FT Dublin 1-15 Kerry 1-13: Dubs finish in style to edge All-Ireland football final

So that’s that ... Dean Rock and James McCarthy both suggest in their post game interviews that this could be their last day in blue. Those senior Dublin players already owed nobody anything, but coming back for a ninth All-Ireland from 2011 to 2023, they have cemented their names in history and they are celebrating this like their first. This Dublin team took being written off after the past two seasons of disappointments personally, and all that hurt drove them over the line in a game with nothing between the teams.

Mick Fitzsimons did a brilliant job on Clifford who shot on sight as usual, but for once most sailed wide rather than over! Brian Fenton was superb in midfield, Brian Howard played a key role at half back. Paul Mannion was the main man up top, Colm Basquel made the Dublin goal, kicked two points and was excellent in the second half. Stephen Cluxton again did everything right as well as kicking two points, while Jack McCaffrey made a big impact off the bench!

Keep an eye on the homepage for the match report and reaction from Croke Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon.

@DonoghueEamon

FT Dublin 1-15 Kerry 1-13

Paul Mannion: “We were disappointed to concede just before the half and we just needed to keep doing what we did in the first half and we knew we’d take the scores. It was a battle, start to finish. We are a very tight knit bunch after losing last year and the year before it was tough to watch and it’s so sweet to get it back and we knew we had another one in us!”

Mick Fitzsimons: “It’s a culmination of hard work, we’ve been performing poorly for two years. I know it was scrappy! Mannion and Jack coming back and Pat wanted to give a dig out too!”

Dessie Farrell: “It’s amazing it’s immense, they are a special crew. Some of those senior guys, we’ll never see the likes again. They love playing football they love Dublin, once they were ready and they were this season, and it probabaly couldn’t have been much better than we’d scripted. Getting some of those senior guys on at the end. This was never a sprint and it was about timing.

“I’ve learned so much about character and what it means. And it means everything to this group!”

James McCarthy: “We had to fight hard for that. A tough two years and it was on the players, nothing to do with management. We went for it in every game when it came to the crunch. There’s an undying loyalty among everyone there after playing for so many years. It all came together perfectly then in the end.

“It wasn’t pretty, there was a lot of spilled ball but bravery and courage got us over the line.”

FT Dublin 1-15 Kerry 1-13 David Gough blows it up! Kerry are furious with him, Dublin celebrate wildly! They have Sam Maguire back!!

Basquel wins a free and Dean Rock kicks the free. Two up. Into the final minute!

Dublin 1-14 Kerry 1-13 (75′) Michael Burns with one of the best blocks you will ever see to deny Basquel. Then Shane Ryan pulls the ball down from above the crossbar to deny a point but Dublin gather the breaks and Mannion kicks them back infront. They refused to be denied a score there! At the other end David Clifford backs himself from the left wing but it’s wide again! They just aren’t going over for him today.

Mannion with a tired looking wide. Still level coming into the 72nd minute.

Dublin 1-13 Kerry 1-13 (70′) Six minutes added on as Clifford takes on Fitzsimons and kicks it wide. He wins a free for a very subtle jersey tug before he shot. O’Shea levels it from the resultant free. Clifford is struggling but he is certainly not shying away.

Dublin 1-13 Kerry 1-12 (66′) Word was Killian Spillane was flying it in training. He takes it on from the left corner, with two Dubs on his boot. To kick a wonderful point. Paddy Small responds at the other end. John Small then makes an inspirational turnover around the middle before going down to win a free with Morley pulling on him. Dean Rock is on.

No score for either in seven minutes before Fenton kicks his second point. He’s been brilliant! Dublin lead by a point.

Dublin 1-11 Kerry 1-11 (63′) The pace of the game slowing down a little as we enter the final 10 minutes. Kerry turn it over and counter, with Geaney playing a brilliant pass to Tom O’Sullivan. His shot however is sliced and Fenton is back to win it. He’s everywhere. From the next attack Clifford shoots from the right corner with Fitzsimons on his toe and it’s well wide. Sean McMahon is on for Howard. Killian Spillane for Geaney.

Dublin 1-11 Kerry 1-11 (58′) The referee gives David Clifford a free for an off the ball foul. Fitzsimons goes mad at the call. The referee then talks to his umpire and books them both. Throws it in. Dublin win it with Fenton to the fore and Mannion at the end of the move to level matters. Really poor refereeing, making the game about him. From the next play David Clifford kicks wide from 20m after great work by Moynihan who is then replaced by Adrian Spillane.

McCaffrey is fouled again. He is looking very dangerous. Niall Scully is on for Costello as Con sets up Basquel who kicks his second. The top scorer from play in championship 2023 is having a good second half. One point in it after 54 minutes.

Paudie with another, this off his left boot just to the left of the D. He then picks up a yellow card for a foul on McCaffrey. Mannion converts the resultant free.

Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-10 (49′) Jack McCaffrey comes on for Gannon after O’Shea kicks Dublin ahead and then Paudie Clifford fists over before being smashed by two Dubs. Very brave.

Dublin 1-8 Kerry 1-8 (47′) GOAL Dublin! Gavin White loses it coming out of defence. Colm Basquel does well and sets up Paddy Small who is in on goal but on his weaker right side. He goes for power, it’s blocked but that only deflects the ball into the back of the net. Gannon then kicks a wide. Dublin needed that goal!

Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-8 (44′) Then Paul Geaney takes on Gannon and fists over. Colm Basquel responds with a good point before David Clifford kicks his third score, this one off his right. He’s not seeing a lot of ball but is doing something with every touch!

Mannion skins Foley down the wing, the Kerry fullback commits and ends up on the ground. But the Kilamcud Crokes forward kicks it wide after doing all of the hard work. Con then receives a long ball in, declines the mark and goes for goal. Morley again does well to stay goal side and not commit but this time the Dublin forward knows what he wants to do and he unleashes a left footed shot which smashes the crossbar. And after all that Kerry go two points up at the other end.

The referee spots an off the ball foul from Cormac Costello and then brings it forward for mouthing. Clifford kicks it over. Kerry one up again.

Dublin 0-7 Kerry 1-4 (36′) Fenton wins the second half throw-in and is fouled immediately. Dublin lose it but win it back via Ciaran Kilkenny. It’s worked out to Howard who steps inside his man and kicks over from 25m. He’s having a great game!

HT Dublin 0-6 Kerry 1-4 Clifford providing the magic despite being so well closed out by Dublin in that first half, they are denying him the ball and he’s had to come out to get hands on it. Both defences on top, we’ve seen so much ferocious tackling with excellent technique. The greasy conditions of course assisting that. There’s been nothing between the sides. Kerry lead by the minimum.

Dublin 0-6 Kerry 1-4 (38′) GOAL KERRY! Clifford is picked out in the corner by Moynihan. With his right foot he pulls off a wonderful pass to set up Geaney. The latter shows brilliant composure to hop, dummy and turn back on himself before burying it past Cluxton and the two men on the line!

The referee spots a bit of off the ball dragging from Paudie Clifford on Gannon. From just beyond the 45 Cluxton kicks his second score. What a player.

Dublin 0-5 Kerry 0-4 (34′) Paddy Small kicks a fourth wide for Dublin. White then sets up Clifford who kicks inches wide for Kerry’s fifth. Three minutes added on.

Clifford takes on Fitzsimons, the Dublin corner back does his best but ends up on the deck. But Dublin aren’t leaving him exposed and suddenly Clifford is surrounded and loses it. One point in it after 32 minutes.

Mannion picks out O’Callaghan inside, he eyes up Morley who does so well not to dive in and then make a brilliant block on the Cuala man. Clifford then comes out to get involved in it, and he provides the assist for Sean O’Shea who kicks an excellent point. His third, and first from play.

Dublin 0-5 Kerry 0-3 (23′) Gavin White runs into the tackle and the ball spills. Dublin counter, 2 v 2 and Mannion shows his pace to break away from Jason Foley to receive a hand pass in behind to kick his second point.

Paul Mannion’s shot is high and short, Shane Ryan comes to gather and Lee Gannon takes him out. Yellow card for the Whitehall defender. Then Paul Geaney collects in the left corner under pressure, slides and hops back to his feet, takes on his man and gets his shot away but it’s off the post and wide. Gannon then hits the post at the other end for Dublin. (21 mins)

Cormac Costello responds with a free for the Dubs. Kerry pressed up on Cluxton’s kickout but Dublin won it and caught Kerry out of shape, then O’Shea did well to foul O’Callaghan.

Dublin 0-3 Kerry 0-3 (14′) McCarthy again comes in a bit late, this time on O’Shea. The Kerry forward gets up and curls the free over. This one off the ground. Level again.

Up comes Brian Fenton to float it over from 40m. That’s his eighth score of the summer from midfield and he’s been involved in a lot of Dublin’s forward play so far.

Dublin 0-2 Kerry 0-2 (10′) With defences on top and both forcing turnovers at either end, Paul Mannion then backs himself from 35m and curls over a beauty. Paudie Clifford then wins a free after James McCarthy came in late on him. Seanie O’Shea floats it over.

Dublin 0-1 Kerry 0-1 (7′) David Clifford gets his first chance in the right corner. Dara Moynihan picks him out with a nice pass. Clifford squares up Mick Fitzsimons, steps outside and floats it over. Can’t stop that.

Tadhg Morley gets fingertips to a long ball from Lee Gannon into Con O’Callaghan. It’s out for a 45 and up comes Cluxton to nail it. Then Dublin work it from the kickout to Paudie Clifford who carries down the line and pops it to Paul Geaney powering through and his shot at goal beats Cluxton but is blocked by Howard behind him.

Dublin 0-0 Kerry 0-0 (2′) GAME ON! The rain has gone away, no major wind at play. Diarmuid O’Connor wins the throw-in and Sean O’Shea has the first shot of the game. But his left footed attempt is way underhit and Stephen Cluxton gathers. At the other end Brian Howard - also off his weaker left - kicks well wide.

And the final bit of reading for you before the game throws in. Malachy Clerkin looks at the All-Ireland football final: By the numbers ...

34 – Gap in years between the youngest player Stephen Cluxton has played championship football with (Greg McEneaney, born 2003) and the oldest (Vinny Murphy, born 1969)

The thoughts of Darragh Ó Sé as we approach throw-in - less than 15 minutes to go!

[ Darragh Ó Sé: Kerry will have to grapple Dublin at every level, but the last 10 minutes will be crucial ]

I’d say the part of the game that would keep me awake at night is that last 10-15 minutes. Unless Kerry can blow past that phase, that’s when Dublin will show what they’re still capable of.

—  Darragh Ó Sé column

Sinéad O’Connor’s Nothing Compares 2 U is played out at Croke Park as the GAA remembers one of the country’s great musicians and activists who died this week. Followed by a round of applause. RIP

BREAKING NEWS

Ciarán Kilkenny starts for Niall Scully. Dublin going with one of their best from the start - and one of the best players in the country over the past decade - but it certainly weakens the look of their bench which many have been basing their predictions off.

Ryan Basquel also replaces Sean Bugler on the matchday squad. Dessie Farrell had said Bugler’s inclusion would come down to a late fitness test. That’s a blow though to the Dubs.

Kerry play as selected.

There’s few better qualified to advise on how to prepare for an All-Ireland final than Jonny Cooper. The recently retired Dublin corner back played in seven and won seven. And that’s what he wrote about in his column this week ...

Some will have amassed more than 15 hours of analysis for this game alone. Looking for one hidden detail. Others will go more off their gut feel. Either way, the end state is that you want to feel ready. Almost free of any concrete thoughts in your head when the ball is thrown up. No more analysis, no more recovery, no more meetings. Completely empowered. Show time.

The player profiles for both teams are below. Great to see such a range of different careers in the Dublin team, easier done when living and working in the capital of course but nevertheless! Eight of the 15 Kerry starters are teachers which is an interesting contrast too! Also some questionable heights being thrown around, never trust a player giving their height or weight!

[ Jonny Cooper on the Kerry team: Profiles of the 15 men bidding to go back-to-back ]

[ Darragh Ó Sé on the Dublin team: Profiles of the 15 players looking to end Kerry’s reign ]

If you’re not in Dublin. This is what Croke Park is currently looking like weather-wise ...

Like Clifford another of the main protagonists in today‘s final is Stephen Cluxton. Dublin’s goalkeeper came out of retirement to get the Dubs back on track. And Gordon Manning writes about the career of the greatest Gaelic football goalkeeper ever …

[ The Cluxton chronicles: How Gaelic football’s greatest goalkeeper has stayed ahead of the game ]

There is a reluctance in Kerry, to compare players from different generations. What’s the point? You only end up reducing a player you loved, for the sake of what? But there is an acceptance, he says, that nobody has seen anything like David Clifford. That argument is over

[ Kerry’s greatest forward? ‘We haven’t even seen the full range of David Clifford yet, I think’ ]

And above are some more predictions from some of our sports writers, columnists and a guest appearance by the great Cora Staunton!

There’s no doubt they have the material but at this stage of their life cycle have Dublin the motivation? It’s hard to look at what’s at stake and say they don’t

Check out Sean Moran’s preview in full, he fancies Dublin!

Team news (as per programme)

For Kerry - Stephen O’Brien comes into the team after making a telling impact in their semi-final win over Derry, with Adrian Spillane this time tasked with that role. Which could be important with kickouts forced long in the final quarter. Tony Brosnan misses out through injury.

For Dublin - Half forward Seán Bugler is named in their matchday squad after missing the semi-final. He’s been a standout player for Dessie Farrell’s team and could yet start. Ciaran Kilkenny is again named on the bench with Paddy Small in the half forward line.

DUBLIN: Stephen Cluxton; Eoin Murchan, Mick Fitzsimons, David Byrne; James McCarthy, John Small, Lee Gannon; Brian Fenton, Brian Howard; Paddy Small, Paul Mannion, Niall Scully; Cormac Costello, Con O’Callaghan, Colm Basquel. Subs: Evan Comerford, Seán Bugler, Ciarán Kilkenny, Tom Lahiff, Seán McMahon, Jack McCaffrey, Ross McGarry, Cian Murphy, Daire Newcombe, Lorcan O’Dell, Dean Rock.

KERRY: Shane Ryan; Graham O’Sullivan, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Paul Murphy, Tadhg Morley, Gavin White; Diarmuid O’Connor, Jack Barry; Dara Moynihan, Seán O’Shea, Stephen O’Brien; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Paul Geaney. Subs: Shane Murphy, Adrian Spillane, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Barry Dan O’Sullivan, Ruairí Murphy, Micheál Burns, Killian Spillane, Dylan Casey, Donal O’Sullivan, Ronan Buckley.

Hello and welcome … Kerry v Dublin in an All-Ireland final in Croke Park, the two heavyweights of Gaelic football in the biggest game of the year! The 2023 final will be their 33rd championship meeting and 16th final clash, with 68 All-Irelands between them already. You couldn’t not be excited for this!!

Are we going to see the six in a row Dubs, or the drawing with Roscommon and almost losing to Kildare team? Is this the start of Kerry’s own dominance? How will Dublin try to stop David Clifford? Can the other Kerry forwards raise their game? Will Sean Bugler start, or Ciaran Kilkenny? Will the goalkeepers be forced long? Can Jack Barry handle Brian Fenton if so? Is this going to be the Con O’Callaghan final? Is Dublin’s bench going to prove the difference? Back to back for Kerry, or a last dance for Cluxton and the gang?

It’s been so hard to predict a winner from this game, two teams heavily fancied from the start of the year to be here today, but despite doing so and being packed full of talent, neither have been entirely convincing along the way. But all those questions, are about to be answered!

Dublin v Kerry throws-in at Croke Park at 3.30pm.

We’ll be providing build-up and updates throughout. Keep in touch via the comments section or on Twitter (@DonoghueEamon) but for now, let’s get started!

All-Ireland SFC final: Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, 3.30. Referee: David Gough (Meath)