Kerry and Dublin set for historic clash as countdown begins for 50th All-Ireland final

TG4 All-Ireland Championship finals

By John Fallon

Kerry and Dublin will clash for the first time in the TG4 All-Ireland senior decider when the 50^th final of the competition takes place at Croke Park on Sunday, August 13.

As usual, the senior showdown will be the finale of a triple-header which will see Down and Limerick battle it out in the junior final (11.45am) before Clare and Kildare face off in the intermediate decider (1.45pm).

The highlight of the LGFA season, the TG4 All-Ireland senior final, will get under way at 4pm when Kerry and Dublin will vie to win the 50^th decider for the Brendan Martin Cup.

It’s only the third time in history that the same counties have contested the men’s and ladies finals in the same year. In 1982 Kerry won the ladies title and Offaly shocked the Kingdom to lift the Sam Maguire Cup, while Dublin did the double against Mayo in 2017.

This will be Kerry’s 14^th final and Dublin will be the ninth team they have faced in the showdown, having previously taken on Tipperary, Offaly, Leitrim, Westmeath, Wexford, Laois, Cork and Meath in the final. They have won 11 of their 13 finals to date and along with neighbours Cork are the joint most prolific winners of the competition.

Kerry, who defeated Mayo by 1-16 to 1-11 in Saturday’s semi-final at FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, were defeated by Meath in last year’s final and have not lifted the title since 1993.

This will be Dublin’s 13^th appearance in the final, having won five and lost seven so far. They have played five counties so far in the final — Cork (six times), Mayo (twice), Galway (twice), Tyrone and Meath. Their last final appearance was in 2021 and they last lifted the title in 2020 when they defeated Cork.

Mick Bohan’s side proved too strong for Cork in a repeat of that showdown in Saturday’s second semi-final in Thurles when they set up their historic meeting with Kerry with a 2-19 to 0-13 win.

Meanwhile, Cavan captured the All-Ireland U-16 A crown for the first time since their only success in the grade in 1977 when they defeated Cork by 2-12 to 1-13 in a final replay on Friday evening in Limerick.

 

Results:

 

TG4 All-Ireland SFC semi-finals

Kerry 1-16 Mayo 1-11

Dublin 2-19 Cork 0-13

 

All-Ireland U-16 A final

Cavan 2-12 Cork 1-13

 

 

Fixtures:

TG4 All-Ireland finals at Croke Park on Sunday, August 13

 

11.45am Down v Limerick, TG4 All-Ireland Junior final

1.45pm Clare v Kildare, TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate final

4pm Dublin v Kerry, TG4 All-Ireland Senior final

 

All-Ireland final tickets:

Adult – €30

U18 – €15

Student/OAP – €15

Family Ticket (2 Adults and 2 U18’s) – €70

Group (1 Adult @ €10 for every group of 10 U18’s at €5 per child) – €60