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Suas leis na Dubs - Eddie's memories

Having grown up behind Parnell Park (I could see Dubs training from my bedroom window) and attending Scoil Mhuire Marino my first big obsession was the Dublin football team and I have never grown out of it. I was born a few weeks after the 1955 Dubs V Kerry final and knew and still know a number of the players on that team. The real tradition of Dubs V Kerry is said to have come to life in 1955 but they did have a history dating back to their first All Ireland Final meeting in 1892. The Clubs represented the County at that time and as far as I know this continued until 1923. For the purpose of this we will just refer to the early meetings as Dublin V Kerry.
Following the Dubs V Kerry game on Monday 3rd August 2009 we have Trad/Ballad sing along between 5pm and 8pm with Friday night group. Apparently at 8pm the club will then show the game again on TV. Everyone should come along and wear their county colours Dublin, Kerry, Roscommon, Tyrone, Cork, Kildare, Donegal, Meath, Limerick, Mayo or any other county. I hope the Dubs win but irrespective of who wins there will be plenty of Molly Malone the Rose of Tralee and plenty of other Dubs/Kerry songs & music.

All Ireland Final 1892 Dublin 1-4 Kerry 0-3
All Ireland Final 1904 Kerry 0-5 Dublin 0-2
All Ireland Final 1908 Dublin 0-10 Kerry 0-3 
All Ireland Final 1923 Dublin 1-5 Kerry 1-3
All Ireland Final 1924 Kerry 0-4 Dublin 0-3
All Ireland Semi Final 1932 Kerry 1-3 Dublin 1-1
All Ireland Semi Final 1934 Dublin 3-8 Kerry 0-6
All Ireland Semi Final 1941 Kerry 0-4 Dublin 0-4
All Ireland Semi Final 1941 Replay Kerry 2-9 Dublin 0-3
All Ireland Final 1955 Kerry 0-12 Dublin 1-6
In 1955 Dublin were a young team with Denis Mahony, Mickey Whelan (Current Mentor) Jock Haughey and Kevin Heffernon. Dublin played a new fast type of game and were expected to beat Kerry. However Kerry surprised them by winning by three points. History was to repeat itself again 20 years later in 1975.
In 1965 they met again in the Semi Final. This was Jimmy Keaveney's first championship game V Kerry. The team also included Des and Lar Foley. Kerry however won again in a team which included Johnny Culloty, Mick O'Connell and Mick O' Dwyer.
As mentioned above the teams next meeting was in the 1975 final when the Dubs were All Ireland Champs again. Dublin the favourites were beaten by a young Kerry team including Paudi O Shea, Pat Spillane, and Mickey O'Sullivan.
Dublin then went on to win the Final in 1976 and the famous semi final of 1977. Dublin were coasting to a three in a row in 1978 in the first twenty minutes when the famous incident took place at the Canal End goal. Kerry got a free on the Hogan Stand side and Robbie Kellegher handed the ball to Mickey Sheehy who chipped the ball over Paddy Cullen's head. Paddy was about 13 meters off the line and ran back to the goal, but too late too prevent the ball entering the net. Con Houlihan of the Evening Press described it as similar to a woman chatting at the front gate and realising that the cakes are burning in the oven.
This was a turning point for both of these teams Kerry went on to win 1978 and both teams were to meet again in the final in 1979. Jimmy Keaveny had been sent of against Offaly in the Leinster Final and was due to be available for the All Ireland in the third week in September. Because of the Popes visit to Ireland the match was brought forward by a week and Jimmy missed the Final despite appealing to the Central Council. Some people said Jimmy even appealed to the Pope himself.
In Centenary year 1984 the teams met again in the final when the Dubs were All Ireland Champs once again. Dublin were however beaten in 1984 and also in the Final of 1985. However looking back it is evident that this was a truly outstanding Kerry team.
The Dubs and Kerry did not meet in the Championship again until 2001 when they met in a quarter final in Thurlas. The teams were fairly evenly matched but Dublin fell behind by a couple of points in the second half. Vinney Murphy who had hurled with Kerry was brought on by Dublin's manager Tommy Carr in the second half. There had been a lot of talk in the late 90's of Vinney playing football for Kerry. It never came about in the end. Vinney got his own back by scoring a goal for the Dubs which put Kerry one point behind. Maurice Fitzgerard scored an amazing last seconds equalizer to level the game. Kerry won the replay.
The teams met in the Quarter Final once again in 2004 with Dublin managed by Tommy Lyons. Kerry were the better team in this meeting and won well. The two teams met in the Semi Final of 2007 with a Dublin team managed by Paul Caffrey. Kerry eventually won by two points. However I feel that Dublin should have won this game. The created three goal scoring chances but missed all three of them. Dublin did not take the opportunity.
On Monday we meet again. Dublin appear stronger than they were in 2007 and Kerry appear to be weaker. I feel this is the best chance of beating them we have had since 1955. However as the history shows you can never underestimate Kerry. Dublin have not beaten them in championship football since 1977. Lets hope it is a great game and that we can get the monkey off our back.
Suas leis na Dubs.
Eddie Ó Mórdha 

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