Massive game Saturday week. The two giants of the game set to meet for the first time since the 2019 All Ireland Final replay.

Its hard to know where both teams are at tbh. Both have virtually cake walked their way to an all Ireland semi final. Granted Kerry had a tougher QF on paper, but with all due respect to Mayo, they are certainly not the same Mayo team as years gone by.

So all will be revealed Saturday week.

For me - all the pressure is on Kerry. They have Failed to beat Dublin now since 2009 and their last All Ireland was in 2014, which is a serious drought in Kerry Football terms.

Dublin on the other hand have enjoyed un-paralleled success in that time and are now in a transitional period. So it could be argued we are in bonus territory.

Kerry are playing down their chances but everyone and their dogs know that this is Kerry's best chance of beating the Dubs in a very long time. This is NOT the same Dublin team of old. All you have to do is look at our bench now compared to 2019. Our bench was the difference between winning and losing all Irelands. We simply do not have that quality anymore, regardless of what people would like you to believe. So If Kerry cant beat us now, serious questions will have to be asked of this Kerry bunch.

For me from a Dublin perspective it will come down to whether Con is fit to play, and to a lesser extent McCarthy.

If Con is fit and plays i give us the edge, if not i give Kerry the edge.

How do people see this one going?

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 30/06/2022 11:46:42    2428780

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 30/06/2022 13:18:07    2428808

I'd agree that if Con and/or McCarthy are not fit to even play some part then we will be massively up against it. I think this Kerry side are still there to be got at defensively and if Con plays then he will fancy himself causing proper damage to them at the back. I just don't see our forward line functioning to a level to get over the line without him. Costello and Rock play better with him on the field and just his presence alone will occupy a man marker and at times maybe even two. Same goes for Clifford at the other end - they both have that X-factor that requires massive minding.

I think McCarthy is also massive for us in terms of his physicality, driving on the lads around him and his on field presence are crucial to this Dublin team. In my opinion outside of Cluxton he has arguably been Dublin's most important player during the golden generation of the last decade or so.

This game is the toss of a coin if both sides go into it at full strength. I think both have their weaknesses and both have serious threats in attack so will probably boil down to how well things click for one or other on the day and if one side can take their goals chances more than the other. I don't think it's now or never for this Kerry team but its their best opportunity in a long time to get one over on us.

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 206 - 30/06/2022 14:06:52    2428825

ConnollyDub (Dublin) - Posts: 2007 - 30/06/2022 14:08:53    2428828

Some very interesting and valid posts so far, on a game that I'm eagerly looking forward to. As already mentioned, if Con is absent for Dublin, or Clifford for Kerry then the opposition's chances of victory are greatly enhanced. I think that Kerry could probably cope that bit better without Clifford than Dublin could without Con.

An area which might possibly decide the outcome is kick-outs. Neither team has had its kick-out tested under pressure to date. If I were a Kerry fan, I'd feel a bit shaky about the goalie's kick-out. And the Dublin keeper is also liable to blooper on a kick-out or two. It's an area that I'd definitely be targeting, were I either manager.

foreveryoung (USA) - Posts: 1926 - 30/06/2022 15:38:51    2428862

I'm going for the 'pressure is on Kerry' . For the last 4/5 years Kerry have been expected to win an AI. Earlier this year they thought they had this years AI won. The Kerry royalty were announcing this is the year to start collecting the medals. So now things aren't as straightforward Dublin aren't the dire team they were in the league. They definitely have the hunger but not as many aces. Kerry could be looking at Dublin thinking we thought we would have beaten them handy, now ? Also although Dublin don't seem to have another set of players coming in, they could get 2/3 new players next year and be rearing to go again. Pressure on Kerry!

theduke66 (Dublin) - Posts: 334 - 30/06/2022 16:03:31    2428865

Surely this is a better Kerry team than the 2019 team? The Cliffords, O'Sheas, O'Connors have gained experience and developed physically.
Croker is still a big factor. Dubs look so composed there and I'd imagine there will be a big atmosphere at this. Some of Dublin's newer recruits have not gotten the credit they deserve for their efforts to fill the shoes of some of that 2019 team. Bugler in particular looks the real deal. Think this is nicely set up for Dublin who somehow go into this as underdogs having lost 1 championship match in 7 and a half years. Dublin by 3.

97Cavans (Cavan) - Posts: 322 - 30/06/2022 16:49:01    2428883

A lot depending on the availability/form of both Clifford and O'Callaghan. Looks better for the Kerry man as we speak.
I don't think we have much chance without a fit Con.
It'll still be close enough but our attack is too blunt without him.
Bookies have it right in my opinion but it should still be a hell of a game.

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8596 - 30/06/2022 17:48:29    2428894

While Dublin may have declined a bit from their peak I expect them to win this. In their favor is the fact that they done it all before, All Ireland Day and all that goes with it will be easier for them to deal with. Kerry will have improved for the game with Mayo but if the Dubs get the same number of chances as the green and red did then they will win. I think however, that the winner of the other semi, regardless if it is Galway or Derry will have a better chance of beating Dublin in the final than Kerry.

giveitlong (Galway) - Posts: 1225 - 30/06/2022 17:51:32    2428895

Without James & Con

All I can see is a 4+ win for Kerry

It might be closer if Clifford is not available

Pity there's injuries to such big players but that's the nature of it

Unfortunately the loss of J & C cannot be underestimated, especially given their form and leadership on the pitch

For me they've been the difference to Dublin

It's a right kick in the balls!!

Dublin were served a big slice of unlucky pie and that'll be obvious enough when the two meet

The bookies have Kerry favourites (rightly so)

As it stands I see a fairly convincing and confidence boosting win for the Kingdom on their way to Sam 22

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20600 - 30/06/2022 20:50:30    2428912

With the Dubs in transition would expect the kingdom to win ball. Kerry have the stronger bench and have the better man on the sideline. Jack O'Connor won All Ireland in first year in 2004, when he came back in 2009 and now odds on to win this . I think kerry have great chance to dominantate for next 4 years with main opposition in transition.

F4 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 47 - 30/06/2022 22:02:24    2428919

TrueBlue35 (Dublin) - Posts: 206 - 01/07/2022 09:24:34    2428930

AnCrúiscínLán (Galway) - Posts: 87 - 01/07/2022 09:50:23    2428933

Should be a great contest, first real serious challenge for both these teams comes at semi final stage, we def need a restructure,
if Con is fit then I'd make it an even contest, without him I see Kerry winning by 3 or 4 points.

Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2756 - 01/07/2022 11:25:40    2428957

I'm just reading posts and thinking back only a few months ago when many posters including many Dublin posters had written Dublin's obituary. Dublin still had too strong a panel to be written off. On this game its so hard to call. I'd slightly fancy Kerry but won't be surprised at any result. A lit of ifs and buts. Con and David. Probably the two best footballers in the country and if not def the two are in the top 3 with maybe Shane Walsh. If you picked the best 10 forwards in Ireland then I would say Clifford Kilkenny Ó Callaghan and Ó Shea would make list. Fenton is prob best midfielder in the county (def has been last few years) but so far Barry seems to be his nemisis (if he playing). It's such a hard one to call. Are Con James going to be playing? Are Clifford Barry Spillane going to be playing? One thing for sure is if the past thought is anything both teams will serve up an entertaining game.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3678 - 01/07/2022 12:33:41    2428978

Conor Lane down to referee game.

F4 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 47 - 01/07/2022 17:29:55    2429074

Dublin to win, just, then to win the final comfortably, then Dublin posters to claim next year that they're very worried about how the team will fare out against carlow in the leinster quarter final.

Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1720 - 02/07/2022 09:17:29    2429120

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 02/07/2022 11:13:50    2429143

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7360 - 03/07/2022 21:21:46    2429517

Joxer (Dublin) - Posts: 4700 - 04/07/2022 11:28:11    2429592