Hello and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

Dublin and Kerry do battle at Croke Park tonight just over four months since Jim Gavin’s side came out on top in last year’s All-Ireland final.

This rivalry needs little introduction.

Here’s some pre-match reading to whet the appetite.

• 6 things to keep an eye on during the Allianz Football League season

• The 10 counties who have new football managers for the 2016 season

• Why Marc Ó Sé has returned for a 15th Kerry senior campaign ahead of his 36th birthday 

• Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy on why he put his retirement plans on hold for 2016

• ‘I think Diarmuid Connolly maybe gets a tough press sometimes’

   

And here’s a reminder of tonight’s teams — there will be no shortage of talent on show. This should get the National Football League going with a bang.

We’ll keep you up to date with any personnel changes once the information lands.

This game will be live on Setanta Ireland.

DUBLIN

1. Stephen Cluxton (Parnells)

2. Jonny Cooper (Na Fianna)
3. Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala)
4. David Byrne (Naomh Olaf)

5. James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams)
6. John Small (Ballymun Kickhams)
7. Davy Byrne (Ballymun Kickhams)

8. Cian O’Sullivan (Kilmacud Crokes)
9. Denis Bastick (Templeogue Synge Street)

10. Tomas Brady (Na Fianna)
11. Diarmuid Connolly (St Vincent’s)
12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)

13. Paddy Andrews (St Brigid’s)
14. Dean Rock (Ballymun Kickhams)
15. Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes)

KERRY

1. Brendan Kealy (Kilcummin)

2. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
3. Mark Griffin (St Michaels/Foilmore)
4. Shane Enright (Tarbert)

5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
6. Killian Young (C) (Renard)
7. Fionn Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes)

8. David Moran (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
9. Johnny Buckley (Dr Crokes)

10. Stephen O’Brien (Kenmare)
11. Darran O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh-Glencar)
12. Donnchadh Walsh (Cromane)

13. Barry John Keane (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
14. Tommy Walsh (Kerins O’Rahilly’s)
15. Philip O’Connor (Cordal)

The main event follows Dublin’s Walsh Cup final clash with Wexford. Elsewhere, Down host Donegal in Newry. That one also throws in at 7pm.

And the subs for today are:

Kerry fans, look away now.

For everyone else, here’s a reminder of how things panned out towards the end of September’s clash.

Dublin are going for the fourth league title in a row. But they’ll have to do it without Alan Brogan (retired) and Rory O’Carroll (away for a year).

However, the return of Paul Mannion is certainly a timely boost. The Kilmacud Crokes man was studying abroad last year and lines out at corner-forward tonight.

Still no word on any changes to the line-ups.

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Richie Hogan is tuning in tonight anyway — never short of a word or two on social media that man.

Dublin have won the Walsh Cup, beating Wexford 1-22 to 1-12 at Croker. Match report will be on The42 shortly.

In case you missed it, Kieran Donaghy was the star of the show for St Brendan’s Tralee in their national intermediate club championships final at the National Basketball Arena.

He was named MVP after bagging 18 points, 24 rebounds and 11 assists.

Tommy Walsh is named at full-forward today and he is likely to be in the thick of things. It’ll be interesting to see who Dublin put on him. Their full-back line is not lacking in ability but they aren’t particularly big.

We’re under way at Croke Park.

Tommy Walsh hasn’t started on the edge of the square so that’s one less thing for the Dubs to worry about.

It’s started with a good tempo – some sloppy shooting and passing from both sides early doors. Hardly surprising.

Paddy Andrews gets the Dubs off the mark, finishing where he left off at the end of last campaign.

Dean Rock makes it a two-point lead for the Dubs. Kerry are looking pretty exposed at the back by Dublin’s speed. Rock was through on goal there but fired over.

Dean Rock drops a free very short – that was poor from the Ballymun Kickhams man.

Both sets of forwards are enjoying plenty of space early on. But Kerry’s shooting has let them down so far.

Dublin 0-2 Kerry 0-0

Having a few issues with our score centre at the moment. Bear with me.

Paul Mannion adds another from play for the Dubs. Great stuff from the corner forward.

It’s been a good day for the Dubs so far; a Walsh Cup win and Mannion’s former school, St Benildus College, won their Leinster semi-final replay against Scoil Mhuire Clane.

Kerry respond though with their first score of the game from Stephen O’Brien.

Dublin 0-3 Kerry 0-1.

It’s been a good game of football. Dublin are carving Kerry apart, they’ve already had three goal chances.

Dean Rock adds another for the Dubs from a free.

Paul Mannion has been outstanding so far; in the air, on the ground — he’s winning everything.

He claims a great high ball and is dragged down by Brian Ó Beaglaoich and Shane Enright. Dean Rock clips over the free.

Another goal chance for Dublin. Great save from Brendan Kealy to deny Paddy Andrews. Kerry can’t live with the movement of Dublin’s forwards.

Dublin have looked vulnerable under the high ball but really should be much further ahead.

Kerry get another score back through Johnny Buckley. And then another from Darran O’Sullivan.

Game on.

Another Dublin missed goal opportunity. David Moran gets back to make a save from Dean Rock when it looked like it was harder to miss. Great work by the midfielder.

It’s been an entertaining game of attacking football so far.

Kerry have settled into this a bit more. Walsh is loitering with intent around the Dublin square. Amazing there have only been eight points scored considering how open it has been.

Make that nine. Paddy Andrews with an excellent score.

Walsh and O’Sullivan link up well and Walsh makes it a two-point game once again.

Two quick Kerry frees from Barry John Keane have now tied it up.

Tommy Walsh really coming into this now. Lording it in the air.

Tomás Brady puts in a solid fend and sends the ball over the bar to put the Dubs back in front with halftime approaching.

David Moran steers a monstrous kick over the bar to round out the half. Such a classy footballer.

All square at the break.

HT: Dublin 0-7 Kerry 0-7

Well that was entertaining. Kerry really started to hit their stride after a slow start. Dublin could well have been out of sight if they had been more clinical in front of goal.

Kerry will be delighted to be on level terms after being second best for most of that opening half.

Paul Mannion and Paddy Andrews have really stood out for the Dubs. Tommy Walsh’s aerial threat has been causing Jim Gavin’s side some issues too.

Croker is looking well tonight.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

In tonight’s other game it’s Donegal 0-9 Down 0-3 at half-time and that one is live on Setanta Sports 1.

Just over 30,000 people in Croke Park tonight – decent numbers.

The teams are back on the field. Should be a cracking half of football to come.

We’re under way again in Croke Park.

Mannion and Andrews, Kerry’s tormentors in chief so far, combine beautifully. The St Brigid’s man makes no mistake after Mannion found him with a delicious pass.

Great start from Dublin.

That’s the Tommy Walsh we all know.

Great to see him back and looking sharp.

He wins the ball easily ahead of Fitzsimons and strokes it over. Some quality football already in this half.

A Dean Rock free edges the All-Ireland champions ahead again.

And footballer of the year Jack McCaffrey has come on for Davey Byrne (Ballymun).

He’ll enjoy the space out there you’d imagine.

Dublin 1-9 Kerry 0-8 (Andrews ’42)

Diarmuid Connolly delivers a lovely cross-field ball in towards the square. Andrews shows great strength to win the break and he tucks in the corner past Kealy.

Barry John Keane punishes Cooper’s foul as he swings a free over from out on the right. Back to a one-score game.

Donnchadh Walsh gets a black card for a pull on Paul Mannion — he can’t have too many complaints about that.

Kerry can’t deal with Mannion today. Still waiting on his replacement.

Dean Rock adds one from play from an awkward angle.

Bit of handbags breaks out after Rock’s score. Didn’t look like anything serious. This game is starting to get a bit feisty. Eddie Kinsella shows yellows to Tom Brady and Killian Young for their roles in the schmozzle.

Paddy Andrews has been irresistible today. He could sell solo dummies on Moore St that man. A beautiful bit of skill buys him some time and space and he knock it over to bring Dublin’s lead out to five points.

Emmett Ó Conghaile comes on for Denis Bastick.

PENALTY for Dublin. James McCarthy is pulled back by Brian Ó Beaglaoich.

Connolly makes no mistake as he buries it in the bottom left corner. Dublin’s lead now out to eight points.

Dublin 2-11 Kerry 0-9 (Connolly ’51)

Keane tags on another free. Kerry haven’t got going yet in this second half.

Cormac Costello comes on for the Dubs.  Padraig O’Connor and Brendan O’Sullivan on for the Kingdom.

Great football by the Dubs. Kilkenny finds Rock. He wins it out in front, turns and slots it over on his left. Dublin have really upped their game in this second half and Kerry haven’t been able to live with them. This will be pleasing Jim Gavin.

Darran O’Sullivan causes Cian O’Sullivan problems with his pace and swings over a tidy point to bring the lead back down to seven points.

But it doesn’t take the Dubs long to respond. Ó’Conghaile works the ball to Kilkenny and he finds Costello. The Whitehall man swings it over towards Hill16. Excellent football from Dublin’s youngsters.

Darran O’Sullivan is having a purple patch – he tags on another from play.

Ciarán Reddin on for Ciarán Kilkenny for Dublin.

This game has lost its intensity now. Dublin look happy to just hold on to the ball and kill the game.

Darren Daly comes on for Cian O’Sullivan.

Brendan O’Sullivan reduces Dublin’s lead to six points with an excellent score from play.

Six O’Sullivans involved in the match-day squads today would you believe.

Tommy Walsh has been substituted. Gavin O’Grady on for him.

WHAT A STRIKE! Dublin centre-back John Small makes a run typical of Dublin’s half-back line and drills a shot from distance at goal. It smacks off the crossbar and stays out. Great effort from the Ballymun Kickhams man.

A black card for Shane Enright for dragging down David Byrne. Kerry are getting frustrated now. Rock strokes the free over with an excellent strike from the ground. Seven points for him now.

Cuala’s Con O’Callaghan makes his league debut and starts it with an ambitious shot that goes well wide. This game is done and dusted at this stage.

FT: Dublin 2-14 Kerry 0-14

That was an excellent second-half performance from Dublin. They looked like they had plenty more in the tank and were happy just to keep Kerry at arm’s length.

Paddy Andrews was man of the match for my money.

Jim Gavin will take plenty out of that while Eamonn Fitzmaurice at least knows that things should get a bit easier from here on.

Dublin travel to Castlebar next weekend while Kerry host Roscommon in Killarney.

Thanks for joining our liveblog. Match report and reaction to follow on The42.

Elsewhere tonight, Donegal have had an incredible win against Down in Páirc Esler, winning out 3-15 to 0-7. Wow.