In his All-Ireland senior football championship final preview, Paul Flynn, a former Dubs All-Ireland winner provides his analysis of the upcoming match between Dublin and Kerry this Sunday.
Flynn acknowledges the significance of Kerry’s win last year, noting how overcoming a benchmark team, in this case Dublin, can greatly boost a team’s confidence. Despite this, he cautions that Kerry’s victory was against a less strong version of the Dublin team that dominated football from 2010 to 2020.
This year, Dublin will have key players like Stephen Cluxton, Jack McCaffrey, and Paul Mannion back in the line-up, making them a different opponent for Kerry to contend with.
Writing for RTE Flynn said of last year’s win and this year’s challenge for Kerry:
“There’s a bit of an asterisk beside it because it was a watered-down version of Dublin. This weekend, we’re going to see the real Dublin team, with Stephen Cluxton, Jack McCaffrey and Paul Mannion back.
So Kerry will know they’re going to be facing a different animal this season.”
He also points out the historical importance of the match for James McCarthy, Cluxton, and Mick Fitzsimons, who could potentially earn their ninth All-Ireland medals if Dublin wins, a feat no other footballer has achieved. Despite this, Flynn doesn’t believe that this potential record will impact the players’ mindset during the match.
On the tactical side, Flynn suggests that both teams are likely to use similar strategies, with the outcome likely to be decided by key players stepping up in critical moments.
He believes Dublin’s bench strength may give them an advantage in the final stages of the game. However, he also notes Kerry’s intent to be aggressive from the start, with Stephen O’Brien in their starting lineup.
The possibility of Ciaran Kilkenny, who has been making significant impacts off the bench for Dublin, starting the game is also discussed. Although he acknowledges the importance of David Clifford for Kerry, Flynn believes that Dublin should focus on their own game and not get too distracted by individual players.
As for the team composition, from the quarter-final stage, it was observed that Kerry had a full-strength team with Paul Geaney and Gavin White recovering from injuries. They had an impressive lineup with Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, and Paul Geaney among the starters.
In conclusion, the preview suggests an intense and closely-matched game between the two giants of Irish football. Both teams have their unique strengths and key players who can influence the game significantly.
While the return of key players for Dublin might make them a formidable opponent, Kerry’s recent success and strong lineup are factors that can’t be underestimated.
