9 mins - Paddy Small opens his account amidst a breathless start. Turnovers, blocks and pace aplenty – that’s without even mentioning the penalty drama!
12 Jul
4:14PM
Dublin 0-3 Kerry 1-2
10 mins - Paudie Clifford gets on the scoresheet after a nice Kerry move.
12 Jul
4:15PM
Dublin 0-3 Kerry 1-3
10 mins – Dylan Geaney could have had a goal there after pouncing on a miscued Comerford kick out but he lifts over the bar, and Kerry lead by three.
12 Jul
4:17PM
Dublin 0-5 Kerry 1-3
13 mins – O’Callaghan nails two-pointer after his earlier miss, and Eoin Kennedy’s wide just beforehand. Come On You Boys In Blue rings out, the Dublin faithful are loving this.
12 Jul
4:20PM
Dublin 0-5 Kerry 1-4
15 mins - Seán O’Shea splits the posts from a tight angle, from an attacking mark after a superb Paudie Clifford ball to the Kenmare man inside.
12 Jul
4:22PM
Dublin 0-6 Kerry 1-4
17 mins – Costello floats a ’45 over, after Shane Murphy parries away a tricky Niall Scully shot, leaving nothing to chance.
12 Jul
4:24PM
Dublin 0-6 Kerry 1-5
19 mins – O’Sullivan scores his second point of the match after combining with David Clifford.
Comerford’s restart is quick once more, Costello goes for a two, but it tails well wide.
12 Jul
4:27PM
Dublin 0-7 Kerry 1-5
21 mins – Colm Basquel with his first of the day after cutting through the Kerry defence. Came after O’Shea’s latest effort dropped short into the arms of Comerford.
Scully follows up with a disappointing wide.
12 Jul
4:28PM
Dublin 0-7 Kerry 1-6
23 mins – Paudie Clifford dances in and fists over for his second of the game.
David – who is being marked by Davy Byrne – with a brilliant decoy run as he acts as a distraction.
12 Jul
4:29PM
Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-6
24 mins - Basquel fires over after linking up with O’Callaghan. Fast hands, nice score.
12 Jul
4:32PM
Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-7
26 mins - David Clifford lands a typically brilliant score to move Kerry two clear. They’ve had to be patient, with Dublin proving difficult to break down, but Clifford and co. will happily take their points from distance.
12 Jul
4:34PM
Dublin 0-9 Kerry 1-7
28 mins - Costello turns on the D and moves Dublin within a point. Comes after Davy Byrne won his latest battle with Clifford, the ball swapping hands twice after Dylan Geaney’s ball inside but the Dublin defender clears his lines.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
12 Jul
4:47PM
So we finish the first half as we started it, level pegging. A lively start – in which David Clifford scored a rebounded penalty – soon turned cagey at times, but it has been intriguing. Much of the game has been dictated by Dublin, slower paced as they ask questions of the All-Ireland champions. A massive second half awaits.
We’re underway again, a second full house of the weekend announced at Croke Park.
12 Jul
4:59PM
Dublin 0-11 Kerry 1-8
36 mins - HawkEye confirms Basquel’s effort is wide, Dublin’s seventh of the game.
12 Jul
5:00PM
Dublin 0-12 Kerry 1-8
36 mins – Small with a superb point after Dublin win Kerry’s kick out.
12 Jul
5:01PM
Dublin 0-13 Kerry 1-8
38 mins - They come up trumps on the restart again, and Howard scores into Hill 16.
12 Jul
5:02PM
Dublin 0-14 Kerry 1-8
39 mins - Basquel curls another point in after Dublin win their third Kerry kick out in a row, and make them pay once more.
12 Jul
5:04PM
Dublin 0-14 Kerry 1-8
40 mins – Murphy gets his latest restart away, and Kerry’s attack is slow and laboured. A David Clifford two-point effort is blocked down by Davy Byrne, Dublin counter quickly, and there’s a goal chance at the other end. Murphy saves!
12 Jul
5:06PM
Dublin 0-14 Kerry 1-8
42 mins – It was Con’s shot that Murphy saved. End to end stuff then, Kerry turned over, Costello with a poor wide. The game has really opened up in the last few minutes!
Green flag for the Kingdom amidst confusion and protestation. O’Brien fists home Geaney’s delivery, Comerford intervenes and claims the ball never went over the line. Replays show it’s tight but it did. Then there are calls for a square ball but the goal stands. Would need to see it all back.
12 Jul
5:10PM
Kerry 2-10 Dublin 0-15
45 mins - Kerry lead by a point after Paudie Clifford’s two. McMorrow with a fine score just beforehand at the other end.
12 Jul
5:12PM
Dublin 0-15 Kerry 2-10
47 mins – Small with a poor wide as Dublin still trail by one.
Kerry sub - Keith Evans for goalscorer Sean O’Brien.
12 Jul
5:12PM
Here’s Kerry’s second goal which ultimately has them in the ascendancy:
48 mins - Paudie Clifford with another excellent score to make it 0-5 for him. Much better from Kerry in attack.
12 Jul
5:16PM
Dublin 0-15 Kerry 2-11
50 mins – Paudie Clifford’s ’45 attempt tails wide.
Comes after his brother David’s fisted point effort was blocked down by Brian Howard.
Dublin sub - Cian Murphy for Alex Gavin.
12 Jul
5:17PM
Dublin 0-15 Kerry 2-13
50 mins - David Clifford two-pointer as Kerry pounce. 1-3 for him and a fist pump to boot, rallying the green and gold support.
12 Jul
5:17PM
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-13
51 mins - Costello points to keep Dublin in touch. Three in it.
12 Jul
5:18PM
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
52 mins - O’Shea follows suit with another two-pointer as Kerry continue to turn on the style.
12 Jul
5:19PM
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
53 mins - Dublin with another poor wide as the pressure builds.
12 Jul
5:21PM
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
55 mins - Geaney with Kerry’s third wide of the game.
Dublin sub – Ross McGarry for Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne.
12 Jul
5:22PM
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
55 mins - Another Kerry wide, this one from Brian Ó Beaglaoich. He came on for Graham O’Sullivan a few minutes ago, forgot to mention.
12 Jul
5:25PM
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
CLOSE! Frantic few moments there, as Dublin are denied a goal – first a save by Murphy, then cleared off the line. In one of the replays, it looks like it could have even been over?! Could do with seeing it again. Tight going.
12 Jul
5:27PM
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-15
57 mins – Costello reduces the gap to four with his seventh of the day.
Dublin subs - Sean Bugler and Sean Guiden on.
12 Jul
5:29PM
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-15
58 mins – Double substitutions on both sides with the game in the melting pot.
Kerry subs - Evan Looney and Armin Heinrich for Paul Murphy and Gavin White.
Heinrich boots wide with his first involvement.
12 Jul
5:31PM
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-15
62 mins - Kerry knocking the ball around after Jason Foley turns O’Callaghan over. Can they extend their lead as Dublin chase the game?
12 Jul
5:33PM
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-16
63 mins - Clifford fires over, just after being dispossessed but Dublin are overturned again and the Footballer of the Year makes amends.
Dublin sub - Sean Guiden for Paddy Small, wrong information on RTÉ earlier.
Kerry sub - Tomas Kennedy for Dylan Geaney.
12 Jul
5:35PM
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-16
64 mins - Ó Beaglaoich fluffs his lines with an attacking mark, having also missed the original effort after a sublime Paudie Clifford ball.
12 Jul
5:35PM
Dublin 0-18 Kerry 2-16
65 mins - Brian Howard reduces the Dublin deficit to four.
12 Jul
5:36PM
Dublin 0-18 Kerry 2-16
66 mins - Dublin continue to clock up the wides, Guiden and McMorrow with their latest wayward shots.
Four down, four minutes to go.
12 Jul
5:37PM
Dublin 0-18 Kerry 2-17
67 mins - Kennedy fists over after being cleverly played through by O’Shea.
12 Jul
5:38PM
Dublin 0-19 Kerry 2-17
68 mins - Sean Bugler points, four between the sides.
12 Jul
5:39PM
Dublin 0-20 Kerry 2-17
68 mins - Scully blazes over, three-point game.
12 Jul
5:40PM
Dublin 0-20 Kerry 2-18
69 mins - David Clifford points and celebrates wildly. 40 seconds to go…
Kerry return to the All-Ireland SFC final where they will defend their title against Mayo.
James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
12 Jul
5:47PM
That’s that. Kerry’s goals were crucial, along with the march they stole in the third quarter. Paudie Clifford is named Man of the Match after another huge performance.
Dublin did so much right, but will rue their wide count. They’ll probably also feel hard done by by some big decisions. There aren’t a whole pile of second-half highlights up yet, but looking forward to watching them back.
Another titanic Dublin-Kerry battle, another All-Ireland final for the Kingdom, and Mayo await in two weeks’ time.
Kerry's David Clifford speaks with Dublin's Niall Scully and Cormac Costello after the match. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Niall Scully left dejected. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
12 Jul
5:49PM
Can argue Dublin did fine job in defence, closely watching Kerry's attacking threats, and yet David & Paudie Clifford-Seán O'Shea combo still hit 1-14 out of team's 2-18.
Each of that trio hit two-pointer from play in third quarter, crucial scores.
That’s all for our live coverage, but Fintan O’Toole’s match report will be on The 42 imminently with all of the usual reaction, analysis and colour following.
Thanks very much for joining us, and enjoy your Sunday evening!
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As it happened: Kerry beat Dublin to set up All-Ireland SFC final date with Mayo
Another scorcher, another All-Ireland senior football semi-final. What a time!
All eyes on Croke Park as Dublin and Kerry renew their rivalry with the second 2026 decider ticket on the line.
Mayo booked their return with an emphatic win over Louth on Saturday evening. Who will join them on the biggest day in two weeks’ time?
Throw-in at HQ is 4pm, with the action live on RTÉ Two and BBC Two NI. We’ll keep you up to date right here.
Here’s how both teams were named to start during the week.
Kerry
1. Shane Murphy (Dr. Crokes)
2. Paul Murphy (Rathmore), 3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue), 4. Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks)
5. Graham O’Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), 6. Mike Breen (Beaufort), 7. Gavin White (Dr. Crokes)
8. Mark O’Shea (Dr. Crokes), 9. Seán O’Brien (Beaufort)
10. Joe O’Connor (Austin Stacks), 11. Paudie Clifford (Fossa), 12. Diarmuid O’Connor (Na Gaeil)
13. David Clifford (Fossa), 14. Paul Geaney (Dingle – captain), 15. Dylan Geaney (Dingle)
Subs:
Dublin
1. Evan Comerford (Ballymun Kickhams)
2. Seán MacMahon (Raheny), 3. Eoin Kennedy (Cuala), 4. David Byrne (Naomh Ólaf)
5. Lee Gannon (Whitehall Colmcille), 6. Theo Clancy (Kilmacud Crokes), 7. Charlie McMorrow (Cuala)
8. Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne (Cuala), 9. Brian Howard (Raheny)
10. Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda’s), 11. Con O’Callaghan (Cuala – captain), 12. Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street)
13. Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams), 14. Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock), 15. Cormac Costello (Whitehall Colmcille)
Subs:
Changes
Kerry captain Paul Geaney and Dublin defender Seán MacMahon are both out.
Killian Spillane now wears number 14 for Kerry and Jack Lundy is Dublin’s #2, we’ll bring you updated starting teams once they are confirmed.
Confirmed: It’s Seán O’Shea for Geaney, Alex Gavin for MacMahon.
Up for the match!
Pre-match reading
Mayo boss Andy Moran is an interested spectator in the stands.
Dublin win the toss, and Con O’Callaghan elects to play into the Canal End – with the breeze – for the first half.
In terms of the late pre-match changes, Kerry’s Seán O’Shea wears number 20 and Alex Gavin has 24 on his back for Dublin.
The pre-match parade is underway as Croke Park comes alive with noise and colour. What an occasion.
Call it – who will join Mayo in the 2026 All-Ireland SFC final?
Poll Results:
THROW IN! Dublin 0-0 Kerry 0-0
Referee Brendan Cawley gets us underway.
Dublin 0-2 Kerry 0-0
1 mins – Early two-point free from Cormac Costello, as Kerry are penalised for not retreating for a free off the throw-in. Great start for the Dubs.
PENALTY FOR KERRY!
Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne is pinged for a challenge on Joe O’Connor. He sees yellow, huge early call.
GOAL FOR KERRY! Kerry 1-0 Dublin 0-2 (David Clifford, 3 mins)
David Clifford sees his penalty saved by Evan Comerford, but he makes no mistake in smashing home the rebound. Lively start!
Dublin 0-2 Kerry 1-0
6 mins - Dublin enjoying much of the early possession, Con O’Callaghan kicks the first wide of the game from a two-pointer attempt.
Dublin 0-2 Kerry 1-1
7 mins - Graham O’Sullivan kicks high into the Hill for Kerry’s first point, levelling matters.
Here’s a look at the early penalty incident, and Clifford’s goal:
Dublin 0-3 Kerry 1-1
9 mins - Paddy Small opens his account amidst a breathless start. Turnovers, blocks and pace aplenty – that’s without even mentioning the penalty drama!
Dublin 0-3 Kerry 1-2
10 mins - Paudie Clifford gets on the scoresheet after a nice Kerry move.
Dublin 0-3 Kerry 1-3
10 mins – Dylan Geaney could have had a goal there after pouncing on a miscued Comerford kick out but he lifts over the bar, and Kerry lead by three.
Dublin 0-5 Kerry 1-3
13 mins – O’Callaghan nails two-pointer after his earlier miss, and Eoin Kennedy’s wide just beforehand. Come On You Boys In Blue rings out, the Dublin faithful are loving this.
Dublin 0-5 Kerry 1-4
15 mins - Seán O’Shea splits the posts from a tight angle, from an attacking mark after a superb Paudie Clifford ball to the Kenmare man inside.
Dublin 0-6 Kerry 1-4
17 mins – Costello floats a ’45 over, after Shane Murphy parries away a tricky Niall Scully shot, leaving nothing to chance.
Dublin 0-6 Kerry 1-5
19 mins – O’Sullivan scores his second point of the match after combining with David Clifford.
Comerford’s restart is quick once more, Costello goes for a two, but it tails well wide.
Dublin 0-7 Kerry 1-5
21 mins – Colm Basquel with his first of the day after cutting through the Kerry defence. Came after O’Shea’s latest effort dropped short into the arms of Comerford.
Scully follows up with a disappointing wide.
Dublin 0-7 Kerry 1-6
23 mins – Paudie Clifford dances in and fists over for his second of the game.
David – who is being marked by Davy Byrne – with a brilliant decoy run as he acts as a distraction.
Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-6
24 mins - Basquel fires over after linking up with O’Callaghan. Fast hands, nice score.
Dublin 0-8 Kerry 1-7
26 mins - David Clifford lands a typically brilliant score to move Kerry two clear. They’ve had to be patient, with Dublin proving difficult to break down, but Clifford and co. will happily take their points from distance.
Dublin 0-9 Kerry 1-7
28 mins - Costello turns on the D and moves Dublin within a point. Comes after Davy Byrne won his latest battle with Clifford, the ball swapping hands twice after Dylan Geaney’s ball inside but the Dublin defender clears his lines.
Dublin 0-9 Kerry 1-7
31 mins - David Clifford kicks Kerry’s first wide, after Gavin White tries to add pace to their latest patient build-up.
Dublin 0-10 Kerry 1-7
32 mins - Charlie McMorrow on the loop, draws the teams level for the first time.
Dublin 0-11 Kerry 1-7
33 mins – Costello scores his fifth point to move the Dubs in front, after they win the Kerry kick out.
Dublin 0-11 Kerry 1-8
34 mins – O’Shea from a tight angle to draw the teams level for the second time, and that should be that.
HT: Dublin 0-11 Kerry 1-8
So we finish the first half as we started it, level pegging. A lively start – in which David Clifford scored a rebounded penalty – soon turned cagey at times, but it has been intriguing. Much of the game has been dictated by Dublin, slower paced as they ask questions of the All-Ireland champions. A massive second half awaits.
Here’s a look at the half-time highlights:
SECOND-HALF! Dublin 0-11 Kerry 1-8
We’re underway again, a second full house of the weekend announced at Croke Park.
Dublin 0-11 Kerry 1-8
36 mins - HawkEye confirms Basquel’s effort is wide, Dublin’s seventh of the game.
Dublin 0-12 Kerry 1-8
36 mins – Small with a superb point after Dublin win Kerry’s kick out.
Dublin 0-13 Kerry 1-8
38 mins - They come up trumps on the restart again, and Howard scores into Hill 16.
Dublin 0-14 Kerry 1-8
39 mins - Basquel curls another point in after Dublin win their third Kerry kick out in a row, and make them pay once more.
Dublin 0-14 Kerry 1-8
40 mins – Murphy gets his latest restart away, and Kerry’s attack is slow and laboured. A David Clifford two-point effort is blocked down by Davy Byrne, Dublin counter quickly, and there’s a goal chance at the other end. Murphy saves!
Dublin 0-14 Kerry 1-8
42 mins – It was Con’s shot that Murphy saved. End to end stuff then, Kerry turned over, Costello with a poor wide. The game has really opened up in the last few minutes!
GOAL FOR KERRY! Kerry 2-8 Dublin 0-14 (Sean O’Brien, 43 mins)
Green flag for the Kingdom amidst confusion and protestation. O’Brien fists home Geaney’s delivery, Comerford intervenes and claims the ball never went over the line. Replays show it’s tight but it did. Then there are calls for a square ball but the goal stands. Would need to see it all back.
Kerry 2-10 Dublin 0-15
45 mins - Kerry lead by a point after Paudie Clifford’s two. McMorrow with a fine score just beforehand at the other end.
Dublin 0-15 Kerry 2-10
47 mins – Small with a poor wide as Dublin still trail by one.
Kerry sub - Keith Evans for goalscorer Sean O’Brien.
Here’s Kerry’s second goal which ultimately has them in the ascendancy:
Dublin 0-15 Kerry 2-11
48 mins - Paudie Clifford with another excellent score to make it 0-5 for him. Much better from Kerry in attack.
Dublin 0-15 Kerry 2-11
50 mins – Paudie Clifford’s ’45 attempt tails wide.
Comes after his brother David’s fisted point effort was blocked down by Brian Howard.
Dublin sub - Cian Murphy for Alex Gavin.
Dublin 0-15 Kerry 2-13
50 mins - David Clifford two-pointer as Kerry pounce. 1-3 for him and a fist pump to boot, rallying the green and gold support.
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-13
51 mins - Costello points to keep Dublin in touch. Three in it.
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
52 mins - O’Shea follows suit with another two-pointer as Kerry continue to turn on the style.
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
53 mins - Dublin with another poor wide as the pressure builds.
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
55 mins - Geaney with Kerry’s third wide of the game.
Dublin sub – Ross McGarry for Peadar O Cofaigh Byrne.
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
55 mins - Another Kerry wide, this one from Brian Ó Beaglaoich. He came on for Graham O’Sullivan a few minutes ago, forgot to mention.
Dublin 0-16 Kerry 2-15
CLOSE! Frantic few moments there, as Dublin are denied a goal – first a save by Murphy, then cleared off the line. In one of the replays, it looks like it could have even been over?! Could do with seeing it again. Tight going.
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-15
57 mins – Costello reduces the gap to four with his seventh of the day.
Dublin subs - Sean Bugler and Sean Guiden on.
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-15
58 mins – Double substitutions on both sides with the game in the melting pot.
Kerry subs - Evan Looney and Armin Heinrich for Paul Murphy and Gavin White.
Heinrich boots wide with his first involvement.
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-15
62 mins - Kerry knocking the ball around after Jason Foley turns O’Callaghan over. Can they extend their lead as Dublin chase the game?
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-16
63 mins - Clifford fires over, just after being dispossessed but Dublin are overturned again and the Footballer of the Year makes amends.
Dublin sub - Sean Guiden for Paddy Small, wrong information on RTÉ earlier.
Kerry sub - Tomas Kennedy for Dylan Geaney.
Dublin 0-17 Kerry 2-16
64 mins - Ó Beaglaoich fluffs his lines with an attacking mark, having also missed the original effort after a sublime Paudie Clifford ball.
Dublin 0-18 Kerry 2-16
65 mins - Brian Howard reduces the Dublin deficit to four.
Dublin 0-18 Kerry 2-16
66 mins - Dublin continue to clock up the wides, Guiden and McMorrow with their latest wayward shots.
Four down, four minutes to go.
Dublin 0-18 Kerry 2-17
67 mins - Kennedy fists over after being cleverly played through by O’Shea.
Dublin 0-19 Kerry 2-17
68 mins - Sean Bugler points, four between the sides.
Dublin 0-20 Kerry 2-17
68 mins - Scully blazes over, three-point game.
Dublin 0-20 Kerry 2-18
69 mins - David Clifford points and celebrates wildly. 40 seconds to go…
FT: Dublin 0-20 Kerry 2-18
Kerry return to the All-Ireland SFC final where they will defend their title against Mayo.
That’s that. Kerry’s goals were crucial, along with the march they stole in the third quarter. Paudie Clifford is named Man of the Match after another huge performance.
Dublin did so much right, but will rue their wide count. They’ll probably also feel hard done by by some big decisions. There aren’t a whole pile of second-half highlights up yet, but looking forward to watching them back.
Another titanic Dublin-Kerry battle, another All-Ireland final for the Kingdom, and Mayo await in two weeks’ time.
That’s all for our live coverage, but Fintan O’Toole’s match report will be on The 42 imminently with all of the usual reaction, analysis and colour following.
Thanks very much for joining us, and enjoy your Sunday evening!
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