Dublin and Kerry: A History of Gaelic Football’s Greatest Rivalry

Great sporting rivalries define their respective disciplines, whether it is Barcelona and Real Madrid in football, New Zealand and South Africa in rugby, or the storied boxing battles between Mexico and Puerto Rico. Gaelic football follows this tradition, and whenever Dublin and Kerry face off, the occasion carries extra weight.

Between them, these two counties have claimed 70 All-Ireland titles. Kerry currently leads the roll of honour with 39 championships compared to Dublin’s 31. Over the years, their pursuit of the Sam Maguire Cup has produced unforgettable moments that remain etched in the history of the game.

While meetings were sporadic following their first encounter in 1893—when Dublin’s Young Irelands defeated Laune Rangers—the 1955 final established a significant precedent. Kerry arrived as an established force with 17 titles, facing a Dublin side led by the young Kevin Heffernan, a man who would become synonymous with this fixture. Kerry claimed a 0-12 to 1-6 victory in front of a crowd exceeding 87,000 spectators.

Classic contests in a golden era of the 1970s

By the 1970s, Kerry remained the standard-bearers with 22 titles, while a Heffernan-managed Dublin team captured their 18th in 1974. The following year, a youthful Kerry side under manager Mick O’Dwyer stunned the defending champions. With players like Pat Spillane, Mikey Sheehy, Denis ‘Ogie’ Moran, Páidí Ó Sé, and captain Mickey ‘Ned’ O’Sullivan, Kerry secured a 2-12 to 0-11 win, sparking a legendary five-year saga.

The teams met again in the 1976 final, where Dublin triumphed thanks to goals from John McCarthy, Jimmy Keaveney, and Brian Mullins. This match saw the emergence of Kevin Moran, who later enjoyed a professional football career with Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland. Before his departure, Moran helped Dublin win the 1977 title, including a 3-12 to 1-13 semi-final victory over Kerry that many consider one of the greatest games in the sport’s history.

Dublin’s brief period of dominance ended in the 1978 final. This game provided one of the most iconic moments in Gaelic football history when Mikey Sheehy lobbed Dublin goalkeeper Paddy Cullen after a dispute over a free. A hat-trick from Eoin ‘Bomber’ Liston secured a convincing victory for Kerry, and they repeated the feat in the 1979 final with two more goals from Sheehy and one from John Egan. Kerry subsequently defeated Dublin in the 1984 and 1985 finals, effectively pausing the rivalry until its resurgence in the new millennium.

A new millennium and a rivalry reborn

By 2001, Kerry had reached 32 All-Ireland titles under manager Páidí Ó Sé, while Dublin had not won the trophy since 1995. When the two sides met in a 2001 All-Ireland quarter-final in Thurles, Kerry entered as favourites. The game took a dramatic turn when a Vinnie Murphy-led Dublin comeback was stifled by Maurice Fitzgerald, who scored a legendary equalising point from the sideline. Kerry eventually won the replay and defeated Dublin again at the same stage in 2004.

While Dublin tested Kerry in the 2007 semi-final, Kerry prevailed. There was no such uncertainty in the 2009 quarter-final; after a first-minute goal from Colm Cooper, Kerry dominated the match to win by 17 points.

Dublin’s dominance as Kerry rebuild

The 2011 All-Ireland final shifted the dynamic of the rivalry. With six minutes remaining and Kerry leading by four, Dublin substitute Kevin McManamon scored a crucial goal. In added time, goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton held his nerve to score a free, securing Dublin’s first title in 17 years.

This victory ignited a period of Dublin dominance. In the 2013 semi-final, McManamon and Eoghan O’Gara scored late goals to turn a one-point deficit into a seven-point win. Dublin defeated Kerry in the 2015 final and again in 2019 following a replay, with an Eoin Murchin goal helping them secure an unprecedented five-in-a-row titles. They added a sixth the following year as Kerry began their rebuild.

The 2019 final highlighted a new wave of Kerry talent, including David Clifford and Sean O’Shea. It was O’Shea whose boot decided their 2022 All-Ireland semi-final encounter. After a late Dublin comeback led by Cormac Costello, O’Shea kicked a 50-meter free to send Kerry into the final, which they won under manager Jack O’Connor.

One year later, the sides met in the final. Despite Kerry’s young stars entering as favourites, Dublin’s experienced veterans produced one final heroic stand to claim the title. It remains their last championship meeting, serving as a reminder of a fixture known for the unexpected. From the iconic strikes of Sheehy and Fitzgerald to the clutch goals of McManamon and Murchin, this rivalry continues to deliver. Whether David Clifford or Con O’Callaghan takes control this Sunday, history suggests another classic battle may be in store.