KERRY will face Mayo this Saturday in the first All-Ireland senior football semi-final to be played outside Dublin since 1983.
Our replay record in the All-Ireland series is, thankfully, quite good. Since 1940, Kerry have played in 10 and won eight. Amazingly in 1941, Kerry played a All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin in Tralee. Certainly grounds for appeal on that choice of venue!
Ominously, in 1951, when Mayo won their last All-Ireland they beat Kerry in a replayed semi-final. It wasn’t on in Limerick though!
Here are some great drawn games and replays involving Kerry over the past 40 odd years.
Continued below…
2000 – All-Ireland Final Replay v Galway
This was the year of replays, Kerry were eventually crowned champions in the final against what was an excellent Galway side. The stand out performer in 2000 was Seamus Moynihan who was team captain along with being voted the All Stars Footballer of the Year.
2000 – All-Ireland Semi-Final v Armagh
In his last couple of seasons on the county panel Maurice Fitzgerald was used as a sort of super-sub. Constant debate whipped around the county on whether he should start our not.
One thing was certain, he could still be called upon to save the day. He did exactly that to help force a draw against Armagh in 2000.
2001 – All-Ireland Quarter Final v Dublin
Every known superlative has been used to describe Maurice Fitzgerald’s last gasp equalizer against Dublin in 2001. Kerry supporters will be making another similar trip this weekend, let’s hope also in their droves like in 2001.
1976, Munster Final Replay v Cork
Generally considered the greatest ever game between Kerry and Cork. Extra time was needed for Kerry to scrape over the line in an incident packed game which was the first between the sides at the newly-opened Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
1985, All-Ireland Semi-Final Replay v Monaghan
The ‘golden years’ generation were given a real scare in the first game against Monaghan. Normal service was resumed in the replay with Kerry running out comfortable winners. Paidi O’Se would go on to left the Sam Maguire in the final of that year against Dublin.
