Dublin 0-19 (0-4-11)
Kerry 1-15 (1-3-9)
UNDER THE SATURDAY night lights in Tralee, Dublin ended a long stretch without a league victory at this venue off the back of a powerful second-half display.
Trailing Kerry by 11 points at the break, a game that was characterised by a strong wind that blew into the town end terrace at Austin Stack Park, was turned on its head by Dublin’s greater second-half scoring power.
Lorcan O’Dell nailed a pair of two-pointers to tie the game and another substitute Luke Breathnach kicked the priceless last point to nudge Dublin into the lead as they squeezed out a win.
Kerry enjoyed a handsome advantage at half-time, 1-12 to 0-4. It was constructed by the manner in which they harnessed the hefty wind at their backs to float over three two-pointers, and also how they pounced for a goal after the game had just moved past the half-hour mark.
Captain Seán O’Shea knocked over a pair of two-pointers and Brian Ó Beaglaoich fired another from distance. Then before the break when Ó Beaglaoich attempted another shot, it fell short and hung in the air, tempting Evan Comerford from goal to challenge Kerry’s Micheál Burns and Dublin’s David Byrne.
The ball spilled loose from them all, falling into the lap of Paul Geaney who sidestepped and tidily finished to the net from 13 yards. That put Kerry 12 clear and though Greg McEnaney rounded off the first-half scoring by shooting over for Dublin, the task they faced at the break appeared a daunting one.
But Dublin got to work. They missed a bunch of chances in the third quarter, yet were seeing plenty ball come their way. They trailed 1-13 to 0-9 when their comeback was really kickstarted by two points in rapid succession on 52 and 53 by the excellent Sean Bugler.
Then Ciaran Kilkenny bombed over a two-pointer and the gap was a manageable three. Kerry tried to weather the storm, they introduced David Clifford for his first appearance of the year, with O’Shea tapping over a free and Paudie Clifford cleverly clipping over a shot that sent them four clear, 1-15 to 0-14.
But that position was not sufficient to protect Kerry and they would regret the opening period goal chances that were not converted, Joe O’Connor dragging one clearcut chance wide.
O’Dell stepped forward to provide the necessary scoring leadership for Dublin and Breathnach held his composure to grab the match-winner, sending the away fans cheering into the night.
Scorers for Dublin: Lorcan O’Dell 0-4 (2 2pt scores), Sean Bugler 0-4 (0-1f), Ciaran Kilkenny 0-3 (1 2pt score), Lee Gannon 0-2 (1 2pt score), Greg McEnaney 0-2, Luke Breathnach 0-2, Tom Lahiff 0-1, Eoghan O’Donnell 0-1.
Scorers for Kerry: Seán O’Shea 0-6 (2 2pt scores 0-2f), Paul Geaney 1-1, Micheál Burns 0-2, Brian Ó Beaglaoich 0-2 (1 2pt score), Graham O’Sullivan 0-1, Conor Geaney 0-1, Paudie Clifford 0-1.
Dublin
16. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. David Byrne (Naomh Ólaf), 3. Theo Clancy (Kilmacud Crokes), 4. Sean McMahon (Raheny)
5. Brian Howard (Raheny), 6. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis), 7. Greg McEneaney (Skerries Harps)
8. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s), 22. Alex Gavin (Ballyboden St-Enda’s)
10. Kevin Lahiff (St Jude’s), 11. Seán Bugler (St. Oliver Plunkett/Eoghan Ruadh) 12. Ciaran Kilkenny (Castleknock)
13. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street) 14. Eoghan O’Donnell (Whitehall Colmcille), 24. Sean Lowry (St Vincent’s)
Subs
21. Lee Gannon (Whitheall Colmcille) for McEnaney (half-time)
18. Luke Breathnach (Ballinteer St John’s) for Lowry (45)
25. Lorcan O’Dell (Templeogue Synge Street) for Kevin Lahiff (53)
9. Niall O’Callaghan (Cuala) for O’Donnell (58)
23. Davy Keogh (Thomas Davis) for Gannon (63)
Kerry
1. Shane Ryan (Rathmore)
2. Damien Bourke (Na Gaeil), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
5. Graham O’Sullivan (Piarsaigh na Dromoda), 6. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 7. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht),
8. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil), 9. Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks),
10. Paudie Clifford (Fossa), 11. Sean O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks), 12. Darragh Lyne (Killarney Legion),
13. Conor Geaney (Dingle), 14. Paul Geaney (Dingle), 23. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
Subs
24. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks) for O’Sullivan (inj) (9)
18. Cathal Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht) for Lyne (46)
21. David Clifford (Fossa) for Conor Geaney (50)
26. Keith Evans (Keel) for Burns (60)
20. Seán O’Brien (Beaufort) for Joe O’Connor (65)
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
Come on you boys in blue!
Up da dubs.
Jesus, looks like just saying you support the Dubs is enough to get you red thumbed. Anyway, everyone hates us but we don’t care. COYBIB!!
CHAMPIONS!!!!!!
Come on Kerry. Anyone But Dublin
Fantastic display from the Dubs,welcome home Sam!
Come on the dubs!!!
Come on you boys, come on you boys in blue!!!
Who are the 4 muppets on RTE 2 arguing over nothing?
I know!! Everybody wants to see the best play in a final and a Kerry v Dublin is like The Spanish El Clasico!!!
Did they lube the pitch up with baby oil before this match? Shlippin’ and shlidin’ all over the place
Come on Dublin.
Tis a slipping and sliding match.
When I seen the photograph of the woman and baby accompanying this article I thought it was going to be another migrant/refugee story!
It’s a refugee free day!! Beer and maybe a leg over later if Dublin win!!
I’m off the drink but I’ll take you up on the offer of the leg over.
Might be some consolation after the hiding Tipperary got in the minor game
worst allireland final in my living memory. Very very poor.
Puke.
The boys on RTE just after mentioning how both teams have played limited division 1 opposition,to put that into perspective Donegal who were knocked out of the championship in the Q/F have played more Div 1 teams than both Kerry and Dublin combined.
They won’t get any all-stars either despite the lop-sided draw they came through. Perhaps Durcan – had a terrific year.
It’s a very unfair system. Ulster teams get a raw deal there’s no disputing that
Best team won in the end.
Dublin have the better squad, Kerry have the better management. Kerry by 2.
Jack Kerry are not that strong !!!
…Stick to the day job Michael
Na I work nights
Looking like the Dubs having the better on the sideline as well so far, cooper bring dragged up and down the field and o Sullivan getting in on the scoring Gooch too far out from the goals
Wouldn’t completely agree, Kerry’s shooting has been absolutely woeful. When playing Dublin you have to take your chances. 8 wides(?) in 35 minutes is inexcusable in an AIF,
Congrats Dublin, the better side on the day
They should get rid of them clowns up in the studio and stick O’se and Whelao up there.
Come on utd
Carney already has O’Donoghue as his man of the match..
Never understood why they call it football. It should be called handball.
Because the foot kicks the ball? Derp!
Because it’s played on foot! The same reason Association Football is called football, American football is called football and rugby is called rugby football. The more you know *spreads hands in star motion*
Good game so far considering the conditions.
A.B.D
Deserved victory for Dublin, adapted to the conditions better and were unquestionably the better team on the day..faif pay to them..poor quality final..poor championsip.. (from the perspective of a neutral)
Well done best team won in the end to be honest it should hav been a bigger margin and they really should have three in a row by now by far the best team over the last three to four years.
Well done boys!! Up the Dubs!!
Martin carney is getting worried that Dublin might actually win
Dublin being a bit wasteful early on when they’re in shooting distance of a goal
Looks like donaghy is togged to start?????. Let the games begin
Get Paul Flynn off the pitch and this game would be put to bed.
I must have been at a different match . Paul Flynn was my man of the match