Dublin secured a sensational win over Kerry in Tralee, breaking their long-standing hoodoo at Austin Stack Park. A dominant second-half performance, punctuated by Lorcan O'Dell's crucial two-pointers, saw Dublin overturn a 12-point deficit and emerge victorious.
Dublin pulled off a sensational second-half comeback to secure their first victory over Kerry in Tralee since 1982. Facing a 12-point deficit just before half-time, Dublin mounted a relentless attack in the second half, scoring four two-pointers, including two crucial scores from substitute Lorcan O'Dell that turned the tide. Despite a strong wind pushing into the Horan's End of Austin Stack Park , Dublin 's threat to Kerry 's goal had been minimal in the first half.
The home team seemed comfortably in control, leading by four points with five minutes remaining. However, O'Dell's brace of two-pointers brought the Dubs level, setting the stage for Luke Breathnach, another substitute, to deliver the winning point in the dying seconds. This hard-fought victory marked a significant triumph for Dublin, especially considering their history of struggles against Kerry in Tralee. While Dublin had previously won League matches against Kerry in Killarney in 2010 and 2013, breaking their Tralee hoodoo seemed improbable at the half-time break. Evan Comerford, making his first appearance for Dublin since the 2022 League final against Derry, hoped to solidify his position as the starting goalkeeper ahead of Stephen Cluxton. However, the first half proved challenging for Comerford as Kerry dominated restarts and capitalized on a time-wasting penalty, earning a free point from Seán O'Shea. Comerford was fortunate that his goal remained intact for the first half hour despite Kerry missing four clear scoring chances. Brian Ó Beaglaoich had given Kerry an early two-pointer and attempted another, which fell well short of the Dublin goal. Comerford, reacting quickly, punched the loose ball, allowing Paul Geaney to gratefully collect and slot it into the net, extending Kerry's lead to 12 points. Kerry's lead was further augmented by two two-pointers from Seán O'Shea. Despite their goal-scoring opportunities, Dublin struggled to find their rhythm against the wind. Sean Bugler and Ciaran Kilkenny both missed two shots each, though Greg McEneaney managed to score his second point just before half-time, leaving the score at 1-12 to 0-4. Kerry's profligacy in front of goal seemed inconsequential at the time, but it became increasingly relevant as the second half unfolded. Dublin surged to life, scoring nine of the first 10 points, including two-pointers from half-time substitute Lee Gannon and Ciaran Kilkenny. However, O'Shea regained Kerry's four-point advantage after a three-on-three transgression was finally spotted by referee Liam Devenney. David Clifford made his seasonal return from the bench but received limited possession as Kerry struggled to create scoring opportunities against the wind. Dublin dominated Shane Ryan's kickouts, mirroring Kerry's control over Comerford's restarts in the first half. This pressure eventually paid dividends, culminating in Paudie Clifford's stunning point that extended Kerry's lead to four with six minutes remaining. It appeared as though Kerry might hold on to their hard-earned advantage. But O'Dell's decisive intervention, leveling the game with two consecutive two-pointers, turned the tide once again. With Kerry pinned back, Breathnach capitalized on the pressure, slotting the winning point to secure a valuable pair of match points for Dublin on the road. The result leaves Kerry looking over their shoulders in the league standings.
Gaelic Football Dublin Kerry Austin Stack Park Comeback Lorcan O'dell Luke Breathnach Tralee
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