Dublin v Kerry: All-Ireland Football Final Preview From David Moran

on July 27, 2023 at 6:03 pm

We have an All-Ireland Football Final preview from three-time All-Ireland winner and former Kerry star midfielder David Moran.

The recently retired Kerry midfielder spoke to us exclusively at BoyleSports ahead of The Kingdom’s All-Ireland Final against arch rivals Dublin this Sunday.

Moran offered some fascinating insight into the Dublin v Kerry rivalry over the years, how much Kerry will need to score in this year’s final, a potential chink in Dublin’s armour and the impact Tony Brosnan’s loss will have on this Kerry squad.

The two-time All Star winner also reflected on his retirement from inter-county football and what life is like watching his county from the stands.

Here at BoyleSports we are offering EPIC ODDS on this weekend’s All-Ireland football final, you can back Dublin at 7/4 or Kerry at 7/4!

Moran also had an epic conversation with Dublin legend Diarmuid Connolly where they previewed the 2023 All-Ireland Final and reflected on their own illustrious inter-county careers. Check it out below.

All-Ireland Football Final Preview

Kerry Will Need To Score More Than Last Year

I suppose it’s a bit strange for me, but I’m looking forward to the whole occasion. I think the Kerry v Dublin games always bring something special on and off the field. For someone from Kerry, a Kerry Dublin championship game, be it a semi-final or a final, it’s the pinnacle of the sport for us.

Last year in the parade, I don’t remember an atmosphere like it. If you really want to test yourself as a footballer, can you do it against Dublin in Croke Park? And I’m sure the Dubs are the same, can they do it against us? It really is the highest level. If you were to win an All-Ireland and you beat Dublin along the way, it’s exactly what you’d wish for, it’s the hardest path.

When we were playing the really great Dublin team, you needed 20 points to beat them. They were playing teams that were really competitive but just didn’t have enough firepower to win. Last year the score was 1-14 to 1-13 and I think Kerry will have to be a bit better, because I’m not sure 1-14 will win this final.

‘Hopeful’ on Kingdom Glory

The two teams are quite similar, they both like to play open football. There are obviously a couple of big marquee forwards on both sides, who will carry a lot of pressure coming into the game. As a Kerry man I’d be very hopeful, although Dublin are certainly better this year than they were last year.

It’s so even. They’ll both feel that if they play to their potential they’ll win. There will be man-marking jobs, but I think Kerry and Dublin will both set up to try and play their best game, put their best foot forward.

It’ll be a case of how many 50-50 balls can you win and the kick-out is going to be very important – whether you can get possession and get the ball up fast. But Jack O’Connor will be saying, ‘how do we maximize our own performance?’ We have to play on our terms.

Sometimes you don’t get over the line as easy as you should, but Kerry might be a bit more free a year down the road with that All-Ireland medal in the back pocket. You’ve got guys now with experience having had the heartbreak of 2019 and although they haven’t added huge personnel from last year in terms of quantity compared to Dublin.

You’d like to think that the guys have come on another step and they’ll be better for winning an All-Ireland.

A Potential Dublin Weakness?

If I was to pick a weakness in Dublin I just think that if one of their backs went down injured early, I don’t think they have the strength and depth compared to the forwards. If there was an early sending off they’re certainly not as heavily stocked as they were in the past.

If you’re a Dublin fan you’re saying, I hope that our six backs stay injury free and stay on the field, and any change we have to make is tactical.

I think that it would be a huge plus for Kerry if James McCarthy went full back. Himself and Brian Fenton in midfield is a very strong platform to build off. David Clifford is very agile on the ground as well and it’s not a like for like.

Kerry Have Found Ciaran Kilkenny ‘Very Difficult’ To Play Against

We found Ciaran Kilkenny very difficult between the 2019 replay and the semi-final last year – he’s put in huge performances. I wouldn’t be worried too much about form – if he’s 100% fit going into the game.

He’s a guy that’s going to perform because he’s done it so many times before. He might not have had his best year up to now just for different reasons, but if he’s right he’s going to be an awful handful.

Clifford Has It All

David Clifford just ticks every box. He’s very athletic, he’s a midfielder in terms of size but he’s also very quick. And then he has magic that you see every so often. But like all the guys at the very, very top level, I think his biggest attribute is upstairs. He has plenty of aggression, but he’s very level-headed.

The majority of the guys that you come across who are really special, as good as they are physically, they’re probably a second ahead of everyone mentally. He has a real work ethic, he’s a good teammate and he’s just a really good guy to be around.

I know there’s a lot of talk about footballer of the year being between David Clifford and James McCarthy, but Shane Ryan is a guy for me that hasn’t put a foot wrong.

Tony Brosnan A Huge Loss

With Tony Brosnan out, Killian Spillane would be a huge addition to the Kerry panel if he could get back in. Historically he’s a big game player and he has all the skills. Obviously, Tony’s a huge loss, but if Killian was able to come in, at least he’d be close to a like-for-like replacement.

Retirement Wasn’t A Football Decision

The fact I had such a good club run after Kerry finished last year helped. If someone retires because of a bad injury you often hear them say they miss the camaraderie, the training, the craic. But I still had that with the club.

I had to presume that Kerry were going to win the All-Ireland because that was what we were there every year to do and you’re going to say, how will I feel if David Clifford’s going up the steps in July?

But for me it wasn’t a 100% a football decision. We had a second kid in February and I had been very lucky with injuries. I just thought, at this age am I literally going to keep everything going? I just felt I wouldn’t be able to do everything at work, at home, in football and make a difference, something had to give.

So if it was just a football decision it might have been harder. But it probably wasn’t fair to Sinead and the lads at home or the guys at work that I was going to continue to prioritise football. They would have been very supportive if I stayed on for another year, but you can’t do everything!

For our full preview of Dublin v Kerry including all the odds, form, weather forecast and a match prediction check out our Dublin v Kerry Prediction post.

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