Dublin Edge Kerry In Croke Park Thriller!
DUBLIN 0-22
KERRY 2-14
Stephen Doyle at Croke Park
The full house at Croke Park this afternoon witnessed one of the greatest games ever played on the hallowed turf of Jones' Road.
The responsibility of kicking the match winning scores fell to Eoghan O'Gara and Diarmuid Connolly whose points efforts were sucked between the sticks by a euphoric Hill 16.
Dublin had to dig deeper than they ever have before against a brilliant Kerry team who led by 5 points at the break.
The men from the Kingdom rattled Dubs goalkeeper Stephen Cluxton towards the end of the first half and got two goals for their troubles.
Kerry pushed up on Cluxton in zonal form and forced a poor kickout from the usually unshakable Dublin number one.
The ball landed straight into the hands of Paul Geaney who punted it to Donnachadh Walsh and his hand pass went to Darran O’Sullivan who tucked the ball home.
Colm Cooper and Anthony Maher hit points before Geaney beat Cluxton in an aerial dual on the line, to slap home the second goal to make it 2-8 to 9 points at the break.
David Byrne & Stephen Cluxton unable to keep out second Kerry goal - ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
Dublin had looked by far the better side in the opening exchanges, Dean Rock hit four frees and a point in the first half after Connolly's opening score.
Kevin McManamon, Bernard Brogan and Connolly added themselves to the Dubs scoresheet but Kerry had kept in touch with 2 Geaney points, a David Moran point and a free from Colm Cooper.
Rock opened the scoring after half time with a point, a 45 and 2 frees along with one from Brogan before Brian Fenton levelled it up in the 50th minute.
Barry John Keane, James O’Donoghue and Paul Murphy all pointed then to restore Kerry's 3 point cushion but the Dubs showed again that they never know when they’re beaten.
Two Rock frees and a Philly McMahon score got them back level before Kerry sub Stephen O'Brien traded scores with Kevin McManamon.
Then right at the death O'Gara and Connolly came up with those electric scores into a throbbing Hill to keep the dream of back to back All-Ireland titles alive for Dublin.