Kerry v Donegal Preview
Saturday | 3 p.m. | Fitzgerald Stadium
The opening round kicks off a blockbuster as All-Ireland champions Kerry host Donegal in a repeat of last year’s All-Ireland final and this year’s Allianz League final.
Team Kerry News
Jack O’Connor has announced four personnel changes to the Kerry team that beat Cork in the Munster final.
Gavin White is out due to injury, while Graham O’Sullivan returns to defense in place of Armin Heinrich.
Diarmuid O’Connor moves into midfield, Cillian Trant starts at left half-forward, and Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney flank David Clifford in the full forward line.
Paudie Clifford, Joe O’Connor and Brian Ó Beaglaíoch are all among the replacements.
Donegal team news
Jim McGuinness has named his Donegal team for the trip to Killarney, with Michael Langan and Jamie Brennan returning to the matchday squad.
Langan was named on the bench after missing Ulster’s shock quarter-final defeat to Down through injury.
Caolan McGonagle and Hugh McFadden start in midfield, Shane O’Donnell is named in the 40, while Michael Murphy starts up front.
Why this game is important
The draw could hardly have produced a greater tie in the first round. Kerry beat Donegal in last year’s All-Ireland final, winning by ten points, but Donegal have already beaten the Kingdom twice in 2026.
They won the Allianz League group meeting by 1-22 to 1-18 before securing a stunning 3-20 to 2-10 victory in the league final.
Kerry arrive as reigning All-Ireland and Munster champions. Donegal arrive injured after a shock Ulster quarter-final defeat to Down.
2026 Championship Form
| Kerry | Result |
|---|---|
| Semi-final in Munster | Kerry 2-19 Claire 1-14 |
| Munster Final | Kerry 1-23 Liege 1-15 |
| Donegal | Result |
|---|---|
| Ulster quarter-final | Down 3-21 Donegal 1-21 |
Previous championship meetings
| Year | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Kerry 1-26 Donegal 0-19 | All-Ireland final |
| 2019 | Kerry 1-20 Donegal 1-20 | All-Ireland round robin |
| 2014 | Kerry 2-9 Donegal 0-12 | All-Ireland final |
| 2012 | Donegal 1-12 Kerry 1-10 | All-Ireland quarter-final |
Save: Kerry have won two of the previous four league meetings, Donegal have won one and finished level.
Key statistics
- Donegal beat Kerry the last time they faced them at the Fitzgerald Stadium, winning by two points in the 2024 Allianz League.
- Kerry have won eight of their last nine league matches against Ulster opposition in the last three seasons.
- Donegal’s league and 2026 league record stands at six wins, one draw and two defeats.
- Kerry’s league and league record in 2026 stands at six wins, two draws and two defeats.
- This is a repeat of the 2025 All-Ireland final and the 2026 Allianz League final.
Kerry, 26th day
- Shane Murphy
- Evan Looney
- Jason Foley
- Dylan Casey
- Tadhg Morley
- Mike Breen
- Graham O’Sullivan
- Mark O’Shea
- Diarmuid O’Connor
- Michael Burns
- Keith Evans
- Cillian Trant
- Tony Brosnan
- David Clifford
- Dylan Geaney
- Sean Broderick
- Eddie Healy
- Thomas Kennedy
- Killian Spillane
- Donna O’Sullivan
- Paudie Clifford
- Joe O’Connor
- Brian Ó Beaglaíoch
- Sean O’Brien
- Joey Nagle
- Barry and O’Sullivan
Donegal, 26th day
- Gavin Mulreany
- Kyle McColgan
- Brendan McCole
- Peter Mogan
- Ryan McHugh
- Ewan White Gallagher
- Finnbar Roarty
- Kyle McGonagall
- Hugh McFadden
- Sean Martin
- Shane O’Donnell
- Ciaran Moore
- Conor O’Donnell
- Michael Murphy
- Shea Malone
- Shaun Patton
- Stephen McMenamin
- Jamie Brennan
- Max Campbell
- Daire Ó Baoill
- Jason McGee
- I would be Gallen
- Paul O’Hare
- Turlough Carr
- Kieran Gallagher
- Michael Langan
Tactical overview
Kerry seem more settled in the game, but Donegal have already shown twice this year that they can cause serious problems for the Kingdom.
The midfield battle will be huge. Diarmuid O’Connor’s move into the middle gives Kerry athleticism and ball-carrying power, while Donegal will rely heavily on Caolan McGonagle and Hugh McFadden to disrupt Kerry’s rhythm.
David Clifford remains the obvious focal point, but Kerry also have Tony Brosnan and Dylan Geaney alongside him, with Paudie Clifford waiting on the bench if necessary.
For Donegal, Michael Murphy up front gives them a major target inside, while Shane O’Donnell at the 40 can link play and create scoring chances.
Betting angle
10/11
5/4
13/2
The bets tell you exactly how close the bookmakers expect it to be. Kerry are slight favourites, helped by home advantage, championship consistency and Donegal’s shock defeat to Down.
However, Donegal have already beaten Kerry twice in 2026, including a heavy victory in the Allianz League final. If they bring this level of intensity to Fitzgerald Stadium, they are capable of winning outright.
Value play: The draw at 13/2 looks very interesting. These teams are extremely difficult to separate and it gives all the feel of a level of play going into the final five minutes.
Safer angle: Kerry by 1 to 3 points.
Prediction
Kerry are the more stable team and have home advantage, but Donegal’s league victories against the Kingdom cannot be ignored. Jim McGuinness will have his team ready to respond after the Down defeat.
This should be tight, tactical and loaded with dynamic changes. Kerry could well win, but the draw is probably the best value on the betting market.
Donegal 1-17
Verdict: Kerry by four, but the draw at 13/2 is worth it
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