An Enduring Rivalry Renewed
The most recent championship encounter between Dublin and Kerry was the 2023 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, which Dublin won.
Every sport boasts iconic rivalries—Barcelona versus Real Madrid in football, New Zealand against South Africa in rugby, or Mexico facing Puerto Rico in boxing. Gaelic football is no exception, and whenever Dublin and Kerry face each other, the contest is always significant.
Between them, these two counties have amassed a combined total of 70 All-Ireland titles, with Kerry leading the roll of honour with 39 titles compared to Dublin's 31.
Throughout the years, Dublin and Kerry have clashed at various stages in the pursuit of the Sam Maguire Cup, creating unforgettable moments that have become integral to the sport's history.
Although their meetings were relatively infrequent since 1893—when club champions represented the counties, with Dublin's Young Irelands defeating Kerry's Laune Rangers—the 1955 final marked the first significant milestone in their rivalry.
By then, Kerry was an established powerhouse with 17 titles, facing a Dublin team led by a young Kevin Heffernan, whose name would become synonymous with this rivalry.
In that match, Kerry secured a 0-12 to 1-6 victory over Dublin in front of a crowd exceeding 87,000 spectators.
Classic Contests in the Golden Era of the 1970s
During the 1970s, Kerry maintained their position atop the roll of honour, having claimed their 22nd title at the start of the decade. Dublin won their 18th title in 1974, managed by Kevin Heffernan.
The following year, a youthful Kerry team, led by a young Mick O'Dwyer and featuring players such as Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheehy, Denis 'Ogie' Moran, Paidi Páidí Ó Sé, and captain Mickey 'Ned' O'Sullivan, traveled to Dublin and stunned the defending champions.
With goals from John Egan and Ger O'Driscoll, Kerry triumphed 2-12 to 0-11, initiating a memorable five-year saga between the sides.
The teams met again in the 1976 final, with Dublin prevailing this time. John McCarthy, Jimmy Keaveney, and Brian Mullins scored goals, and a young Kevin Moran emerged as a key player.
Moran would later earn FA Cup medals with Manchester United and represent the Republic of Ireland in two World Cups, but before his switch to soccer, he helped Dublin secure the 1977 title with a victory over Armagh.
Kerry enjoyed a golden era throughout the 1970s and 1980s.
In the 1977 semi-final, Dublin defeated Kerry 3-12 to 1-13, with goals from John McCarthy, David Hickey, and Bernard Brogan. This match is regarded as one of the greatest games in Gaelic football history.
However, Dublin's brief dominance ended in the 1978 final, which featured one of the sport's most iconic moments: Mikey Sheehy lobbed a goal over Dublin goalkeeper Paddy Cullen, who was protesting a free awarded against him.
Eoin 'Bomber' Liston scored a hat-trick of goals, leading Kerry to a decisive victory. Kerry continued their dominance by defeating Dublin again in the 1979 final, with goals from Sheehy and John Egan, closing out the decade in style.
Kerry also denied Dublin in the 1984 and 1985 finals, marking the conclusion of this intense rivalry until its resurgence in the new millennium.
A New Millennium and a Rivalry Reborn
By 2001, Kerry had secured their 32nd All-Ireland title under manager Jack O'Connor, following a victory over Galway the previous year. Dublin, however, had struggled since their 22nd title in 1995.
In the 2001 All-Ireland quarter-final in Thurles, Kerry entered as favourites, and the game largely followed expectations for much of the match.
However, a revival inspired by Vinnie Murphy allowed Dublin to edge ahead, only for Maurice Fitzgerald to score an equalising point with the outside of his boot from a sideline kick—an iconic moment still remembered today.
Kerry ultimately won the replay and defeated Dublin again at the same stage in 2004.
While Dublin challenged strongly in the 2007 semi-final, Kerry narrowly prevailed. The 2009 quarter-final, held on a Bank Holiday Monday, saw Kerry produce a dominant performance, highlighted by a first-minute goal from Colm Cooper, resulting in a 17-point victory over Dublin.
Dublin's Dominance as Kerry Rebuilds
The 2011 All-Ireland final marked a turning point in the rivalry. With six minutes remaining and Kerry leading by four points, Dublin substitute Kevin McManamon received a pass from Alan Brogan, surged forward, and scored a crucial goal.
With the sides level in added time, Dublin was awarded a free kick. Goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton calmly converted the kick into the Hill 16 end, securing Dublin's first title in 17 years.
This victory initiated a period of Dublin dominance. Two years later, in the 2013 semi-final, McManamon scored again late in the game, followed by a goal from Eoghan O'Gara, turning a one-point deficit in the 67th minute into a seven-point win.
During Dublin's golden era, they defeated Kerry in the 2015 final and again in the 2019 final after a replay. An Eoin Murchin goal was pivotal in securing an unprecedented five-in-a-row Sam Maguire titles, with a sixth added the following year.
Meanwhile, Kerry was preparing to mount a comeback. The 2019 final saw the emergence of a new generation of Kerry stars, including David Clifford and Sean O'Shea.
It was Sean O'Shea's accurate free-taking that decided another intense encounter between the teams.
In the 2022 All-Ireland semi-final, Kerry appeared poised for victory until a late Dublin comeback, sparked by Cormac Costello's goal, leveled the match.
In a reversal of the 2011 scenario, Kerry was awarded an injury-time free into the Hill 16 end, and O'Shea's powerful 50-meter strike secured Kerry's place in the final, which they won under the third tenure of manager Jack O'Connor.
In 2023, the teams met again in the final. Kerry's young talents were favourites, but Dublin's experienced players delivered a heroic performance to claim the title. This remains the most recent championship meeting between the two sides.
The rivalry consistently produces unexpected and memorable moments.
From Mikey Sheehy's and Maurice Fitzgerald's iconic scores to Kevin McManamon's and Eoin Murchin's crucial goals, this rivalry has repeatedly delivered thrilling contests.
Will David Clifford dominate the upcoming match, or will Dublin's Con O'Callaghan emerge as the standout player? Perhaps new heroes will arise.
This rivalry has endured through time, and the upcoming encounter promises to be another classic chapter.
