DUBLIN COULDN’T KERRY ON LIKE THAT

NFL Div 1: Dublin v Kerry Croke Park, 4pm (Live on eir)

JAMES MCCARTHY says Dublin’s incredible mental strength is something they’ve worked hard on since being ‘thumped’ by Kerry in 2009.

The Dubs haven’t lost a Championship game to Kerry since that 17-point All-ireland quarter-final humiliation almost a decade ago (right, Colm Cooper after first minute goal).

They did lose to the Kingdom in last year’s league final though it was only a speed wobble on their way to three All-ireland wins on the trot.

In all, Dublin have won four of their five All-irelands this decade by a single point, beginning with the 2011 final win over Kerry.

Ultra experienced Mccarthy (above) said: “When Pat Gilroy came in, his big thing was to bring steel, to mentally toughen up the team. We had plenty of setbacks. “We threw away a League final in 2011, Meath clipped us really badly another day and obviously there was that game when Kerry thumped us in ‘09. “But we started going really serious after League wins, started picking up wins here and there and that just fed into everything.

“Your first All-ireland, that’s the big one, of course it is. You eventually get over the line and in your head you’re always going then, ‘You’ve done it once, why can’t you do it again?’ It gives you that inner self belief. It all kind of snowballs, just building up these wins over the years.”

On today’s clash the Ballymun man added: “We always take the league very seriously. Obviously Kerry are one of the biggest teams out there and there is that bit of rivalry and tradition between us, so it’s a big game.”

TODAY’S ALLIANZ NFL FIXTURES Allianz FL Division 1 round 5

Galway v Monaghan, Pearse Stadium, 12.30pm – TG4; Kildare v Mayo, Newbridge, 2pm – TG4 (deferred); Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, 4pm – eir sport 1

Allianz FL Division 2 round 5

Tipperary v Louth, Semple Stadium, 12.30pm; Clare v Roscommon, Cusack Park, 2pm; Meath v Cork, Navan, 3pm

Allianz FL Division 3 round 5

Sligo v Longford, Markievicz Park, 2pm; Westmeath v Fermanagh, TEG Cusack Park, 3pm

Allianz FL Division 4 round 6

London v Laois, Ruislip, 1pm