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 0-3 Kerry 1-2

10 mins - Paudie Clifford gets on the scoresheet after a nice Kerry move.

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!

Here’s a look at the early penalty incident, and Clifford’s goal:

Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne is deemed to have fouled Joe O'Connor resulting in a penalty which David Clifford converts on the rebound

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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 12, 2026

Dublin 0-2 Kerry 1-1

7 mins - Graham O’Sullivan kicks high into the Hill for Kerry’s first point, levelling matters.

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.

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!

PENALTY FOR KERRY! 

Peadar Ó Cofaigh Byrne is pinged for a challenge on Joe O’Connor. He sees yellow, huge early call.

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.

THROW IN! Dublin 0-0 Kerry 0-0

Referee Brendan Cawley gets us underway.

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?

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.

Mayo boss Andy Moran is an interested spectator in the stands.

Andy Moran watches on as he anticipates who his Mayo side will face on this day two weeks time

Watch live on RTÉ 2 & RTÉ Player or listen live on RTÉ Radio 1. #SundayGame pic.twitter.com/GRiSCVoNFQ

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 12, 2026

Pre-match reading

• Contrasting styles, controversy and tragedy: The very first meeting of Dublin and Kerry
• ‘In awe of how good he is’ – The new heights of Niall Scully
• ‘He’s gone up another level’ – The latest marquee talent leading Kerry’s forward line

Up for the match!

Sarah Donnehy, Gareth Kenna and young Alfie Kenna. james lawlor photos james lawlor photos

Dublin fan Michael Stenson with his dog Pebbles. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Musicians entertain the fans before the game. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO

Fans make their way to Croke Park. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Confirmed: It’s Seán O’Shea for Geaney, Alex Gavin for MacMahon.

Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO

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.

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:

• 16. Sean Broderick (John Mitchels)
• 17. Evan Looney (Dr. Crokes)
• 18. Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes)
• 19. Keith Evans (Keel)
• 20. Seán O’Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks)
• 21. Armin Heinrich (Austin Stacks)
• 22. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
• 23. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
• 24. Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes)
• 25. Tom O’Sullivan (Dingle)
• 26. Tomás Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys) 

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:

• 16. Hugh O’Sullivan (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
• 17. Tom Lahiff (St Jude’s)
• 18. Liam Smith (Ballinteer St John’s)
• 19. Eoghan O’Callaghan (Cuala)
• 20. Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis)
• 21. Seán Guiden (St Sylvester’s)
• 22. Josh Bannon (St Sylvester’s)
• 23. Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
• 24. Alex Gavin (Ballyboden St Enda’s)
• 25. Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh)
• 26. Tim Deering (Skerries Harps)

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.