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Kerry v Dublin: Team news, talking points and predictions

Published

4 years ago

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Brian Fenton and David Clifford.

by Adam Moynihan

National League: Division 1

Kerry v Dublin

Austin Stack Park

Saturday at 7pm

They say it’s Newbridge or nowhere. One or the other. Funnily enough, in that second half last Sunday, it felt like Kerry were occupying both places at once.

Barring three individual moments of attacking flair by Paul Geaney, Paudie Clifford and Tony Brosnan, it was an uncomfortably impotent attacking display down the stretch by the men in green and gold.

Yes, Kildare showed great heart and no little skill to clinch a point, but from Kerry’s perspective the performance was well below their usual standards. Runs that should have been made were not made. Passes that should have been completed were not completed. Balls that should have stuck didn’t stick (in fact, “unstuck” just about sums it up).

Although his team had led by as many as five points, Jack O’Connor was probably happy out with the draw when all was said and done. That will tell you how severely the walls crumbled.

On an individual level, several Kerry players had days to forget and they will be keen to get back into their groove under the bright lights of Stack Park. However, Dublin’s players also have a point to prove after their surprise defeat to Armagh at HQ. Losing their first two matches would keep them rooted to the bottom of the table. Not a good look for a team that has won six of the last seven All-Irelands.

The bad news for Kerry is that influential wing back Gavin White is out of contention after he sustained a hamstring injury in Kildare. The same man who replaced him that day, Brian Ó Beaglaoich, starts in his stead tomorrow night, with the other five backs plus goalkeeper Shane Murphy all retaining their places in the starting 15.

Na Gaeil colleagues Diarmuid O’Connor and Jack Barry come straight back into midfield, a double switch which releases Adrian Spillane and Seán O'Shea to the half forward line. Micheál Burns drops to the bench, as does inside forward Killian Spillane. Paudie Clifford will wear No. 13.

Stephen O'Brien has recovered from his hamstring injury - at least well enough to take his place on the bench.

Dublin are expected to name their lineup at around midday tomorrow. Against Armagh, Dessie Farrell started with nine of the team who were defeated by Mayo in last year’s All-Ireland semi-final. They looked rather off the pace, though, and perhaps they’re not quite operating at 100% at this early stage of the season.

The sight of the Kerry jersey could well jolt them into life, however, and this fixture has all the makings of a typically tense and exciting Kerry-Dublin showdown.

VERDICT: Kerry by one.

KERRY TEAM TO PLAY DUBLIN

  1. Shane Murphy (Dr Crokes)
  2. Dan O'Donoghue (Spa)
  3. Jason Foley (Ballydonoghue)
  4. Tom O'Sullivan (Dingle)
  5. Paul Murphy (Rathmore)
  6. Tadhg Morley (Templenoe)
  7. Brian Ó Beaglaoich (An Ghaeltacht)
  8. Diarmuid O'Connor (Na Gaeil)
  9. Jack Barry (Na Gaeil)
  10. Adrian Spillane (Templenoe)
  11. Seán O'Shea (Kenmare Shamrocks)
  12. Dara Moynihan (Spa)
  13. Paudie Clifford (Fossa)
  14. David Clifford (Fossa)
  15. Paul Geaney (Dingle)

SUBS: Shane Ryan (Rathmore), Killian Spillane (Templenoe), Micheál Burns (Dr Crokes), Gavin Crowley (Templenoe), Tony Brosnan (Dr Crokes), Graham O'Sullivan (Dromid Pearses), Jack Savage (Kerins O'Rahillys), Dylan Casey (Austin Stacks), Stephen O'Brien (Kenmare Shamrocks), Greg Horan (Austin Stacks), Darragh Roche (Glenflesk).

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Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

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2 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

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2 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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