​Goals proved decisive as Kerry pressed on toward back-to-back All-Ireland SFC titles with a hard-fought 2-18 to 0-20 victory over Dublin in Sunday’s semi-final. Under the scorching sun at Croke Park, Jack O’Connor’s side did just enough to edge past a Dublin outfit that went close to pulling off an upset, but costly handling and a string of wides prevented them from making the most of their chances.
This was the first championship meeting between the old rivals since Dublin lifted the 2023 All-Ireland final, and while Ger Brennan’s men enjoyed a productive campaign with wins over Donegal and Galway, Kerry remained a step ahead. David Clifford, though briefly held in check, finished with 1-6, finding ways to get on the ball, while his older brother Paudie pulled the strings with five points of his own.
Con O’Callaghan was well contained for Dublin, but Cormac Costello and Colm Basquel stepped up, though they needed more on the day as Kerry prepared to meet Mayo in the final on Sunday, 26 July. Clifford’s early goal came in the third minute after Sean O’Shea, a late substitution, was fouled inside the box by Peadar O Cofaigh-Byrne, earning Kerry a penalty. Clifford’s initial attempt was saved by Evan Comerford, but he followed up to drive the rebound home, setting the tone for the opening period.
From there, the pattern emerged: one side struck, the other answered. Both teams began to notice the dangers each posed, and the half evolved into a contest of patient build-ups and measured finishing in dangerous zones. Kerry were marginally more economical, with Clifford adding just another point in the first half, while Graham O’Sullivan, Dean O’Shea, and Paudie Clifford contributed two apiece to Kerry’s tally. Dylan Geaney had a clear chance for a second Kerry goal when Comerford errantly delivered a loose ball, but Geaney chose to take the shot himself and scored a point instead.
Dublin created chances too, though five wides in the first half suggested some frustration. Basquel contributed two points, Costello added three (from frees and play), and O’Callaghan, closely marked by Jason Foley, landed a two-pointer in space. Dublin’s rhythm built through three quick points near the end of the half, nudging them ahead, but O’Shea’s score leveled the score at 0-11 to 1-8 as the first half concluded in an engrossing contest.
In the second half, Dublin pressed early, dominating Shane Murphy’s restarts and racking up three scores. It took nearly five minutes before Murphy could punt a Kerry jersey, and after a patient Dublin buildup, Clifford again faced a blocked attempt when an opportunity arose. Dublin’s efficiency and control in this period suggested a potential shift in momentum, but Kerry held steady, matching their opponents’ intensity and tucking away critical scores when it mattered most.
As the hour wore on, Kerry’s greater accuracy and composure paid dividends, with a sustained attack producing the vital goals and points that Dublin could not quite counter. The result sends Kerry into the final, where they will contend with Mayo on Sunday, 26 July, seeking to extend their dominance in this storied rivalry and add yet another chapter to Kerry’s GAA glory.