"You need that bit of fear going into a final" - Ó Cinnéide

Former Kerry star Dara Ó Cinnéide believes that the Kingdom will rise to the occasion at Croke Park tomorrow and see off Donegal for their 39th All-Ireland senior football championship crown.

Jack O’Connor’s side head into their third Sam Maguire decider in four years as slight favourites over the Tir Chonaill men who are back on football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2014.

That occasion saw Kerry defeating Donegal (2-9 to 0-12), but the Munster champions have suffered some disappointing final defeat since including the one against old rivals Dublin two years ago.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI this week in build-up to the big match, three-time All-Ireland winner Ó Cinnéide reckons that past dissapointments can spur on O’Connor’s men at headquarters tomorrow.

"You need that bit of fear going into a final and knowing what needs to be addressed," he said

"I like to tell people who love to eulogise Kerry football that nobody has lost more finals than Kerry.

"We know that feeling of waking up on the Monday morning having lost, the vitriol that pours down when supporters turn on you. We saw that five or six weeks ago [after defeat to Meath], so it should motivate them even more."

On the David Clifford factor for Kerry, Ó Cinnéide added: "Like all of the great forwards, the strategy is to get them on the ball. I don't know what Donegal's plan is for Clifford but provided he's fully fit and there's a supply line there, he'll deliver because he always does."

A tally of 8-53 and no shortage of showstoppers, David Clifford is putting together a season to remember for @Kerry_Official 🎯 pic.twitter.com/eNHkHdSRg1

— The GAA (@officialgaa) July 26, 2025