Dublin 0-22 Kerry 2-14
Dublin have survived a tense All-Ireland semi-final to keep their search for back to back titles on course.
It was Dublin who dictated the pace of the second half in the opening phases and scores from Dean Rock dragging them back into the contest. This time it was Kerry who would have to endure a barren spell, going 10 minutes without a score.
Kevin McManamon and Stephen O'Brien traded points to level the tie. And it was Eoghan O'Gara who nudged Dublin back in front in injury time. Diarmuid Connolly followed it up with the decisive point from a difficult position and secure Dublin's place in the All-Ireland final.
This will be a repeat of the 2013 decider.
Colm Cooper conducted the attack for Kerry earlier in the game when the scores were scarce and scores from James O'Donoghue, Paul Geaney and Barry John Keane put them three in front with the clock winding down.
But Dublin rallied and will defend their title against Mayo in a repeat of the 2013 decider.
The first half opened entirely on Dublin's terms. Diarmuid Connolly opened his lungs with a few early possessions and clocked up two points before the break. Meanwhile, Dean Rock's free taking was an exhibition in scoring superiority, hitting the next five scores for Dublin from play and placed kicks. Kevin McManamon and Bernard Brogan chipped in as well but the concluding phases belonged to the Kingdom.
Paul Geaney's scores from play kept the Munster champions at a close distance behind Dublin before two blunders in Dublin's defence, gifted goals to Eamonn Fitzmaurice's side. The first was the result of a misplaced kickout and after some swift interplay between Donnchadh Walsh and Darran O'Sullivan, the ball was settling in the net to bring the teams level.
O'Sullivan was down briefly after crashing into the post but returned to the game after receiving some treatment. The second goal was the product of a looping ball and some crowding in the Dublin goalmouth saw the ball bouncing towards the whitewash. The umpires made an immediate call to wave the green flag despite the protestations from Dublin's defenders.
By this stage, Dublin were starved of a score for over 10 minutes and it was Kerry who had the final before half-time with a point from Colm Cooper after another poor Cluxton kick-out, to leave the scoreline reading 2-08 to 0-09.
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