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Kerry's James O'Donoghue scores his sides opening goal despite Dublin's Kevin O'Brien and Michael Darragh MacAuley. INPHO/James Crombie
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Dublin v Kerry, All-Ireland SFC semi-final

Only one could survive. Here’s how the drama unfolded in this year’s second All-Ireland football semi-final.

THE GAA’S MOST historic rivalry wrote its latest chapter in Croke Park this afternoon as Leinster champions Dublin and Munster champions Kerry did battle in the second of this year’s All-Ireland football semi-finals.

Only one could progress to meet Mayo on 22 September — but would it be the Boys in Blue? Or would the Kingdom’s day come again?

As always, we’d love to hear your comments. Send them to niall@thescore.ie, tweet them @TheScoreGAAfind us on Facebook, or leave a comment below.

Dublin 3-18 Kerry 3-11

Good afternoon and welcome to TheScore.ie’s live coverage of Dublin v Kerry. We’re all set for the first sell-out of the summer — let’s hope the game matches the anticipation.

Here’s how they will line out.

Dublin: Cluxton; O’Brien, O’Carroll, Cooper; McCarthy, Brennan, McCaffrey; MacAuley, O’Sullivan; Flynn, Kilkenny, Connolly; Mannion, Andrews, Brogan.

Kerry: Kealy; M O Se, Griffin, Enright; T O Se, Crowley, Fitzgerald; Maher, Buckley; Galvin, Cooper, Walsh; Darran O’Sullivan, Declan O’Sullivan, O’Donoghue.

The bookies make this one a two-point game in Dublin’s favour but you lot beg to differ. Over 2600 voted in our reader poll today with 76% so far going for a Kerry win.

The Dublin-Kerry rivalry is one of the most storied in GAA history and before throw-in, there is a video tribute to a dear departed legend from each county: Paidi O Se and Kevin Heffernan.

The anticipated sell-out crowd certainly made it to Headquarters on time. Hardly a seat in the house as the teams finish up the pre-match parade.

Referee Cormac Reilly gets us underway

Dublin 0-1 Kerry 0-1: 3 mins — MacAuley bursts through and kicks Dublin’s first score. Declan O’Sullivan levels.

Dublin 0-3 Kerry 0-1: 5 mins — Brogan and Connolly both kick points from play as Dublin settle first.

Ger Brennan and Colm Cooper provide the game’s first flashpoint, tussling over the ball before Brennan tries to haul his man to his feet.

Kerry 1-1 Dublin 0-3: GOAL FOR KERRY! Great vision by Cooper to pick out Walsh. He finds O’Donoghue running in behind and the corner-forward gives Cluxton no chance.

What a chance for Dublin to respond. Mannion twists and turns to play Brogan in and he slips the ball past Kealy, but just outside the left upright.

Kerry 1-2 Dublin 0-3: 10 mins — James O’Donoghue turns back inside and kicks the score.

Kerry 2-2 Dublin 0-3: 12 mins — GOAL FOR KERRY! Dublin completely switch off in defence and Cooper dinks the perfect pass into Walsh in acres of space. He rolls it past Cluxton and Kerry are in dreamland.

Kerry 2-2 Dublin 1-3: 13 mins — GOAL FOR DUBLIN! Dublin hit back. The ball drops on the edge of the square and Mannion rises highest to nudge it past Kealy.

Kerry 2-2 Dublin 1-5: 16 mins — Cluxton points a free and a minute later, Brogan levels it up from play. What a response from the Leinster champions. We’re all square again.

Dublin 1-6 Kerry 2-3: 18 mins — A Brogan free gives Dublin the lead but it’s short-lived as Cooper equalises at the other end.

PENALTY FOR KERRY! Big call by Cormac Reilly but it’s definitely the right call. As the ball drops off the upright, Donnchadh Walsh is first on to it. He holds on to possession and barrels towards goal before Cluxton tackles high and drags him down. It will be O’Donoghue to take…

Kerry 3-3 Dublin 1-7: 21 mins — O’Donoghue sends Cluxton the wrong way and the Kerry fans inside Croke Park explode again. McMahon gets one back for Dublin at the other end.

Kerry 3-4 Dublin 1-8: 23 mins — Cian O’Sullivan edges Dublin closer but it’s only temporary as Cooper fields the ball out on the left, turns back inside and points.

Kerry 3-5 Dublin 1-8: 26 mins — Cormac Reilly brings the free forward and when Cooper takes it quickly, O’Donoghue is able to wriggle free of his marker and point. Kerry lead by three.

Kerry 3-5 Dublin 1-9: 30 mins — This has been played at a ferocious tempo so far and there’s no letting up. Flynn finds Kilkenny who points.

Brogan has a chance to cut the gap with a free from his hands but he skews it high and it drops wide.

Big shout from the Kerry crowd as Darran O’Sullivan goes down with Rory O’Carroll in close attention but play is waved on.

Johnny Buckley steps up to a free from about 35 yards out but shanks it well left and wide, much to the delight of the Hill 16 end.

Two additional minutes to be played.

HALF TIME: Kerry 3-5 Dublin 1-9

Scorers for Kerry: J O’Donoghue 2-2 (1 pen), D Walsh 1-0, C Cooper 0-2, Declan O’Sullivan 0-1.

Scorers for Dublin: P Mannion 1-0, B Brogan 0-3 (1f), M MacAuley, D Connolly, C O’Sullivan, P McMahon, S Cluxton (1f), C Kilkenny all 0-1.

81,553 is confirmed as today’s official attendance.

SECOND HALF: Bastick replaces Brennan for Dublin.

Connolly tries to set the tone for the second half but catches Griffin late with his shoulder. Yellow card.

Another yellow for Dublin as Jonny Cooper goes into the book.

Kerry 3-6 Dublin 1-9: 38 mins — Darran O’Sullivan miscontrols and a goal chance goes a-begging but Galvin is on hand to point.

Kerry 3-6 Dublin 1-10: 40 mins — Dublin attack breaks down but Kilkenny does brilliantly to resurrect it and lays off to Brogan to score.

Kerry 3- 8 Dublin 1-11: 43 mins — Dublin’s indiscipline has been their own worst enemy at times. Another free is moved forward and Cooper converts, before Galvin follows up with another score.

A change for Dublin as Kilkenny is replaced by Rock, who scores with his first involvement.

Darran O’Sullivan weaves through the Dublin defence but his hand pass floats across the face of goal and wide.

Dublin have a chance of their own at the other end but Brogan can’t trouble Kealy.

Kerry 3-8 Dublin 1-12: 48 mins — MacAuley is pulled down and Brogan points the free.

Kerry 3-8 Dublin 1-14: 50 mins — Two quick points by Andrews and Brogan and we’re all square with 20 to play. What a game.

Dublin 1-15 Kerry 3-8: 51 mins — Connolly points and Dublin lead.

Eamonn Fitzmaurice is emptying his bench and among the changes, Kieran Donaghy is on to replace Paul Galvin.

Dublin 1-15 Kerry 3-9: 58 mins — Cooper is chopped down by his namesake, Dublin defender Jonny Cooper, and after a minute or two receiving treatment, he gets up to point the free.

Jonny Cooper pushes on with a great supporting run from the back but when Connolly finds him, he skews it right and wide.

Dublin 1-16 Kerry 3-9: 60 mins — Eoghan O’Gara is on to replace Paul Mannion and his first contribution is to set up Dean Rock who scores his second of the afternoon.

Dublin 1-16 Kerry 3-10: 62 mins — All square again as O’Donoghue draws Kerry level.

Kerry 3-11 Dublin 1-16: 63 mins — And now it is Kerry who lead as Darran O’Sullivan finds space on the left to point.

Kevin McManamon, scorer of the decisive goal in the 2011 final, is on for Bernard Brogan. Can he inspire the Dubs again. Five minutes left.

Dublin 1-17 Kerry 3-11: Connolly free. All square with two to play.

Kerry fans think they’re back in front by Declan O’Sullivan’s effort is waved wide.

Dublin 2-17 Kerry 3-11: GOAL FOR DUBLIN! McManamon does it again for Dublin. Is that it?

Dublin 2-18 Kerry 3-11: 70 mins — Connolly points to make it a four-point game. Kerry have three additional minutes to save their summer and they will have to do it with 14 men — midfielder Anthony Maher is shown a second yellow and a red.

Dublin 3-18 Kerry 3-11: 70+3 mins — GOAL FOR DUBLIN! That’s certainly that now. O’Gara rattles underside of the bar and with Kealy stranded, Rock is on hand to palm it into the empty net. It looked like it was over the line anyway but Rock was leaving nothing up to chance.

FULL TIME: Dublin 3-18 Kerry 3-11

Can we just take a minute to reflect on what a wonderful game we’ve seen? Simply superb and a credit to both sides.

So that’s it. After 12 rounds of the finest heavyweight action it is Dublin who win by seven and will play Mayo back here in HQ in the All-Ireland final on 22 September.

Thanks for reading.

POLL: Who will win today’s battle between Dublin and Kerry?

8 other great Dublin v Kerry debates that we’d like to see settled

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