The latest chapter in Dublin and Kerry's storied rivalry will be written on Sunday and James McCarthy hopes he can continue his 100% record against the Kingdom in All-Ireland finals.
McCarthy's maiden All-Ireland success came against Kerry in 2011, when Stephen Cluxton’s late free ensured Dublin lifted the Sam Maguire for the first time in 16 years.
Further wins over Kerry were registered in the 2015 and 2019 finals during Dublin’s six-in-a-row dominance and McCarthy, who is bidding to win a ninth All-Ireland SFC medal this weekend, admits it is a rivalry like no other.
"There is something a bit more special about it, there’s no point denying it," McCarthy told RTÉ Sport.
"They’re an excellent team, the defending All-Ireland champions, and they showed their class and mettle in the final ten minutes against Derry when they rattled off five or six points in a row.
"It’s a massive challenge for us."
Highlights of Dublin's All-Ireland semi-final win over Monaghan
McCarthy, 33, is approaching the end of his 13th inter-county season his shows no sign of slowing. He produced a captain’s performance during the final quarter of Dublin’s win over Monaghan as they put the disappointment of successive All-Ireland semi-final defeats behind them.
What makes him want a ninth All-Ireland title so badly?
"Loyalty to the team," he replied. "We were disappointed with how the last two seasons went, we fell down in the semi-finals two years in a row.
"It’s the players you play with, the kick we get out of it, the enjoyment. Competing in those games in Croke Park is a special thing to do, we’re very fortunate.
"I’m really enjoying my football at the moment as well. All the young guys that have come into the team, I think we’ve had 20-plus lads come in in the last two years. Guys like Lee Gannon and Lorcan O’Dell, you get a kick and a laugh out of them, they’re a different generation. They’re the kind of things that keep you going."
Kerry defeated Derry to reach back-to-back All-Ireland finals
McCarthy, who is in his second season as captain, said Dublin are under no illusions about the task they face against a Kerry side bidding to go back-to-back for the first time since 2007, and which includes the in-form David Clifford.
"He’s probably the best player in the country at the moment, the way he’s playing," said McCarthy.
"It’s going to be a huge challenge, he’s one of the in-form forwards, but we’re not going to be standing back and watching him kick balls over the bar either.
"That's our job, to try and stop him, and that’s what we look forward to doing."
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