Excitement is building all over the Kingdom of Kerry ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland Football Final. 

Kerry beat Galway last year and will this year be facing off against Dublin.

In GAA terms, it is a clash of titans and people in Kerry are eager to bring the Sam Maguire back to the Kingdom once again.

“It’s just fantastic,” Bríd McElliot of John Mitchell’s GAA club told The Hard Shoulder. 

“Wonderful excitement throughout the county and the buildup has just been amazing over the past number of weeks.

“It’s a wonderful time, obviously challenging with tickets and trying to get everyone sorted but we’re well on our way and we’re really looking forward to the game.

“It should be a fantastic game of football.”

Twelve-year-old Tomás Dennehy is from a family of mixed loyalties - “My Mum’s my Dublin and my Dad’s from Kerry” - but there is no question about who he will be supporting on Sunday; Tomás described himself as a “big Kerryman” and thinks the Kingdom will beat the Dubs for a simple reason.

“Because they’re just the best,” he said.

“They have David Clifford and Shane Ryan in goal.”

James from Tralee plays with Mitchell’s GAA and said the match “means a lot” to the whole county.

“Dublin’s always the biggest team to play and I’m very excited for it now and everyone in the club here at Mitchell’s is very excited,” he said.

“Hopefully, Kerry will get the better of Dublin.”

James is planning on heading up first thing on Sunday morning and is optimistic about the result.

“I am confident,” he said.

“I mean, I can’t see Kerry not winning it.

“Hopefully, it’ll be a comfortable win - maybe, Kerry by four points?”

The All-Ireland football final begins at Croke Park on Sunday at 3.30pm.

Main image: Kerry supporters.