Kerry and Dublin renew their historical rivalry on Sunday evening in the 2026 All Ireland Semi Final, Kerry are defending champions having won the 2025 All Ireland beating Donegal. Both sides go into Sunday’s game thinking that both sides can beat each other and then go on to win the big prize at the end of July.
Kerry have stuck with the same 15 that played Tyrone in the quarter final and have brought back Thomas Kennedy and Brian O Beagloich into the 26 to add extra cover in attack and defence. Having come through the Tyrone test, Kerry will feel they are well placed to take Dublin.
This game could easily be another classic with the weather set fair to allow both sides play attacking football and of course, both benches will be asked to come on if called upon and making a telling difference to the end result.
Kerry are the only provincial winners remaining in the Championship, you have the novelty of Louth vs Mayo in tomorrow’s opening semi-final at headquarters.
Like every campaign Kerry have gone through an up and down period where they have been written off, declared certain champions and then reality strikes and supporters and pundits alike realise they have a few tough games in front of them before they get to the last 4.
The side selected is coming into form at the right time with players like Sean O Shea, Tom O Sullivan of Dingle coming back into contention at a good time to help competition within the squad. Already this week, Ger Brennan declared Kerry favourites to win on Sunday and not many Kerry supporters will believe that sort of platitude until the end of the 70 minutes on Sunday.
Jack O Connor will have heard that and will use all the tricks in the book to play it down and you can be certain “yerra” will be a chosen word of the day over the next 48 hours leading into the game. Shane Murphy has kept his place in goal after having a good year and developing and improving and the games have gone on.
Shane Ryan has been named on a 4 man stand by list by Kerry after an injury interrupted season in green and gold. Sean Brodrick of John Mitchels is in the number 16 shirt as of now.
Kerry have the fire power on the field and on the bench to beat Dublin but Dublin have named a strong 26 themselves with the likes of Ciaran Kilkenny, Con Callaghan, Brian Howard and Niall Scully involved. Local interest will be peaked with Theo Clancy in the 6 Jersey, grandson of Tom Buckley late of Buckley Hardware.
This game as I mention could easily be another classic Kerry v Dublin game although Kerry’s recent Championship record against Dublin is not the best with Kerry only beating Dublin once back in 2022 and were defeated in 2023.
Kerry will be hell bent on changing that particular fact on Sunday and are well placed to do so if they can get to grips with Dublin around the middle and put pressure on Dublin in defence and press the Dublin kick out.
This semi-final is set up to be a belter, weather won’t be an issue, both sides came through tough quarter finals and are well set to give the semi-finals a real rattle. It will be tighter than people think and whoever does come through they will only have 3 or 4 points to spare over the other. Enjoy the games that will happen in Croke Park this weekend….