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2nd September 2019
10:28am BST

But whilst the introduction of Walsh was inspiring, it coincided with a fateful Dublin substitution that was dangerous and had knock-on effects elsewhere.
In the 52nd minute, Tommy Walsh was sprung for Brian O Beaglaoich adding more size, muscle, and bigger targets to the Kerry arsenal.
In the 52nd minute, Paddy Small was brought on in place of Michael Darragh MacAuley.
That saw Brian Howard shift to midfield but, because of that activity in the dugout, Dublin were now down MacAuley from their engine room, they didn't have Howard to back it up from half forward and they didn't have James McCarthy at the other side of that because he was detailed to go straight onto Walsh.
McCarthy and Howard were so pivotal for Dublin in those middle third exchanges but, where Howard was able to come from deep - like Dean Rock and Kilkenny and O'Callaghan did at times too - to take ball from Cluxton, he was now in midfield and he was doing it without someone like him to help from half forward.
And it showed. In those 25 minutes, from the 52nd to the 77th, Kerry dominated the battle for primary possession with Cluxton failing to find a team mate with three of his seven kicks.
Obviously, like so much of the game, the red card and the toll it would've taken on energy and shape has to be factored in but what correlated with Tommy Walsh being on the field can't be ignored.
James McCarthy was reduced to a man-marking job sometimes at the edge of the square and, for the kickouts, he was no longer an option - not even for breaks - because he was deeper and he was being held by Walsh.
With no MacAuley, no McCarthy and Kerry already keeping the ball away from Fenton all afternoon, they got their foothold in a match that could've gone away from them.
They kicked two scores directly from Cluxton's misplaced kickouts and hit another wide and they were able to get out beyond the Dublin press with ease at a time when other teams are usually choked and put to the sword.
With five points in it and 25 minutes to go, the game changed.
It changed off the back of a shot dropping short. It changed with Dublin losing the kickout battle. And it changed because of Tommy Walsh.Explore more on these topics: