Sunday 28 August

All-Ireland SFC semi-final
Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, 3.30pm

One of the great epic rivalries in Irish sport turns a new chapter on Sunday as Dublin and Kerry vie for a place in next month's All-Ireland SFC final.

The Munster champions' record against the Dubs in recent years does not make for pleasant reading for Kingdom fans, having lost their last three championship meetings against this capital juggernaut. The fact that Kerry haven't beaten their Leinster counterparts in this competition since 2009 is part of the reason why they're priced as 11/4 underdogs. Along with that, factor into consideration that Eamonn Fitzmaurice's side have already lost to Sunday's opponents twice this year, with their last battle ending in a concerning 2-18 to 0-13 defeat in the National League final.

How much has changed from that April afternoon at headquarters? Kerry won their 78th Munster title by defeating summer stories Clare and Tipperary, before ending the Banner men's fairy-tale in less convincing fashion the second time round and returning to the last four race for Sam Maguire. How Fitzmaurice and co plan to take it from here is anybody's guess, having fallen to the current Sam Maguire holders at each summer juncture during his tenure.

An upset on Sunday would mark Kerry's first win over Jim Gavin's charges since March of last year and provide some redemption for their All-Ireland final defeat some six months later.

Truth be told, neither team have had to flex their considerable muscle just yet this summer, with Dublin having accounted for Donegal comfortably the last day. This weekend should see the shackles come off though and the underdogs will need to work out a way to keep the likes of Diarmuid Connolly and Ciaran Kilkenny from doing them irreversible damage.

There has been speculation that former 'Footballer of the Year' Bernard Brogan could lose out on a starting place for the All-Ireland champions, with Paul Mannion having impressed in their quarter-final win over the Tir Chonaill men, and it will also be interesting to see where Bryan Sheehan starts for their counterparts. The rumours were that Kerry's former captain could play in goal on Sunday, although Fitzmaurice quashed those rumblings when asked about it last week. Only time will tell though.

Needless to say, the winners of this one will be touted as colossal favourites to sink Mayo on the biggest stage of them all come September 18th.

Verdict: Dublin

Tweet

Most Read Stories