The echoes with last Sunday’s Sam Maguire decider are hard to ignore, even if that should have no relevance.
For Galway, victory would have the bonus dividend of lifting a county’s mood after the men’s deflating loss, while Kerry are desperate to avoid an unwanted All-Ireland hat-trick.
Two years ago, even a dream start couldn’t sustain their hopes against holders Meath. Last year proved an impossible game of catch-up against a Hannah Tyrrell-inspired Dublin.
This time, however, their rivals lack the same winning pedigree at senior county level. Galway have plenty of All-Ireland club winners from Kilkerrin-Clonberne as well as survivors from their last final appearance, losing to Dublin in 2019 … but their only All-Ireland triumph remains that tantalising success in 2004.
Kerry, by contrast, are joint-record holders with Cork on 11 – yet haven’t won it since 1993. Their 4/9 odds are predicated on recent history, their consistency and perhaps a greater familiarity with All-Ireland day.
They have won their last four head-to-heads with Galway, three in the league (including the 2023 final) and one in the ’22 SFC. Goals have been the key differential: 13 scored, just four conceded.
They also reached this year’s league final (losing to Armagh) whereas Daniel Moynihan’s managerial baptism with Galway delivered top-flight relegation, having lost six from seven.
But his charges have found their groove when it mattered. Róisín Leonard’s clinical brace gave them a quarter-final foothold against holders Dublin, although they still required a late goal from sub Aoife O’Rourke to claim a sensational extra-time win.
Nicola Ward’s driving runs from centre-back were another pivotal feature, while two first-half goals were key to establishing semi-final daylight against Cork.
Kerry have just one goal in the knockout rounds. Albeit they made light work of Meath (0-16 to 0-8) and then recovered from a slow start against Armagh, surging from three down to five up at the break.
Siofra O’Shea, making her first start since last year’s ACL injury, was duly named player of the match.
This could be closer than the odds suggest, but Declan Quill and Darragh Long are tipped to finally deliver the Brendan Martin Cup, and seal Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh’s epic search for the holy grail.
Kerry: C Butler; E Lynch, K Cronin, C Murphy; A O’Connell, D Kearney, A Dillane; M O’Connell, A Galvin; N Carmody (capt), N Ní Chonchúir, S O’Shea; D O’Leary, E Dineen, L Ní Mhuircheartaigh.
Galway: D Gower; M Jordan, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty; A Ní Cheallaigh, N Ward, C Cooney; M Glynn, A Davoren (capt); O Divilly, L Ward, N Divilly; E Reaney, L Coen, R Leonard.
Verdict: Kerry
Kerry v Galway, Live, TG4, 4.15 tomorrow
