Dublin overturned a five-point interval deficit to defeat Kerry by 0-22 to 2-14 in an epic clash at Croke Park.

In an absorbing contest between two outstanding teams, a replay looked almost inevitable until substitute Eoghan O'Gara and Diarmuid Connolly clipped the last two points into Hill 16 in injury time to send the holders through to the decider, where they will face Mayo in three weeks.

The winners scored 13 points in the second half, whilst holding their opponents to just six. Eamonn Fitzmaurice's men still led by three points after an hour and by one with five minutes left but a Dean Rock (0-12) free on 66 was followed by an exchange between Man of the Match Kevin McManamon and sub Stephen O'Brien before O'Gara and Connolly - with a peach off his left foot on the run - sealed it in a pulsating denouement, with players out on their feet all over the field.

In between those last two Dubs points, Peter Crowley was floored by a crunching frontal shoulder from McManamon, but Meath referee David Gough - who was pelted by match programmes thrown by Kerry supporters in the Lower Cusack Stand as he left the pitch - played on and Kerry were unluckily denied a chance to equalise from a free 40 yards from goal.

The Kingdom produced a devastating finale to the first half, notching 2-4 without reply from the 24^th minute onwards to transform a 0-9 to 0-4 deficit into a five-point half time lead, 2-8 to 0-9. Darran O'Sullivan and Paul Geaney netted in the 30^th and 35^th minutes as the Munster champions roared into contention.

There was plenty of drama before throw-in as Dubs pair John Small and Eric Lowndes clashed heads during the warm-up before changes to both starting teams were announced as the very latest possible moment: Michael Darragh MacAuley and McManamon came into the Dublin XV in place of Denis Bastick and Paul Mannion, while Anthony Maher replaced O'Brien for the Kingdom, who also introduced O'Sullivan and veteran Aidan O'Mahony instead of James O'Donoghue and Brian O Beaglaoich.

In truth, the first 24 minutes was a stroll for the winners. Connolly smashed over a sumptuous opening point in the second minute and Rock added another from a '45'after Kerry goalkeeper Brian Kelly executed a wonderful diving save to deny the marauding Philly McMahon a goal.

A Rock brace had the winners four ahead after twelve minutes and the Ballymun man added his fourth of the day (free) on 15 minutes, seconds after David Moran had opened the Kingdom's account. Kerry fought back with points from Paul Geaney and Colm Cooper (free) but Rock (free) and McManamon pointed to leave four between them.

Geaney's second was superb and his third followed Dublin points from Bernard Brogan and Connolly - 0-9 to 0-5 after 25 minutes. Cooper stroked over a free before O'Sullivan plundered the first Kingdom goal from close range after a poor kick-out by Dubs custodian Stephen Cluxton was rapidly worked in.

The brilliant Geaney fisted the second goal inches over the line despite the best efforts of Cluxton and Davey Byrne when he got in under Maher's dropping shot and that score was bookended by efforts from Geaney and Cooper (free) as the underdogs finished the opening period like a house on fire.

Rock (2) and Brogan slotted three Dublin points in the first six minutes after the restart but Cooper replied from a free despite the jibes of the Dubs faithful. Dublin were level by the 49^th minute as Rock (free, '45') and Brian Fenton pointed with Cooper missing a great Kerry opportunity in between.

Substitute Barry John Keane announced his arrival with a sensational point on 53 minutes to leave his side ahead by one with a quarter of the match remaining. Geaney doubled the difference and substitute O'Donoghue pointed in the 60^th minute to leave three between them.

Paul Murphy cancelled out another Rock free but roaming corner back McMahon edged the Dubs within two again with eight minutes left. The sides were level by the 66^th minute after Rock stroked over his eleventh and twelfth points of the game from simple frees: 0-19 to 2-13. McManamon (70). O'Brien (72).

It was tenser than tense as five minutes of injury time were played in the best match of the year but Dublin got the crucial late scores - O'Gara (73), Connolly (75) - to march on and maintain their incredible winning run this calendar year.

Dublin - S Cluxton; P McMahon (0-1), J Cooper, D Byrne; J McCarthy, C O'Sullivan, J Small; B Fenton (0-1), M D Macauley; P Flynn, K McManamon (0-2), C Kilkenny; D Rock (0-12, 8f, 2'45), D Connolly (0-3), B Brogan (0-2). Subs: P Andrews for P Flynn, P Mannion for J Small, E O'Gara (0-1) for M D Macauley, M Fitzsimons for J Cooper, C Costello for B Brogan.

Kerry - B Kelly; S Enright, M Griffin, K Young; A O'Mahony, P Crowley; T Morley; A Maher, D Moran (0-1); P Murphy (0-1), C Cooper (0-5, 4f), D Walsh; K Donaghy, P Geaney (1-4), D O'Sullivan (1-0). Subs: S O'Brien (0-1) for D O'Sullivan, J O'Donoghue (0-1) for K Donaghy, B J Keane (0-1) for D Walsh, B O Beaglaoich for T Morley, B Sheehan for A Maher, M O Se for P Geaney.

Referee - D Gough.

The little batman was watching over us! #batmanben pic.twitter.com/eZ1UlvEuOM

- Philly Mc Mahon (@PhillyMcMahon) August 28, 2016

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