Disappointment for Senior Footballers after All-Ireland SFC Semi Final defeat to Kerry

Dublin’s hopes of advancing to their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final in three years were dashed in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon as they succumbed to Kerry by four points. 

Key moments went against the Dubs throughout the encounter but their character and application could not be faulted as they pushed Kerry right to the wire. 

The sides were deadlocked at 0-11 to 1-8 at the break with David Clifford netting a 3rd minute penalty for Kerry and the holders looked the more composed outfit despite playing into the wind initially. 

A strong restart saw Dublin seize the initiative but a Seán O’Brien goal turned the tide in Kerry’s favour and they held on despite some concerted late pressure on their goal. 

With a strong breeze behind them, the Dubs started brightly through a two-pointed free by Cormac Costello but from Kerry’s first attack, the holders landed a decisive, albeit controversial body blow. 

Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne was adjudged to have fouled Joe O’Connor close to goal and while Evan Comerford initially stopped the resultant penalty, David Clifford seized on the rebound, atoning his poor strike to crash home to the net. 

Graham O’Sullivan added to the Kerry lead in the 7th minute while Paudie Clifford and Dylan Geaney also raised white flags, cancelling out a two-pointer at the opposite end from Con O’Callaghan.  

Seán O’Shea and Costello traded points while O’Sullivan ambled forward from wing-back to kick his second score as both teams enjoyed nothing more than sporadic periods of control. 

Kerry’s dominance on their own kick-outs saw them continue to hold the upper hand as Paudie Clifford and David Clifford added to their personal tallies, ultimately benefitting from the precision of Shane Murphy’s restarts. 

That Dublin remained within touching distance was down to a Colm Basquel brace and a smart Costello score but the Dublin shooting was generally erratic as they registered a number of frustrating wides.      

However, they managed to edge in front approaching the break thanks to Charlie McMorrow and Costello before O’Shea levelled matters with a fine effort with seconds of the half remaining. 

While in a precarious position at the break, Dublin resumed in a dominant manner, regaining the lead through Small in the 37th minute before Brian Howard juggled his way to doubling that advantage soon after. 

Basquel’s third score of the day was just reward for Dublin’s efforts and O’Callaghan could have added a goal in the 41st minute but the captain saw his effort cannon to safety off the upright. 

That proved particularly costly as Kerry netted in an instant as Geaney’s attempt dropped short and Seán O’Brien flicked to the net, despite the protestations of Comerford in the Dublin goal. 

While McMorrow kicked a sumptuous score to restore Dublin’s narrow lead, Kerry began to click into gear towards the end of the third quarter with two-pointers by Paudie Clifford, David Clifford and O’Shea pushing the holders five points clear.   

Costello kicked two excellent points to reward Dublin’s renewed efforts before another missed goal chance haunted the Dubs as Ross McGarry’s shot was cleared off, or perhaps behind the line, before being cleared.

That decision was fatal to Dublin’s chances and while Sean Bugler and Niall Scully kicked late points, they arrived too late to spate them their fate.

Scorers – Dublin: C Costello 0-7 (1 F2, 1 ’45); C Basquel 0-3; P Small, C O’Callaghan (P2); C McMorrow, B Howard 0-2 each; S Bugler, N Scully 0-1 apiece. Kerry: D Clifford 1-5 (1 P2); P Clifford 0-5 (1 P2); S O’Shea 0-4 (1 P2, 1 Mark); S O’Brien 1-0; G O’Sullivan 0-2; D Geaney, T Kennedy 0-1 apiece.

Dublin: E Comerford; L Gannon, T Clancy, D Byrne; E Kennedy, A Gavin, C McMorrow; P Ó Cofaigh Byrne, B Howard; C Kilkenny, N Scully, C Basquel; P Small, C O’Callaghan, C Costello. Subs: C Murphy for Gavin (50), R McGarry for Ó Cofaigh Byrne (55), S Bugler for Kennedy (58), S Guiden for Small (63), 

Kerry: S Murphy; P Murphy, J Foley, D Casey; G O’Sullivan, M Breen, G White; M O’Shea, S O’Brien; J O’Connor, P Clifford, D O’Connor; D Clifford, S O’Shea, D Geaney. Subs: B Ó Beaglaoich for O’Sullivan (45), K Evans for O’Brien (47), E Looney for Murphy (59), A Heinrich for White (59), T Kennedy for Geaney (63). 

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).