the Munster men. (Kerry went on to win the replay by three points).

It is unlikely either side will have history on their mind as they enter the fray on Sunday afternoon, but echoes of Spillane and Rock, Sheehy and Moran, O’Mahony and Cullen are what these players grew up with in many ways. Dublin will be rightfully wary of Kerry’s dangerous full-forward line boasting James O’Donoghue and Gooch Cooper, but if the Kingdom can combat Dublin’s now-predictable use of Cluxton’s short kick-outs, and the threat posed by Dublin’s talented subs bench as the clock hits 60 minutes, don’t be surprised if this game is undecided going into injury time.

One thing is for sure, more history will be created one way or another come 5.30 on Sunday evening.

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