Dublin landed a remarkable All-Ireland victory with a two point win over Kerry with a late show.
One of the closest All-Ireland football finals saw Dublin win out 1-15 to 1-13. Dessie Farrell bringing back the band for a final encore.
A dramatic game, where the forwards had to be brilliant, but the defenders were excellent in the pouring rain.
The Dubs came back, to take victory. Just like Dessie Farrell brought back big players, just when the Dubs were written off earlier this year.
The Dubs edged it somewhat in the opening period. Stephen Cluxton opened the scoring with a 45 on four minutes.
Cluxton came close to conceding his first championship goal since 2019 two minutes later. Paul Geaney found a gap and went for goal.
Geaney’s low shot fired past Cluxton but Brian Howard was back to stop the shot on the line.
David Clifford equalised moments later with Paul Mannion restoring Dublin’s lead on nine minutes. Sean O’Shea converted a free as Kerry were level on 11 minutes.
Brian Howard put Dublin added 60 seconds later, with O’Shea squaring the game by the 14th minute. Cormac Costello put Dublin ahead on 15 minutes.
Mannion made it a two point game on 24 minutes, O’Shea bringing it back to one point on 28 minutes.
Two minutes into injury time Cluxton converted a free to make it six points to four for Dublin. The first-half drama was not over yet!
Kerry land major Goal
David Clifford produced some magic to pick out Geaney. Geaney throw a couple of dummies leaving Cluxton on the floor and finding the net with Fenton and Byrne on the line.
The goal threw the game wide open as Kerry led 1-4 to 0-6 at half-time.
Brian Howard levelled the game up two minutes after the restart. Tom O’Sullivan’s free edged Kerry ahead. Two points in a minute from Paudie Clifford and Geaney saw Kerry lead 1-7 to 0-7 on 43 minutes.
Colm Basquel responded with a Dublin point, only for David Clifford to send over a point immediately.
Dublin then did what they do best with a classic counter attack. Basquel dispossessed White and gaves the ball to Small.
Small’s shot got a deflection off Paul Murphy takes it past the Kerry keeper to level up the game.
Goal for Dublin! - The sides are level again following a great goal by Paddy Small. pic.twitter.com/hi8ldZCvUq
— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 30, 2023
Seanie O’Shea put Kerry back in front from a free. Paudie Clifford fisted a point on 50 minutes to make it 1-10 to 1-8. Paudie Clifford found space to make it a three point game a minute later.
The famous third-quarter was alive, but Dublin weren’t beaten. Mannion converted a free. Followed by a Basquel pomt and another Mannion point as Dublin levelled the game.
Brian Fenton gave Dublin the lead, six minutes from time. The first score of the game in eight minutes.
Killian Spillane equalised three minutes later. Straight from the kick-out Jack McCaffrey found Paddy Small who put Dublin back in front.
David Clifford made 1-13 each, a minute into injury time. Clifford had put his shot wide, but referee David Gough called a free. Clifford converted successfully.
Extra-time on the horizon
The game looked set for extra-time, however, Dublin produced an injury-time spurt.
First Burns produced a super block as Basquel looked to win. Dublin turned the ball over, Dean Rock’s shot was head over before Kerry keeper Ryan batted it away.
Basquel gathered the rebound who handed it to Mannion to give Dublin the lead.
David Clifford sent a late shot wide, when the money was on him scoring. The Dubs kept the ball before Basquel won a free on the 15 metre line.
Dean Rock stepped up to convert as the band played another All-Ireland title.
Dublin winning out 1-15 to 1-13.
James McCarthy lifted Sam for the first time as captain and his ninth time. McCarthy, Stephen Cluxton and Michael Fitzsimmons making history with a ninth All-Ireland title each.
