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July 26 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Croke Park Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)

Competition:

GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

Description:

Mayo defeated Kerry by 1-20 to 1-17 in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final on Sunday July 26th at Croke Park.

Match Highlights

All-Ireland SFC Final: Mayo triumph at Croke Park

Mayo 1-20 Kerry 1-17

Report By Cian O’Connell at Croke Park for GAA.ie

Following the decades of pain, this victory brought immense pleasure to Mayo.

Andy Moran’s pumped up team brought chaos and class to Croke Park. A first All-Ireland SFC triumph since 1951 was the reward.

The near misses and harrowing decider losses ensure this triumph will be gleefully celebrated for quite some time out west.

Ballyhaunis’ Jack Coyne, heroic during the game, climbed the Hogan Stand steps to hoist the Sam Maguire Cup. Mayo, with a flair for the dramatic, made sure this decider wasn’t short on intrigue.

Kerry started brightly, accumulating a seven point advantage, but there was a defiance about Mayo even during that testing spell. In the opening 12 minutes Mayo missed four two point attempts, but they kept beavering away.

Seán O’Shea crafted an opportunity for David Clifford to mine a 15th minute goal.

David Clifford scores a first half goal for Kerry

At the opposite end of the field, the Kerry backs were being put under severe duress. Mayo were in the groove.

Despite trailing 1-5 to 0-1 as the end of the first quarter loomed, Mayo eventually landed a two pointer courtesy of Jack Carney.

Seán O’Shea replied with a point for Kerry, but Mayo were gathering belief and momentum. Ryan O’Donoghue rifled over a two pointer and Mayo kept trimming the deficit.

With Jordan Flynn supplying inspiration in the trenches, Mayo were forcing the Kerry attack to deal with a limited supply line. Nonetheless, the Cliffords still were prominent as Kerry departed at the break armed with a 1-8 to 0-10 advantage.

After the restart, Mayo continued to probe. A Darragh Beirne point and a 45 from the splendid Kobe McDonald had Mayo ahead, 0-12 to 1-8. Then, O’Donoghue and David McBrien fashioned a chance for Beirne to plant a tonic 40th minute major. Suddenly, Mayo were four to the good.

Kerry substitute Keith Evans clipped a score, but Carney, impressive once again, nailed a two pointer from play. Mayo were five clear.

Inevitably, Kerry summoned a response. The Cliffords combined to supply three points – two for Paudie and one for David, and a Graham O’Sullivan effort had the margin down to the minimum.

Kobe McDonald’s 55th minute point carried meaning for Mayo, but David Clifford had one between the teams with 14 minutes left.

Mayo embarked on a critical little burst. Flynn and McDonald struck points, and Ryan O’Donoghue guided over a gorgeous two pointer. Mayo had a cushion of five once more.

Kerry wouldn’t go away. David Clifford’s exquisite right footed two pointer was followed by a single from Paudie.

Seán O’Shea, who had carried the fight throughout, attempted a two pointer from distance, but it didn’t go over and Mayo broke clear with replacement Tommy Conroy sealing the deal with a fisted point. The Green and Red flag was proudly placed on the summit of the Gaelic Football World.

Scorers for Mayo: Darragh Beirne 1-3 (2fs), Ryan O’Donoghue 0-5 (2 2pt, 1f), Jack Carney 0-4 (2 2pt) Kobe McDonald 0-3 (1 45), Tommy Conroy 0-2, David McBrien, Jordan Flynn, and Sam Callinan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Kerry: David Clifford 1-6 (1 2pt), Seán O’Shea and Paudie Clifford (1 45) 0-3 each, Joe O’Connor, Dylan Casey, Graham O’Sullivan, Keith Evans, and Tom O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

Mayo: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Eoin McGreal; Sam Callinan, David McBrien, Enda Hession; Bob Tuohy, Jack Carney; Diarmuid O’Connor, Paul Towey, Jordan Flynn; Darragh Beirne, Ryan O’Donoghue, Kobe McDonald.
Subs: Tommy Conroy for Towey (24), Mattie Ruane for Tuohy (53), Rory Brickenden for McGreal (53), Conor Loftus for O’Connor (58), Paddy Durcan for Callinan (65).

Kerry: Shane Murphy; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Paul Murphy; Graham O’Sullivan, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Mark O’Shea, Seán O’Brien; Joe O’Connor, Seán O’Shea, Tom O’Sullivan; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Dylan Geaney.
Subs: Evan Looney for Casey (28-30), Keith Evans for T O’Sullivan (HT), Tomas Kennedy for Geaney (51), Brian Ó Beaglaíoch for White (59), Evan Looney for Murphy (61), Micheál Burns for O’Brien (63).

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).

Team News

KERRY (SFC v Mayo): S. Murphy; P. Murphy, J. Foley, D. Casey; G. O’Sullivan, M. Breen, G. White; M. O’Shea, S. O’Brien; J. O’Connor, S. O’Shea, D. O’Connor; P. Clifford, D. Clifford, D. Geaney.
Subs: S. Ryan, E. Looney, T. Kennedy, K. Evans, P. Geaney (c), A. Heinrich, B. Ó Beaglaoich, T. Morley, M. Burns, T. O’Sullivan, K. Spillane.

Will Kerry Take 40th Title or Will Mayo End 75-Year Wait for Glory?

It’s the biggest day on the GAA football calendar, with Kerry and Mayo lining up for what promises to be a cracking All-Ireland final in Croke Park on Sunday (3.30pm). Martin McNally (Monaghan) will referee.

Kerry, the defending champions, are bidding to win the two-in-a-row for the first time since 2006-2007, while Mayo are chasing All-Ireland glory for the first time since 1951.

A Kerry win would yield their 40th All-Ireland success while Mayo are bidding for their fourth title.

Kerry won six and lost one (to Donegal) of seven games en route to the final; Mayo won five and lost two (to Roscommon and Tyrone) of their seven games.

Paths to the Final

Kerry

  • Kerry 2-19 Clare 1-14 (Munster semi-final)
  • Kerry 1-23 Cork 1-15 (Munster final)
  • Donegal 2-20 Kerry 0-16 (All-Ireland Championship Round 1)
  • Kerry 3-22 Kildare 0-17 (All-Ireland Championship Round 2)
  • Kerry 4-18 Armagh 0-17 (All-Ireland Championship Round 3)
  • Kerry 2-25 Tyrone 0-27 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
  • Kerry 2-18 Dublin 0-20 (All-Ireland semi-final)

Played: 7   Won: 6   Lost: 1

Mayo

  • Mayo 0-31 London 1-15 (Connacht quarter-final)
  • Roscommon 2-25 Mayo 1-18 (Connacht semi-final)
  • Mayo 1-24 Monaghan 2-20 (All-Ireland Championship Round 1)
  • Tyrone 0-22 Mayo 1-18 (All-Ireland Championship Round 2)
  • Mayo 0-22 Meath 2-13 (All-Ireland Championship Round 3)
  • Mayo 0-23 Cork 0-18 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
  • Mayo 3-23 Louth 0-15 (All-Ireland semi-final)

Played: 7   Won: 5   Lost: 2

Previous Kerry-Mayo Championship Games

This will be the 31st championship clash between Mayo and Kerry, with the score standing at 20-6 in Kerry’s favour with four draws from the previous 30 games.

  • 2023: Mayo 1-19 Kerry 0-17 (All-Ireland Round Robin)
  • 2022: Kerry 1-18 Mayo 0-13 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
  • 2019: Kerry 1-22 Mayo 0-15 (Super 8s)
  • 2017: Mayo 2-16 Kerry 0-17 (All-Ireland semi-final replay)
  • 2017: Kerry 2-14 Mayo 2-14 (All-Ireland semi-final draw)
  • 2014: Kerry 3-16 Mayo 3-13 aet (All-Ireland semi-final replay)
  • 2014: Kerry 1-16 Mayo 1-16 (All-Ireland semi-final draw)
  • 2011: Kerry 1-20 Mayo 1-11 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 2006: Kerry 4-15 Mayo 3-5 (All-Ireland final)
  • 2005: Kerry 2-15 Mayo 0-18 (All-Ireland quarter-final)
  • 2004: Kerry 1-20 Mayo 2-9 (All-Ireland final)
  • 1997: Kerry 0-13 Mayo 1-7 (All-Ireland final)
  • 1996: Mayo 2-13 Kerry 1-10 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1981: Kerry 2-19 Mayo 1-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1969: Kerry 0-14 Mayo 1-10 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1951: Mayo 2-4 Kerry 1-5 (All-Ireland semi-final replay)
  • 1951: Mayo 1-5 Kerry 1-5 (All-Ireland semi-final draw)
  • 1948: Mayo 0-13 Kerry 0-3 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1939: Kerry 3-8 Mayo 1-4 (All-Ireland semi-final replay)
  • 1939: Kerry 0-4 Mayo 0-4 (All-Ireland semi-final draw)
  • 1936: Mayo 1-5 Kerry 0-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1932: Kerry 2-7 Mayo 2-4 (All-Ireland final)
  • 1931: Kerry 1-6 Mayo 1-4 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1930: Kerry 1-9 Mayo 0-4 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1929: Kerry 3-8 Mayo 1-1 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1924: Kerry 1-4 Mayo 0-1 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1910: Kerry 1-7 Mayo 0-4 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1909: Kerry 2-12 Mayo 0-6 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1908: Kerry 2-4 Mayo 0-1 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 1903: Kerry 2-7 Mayo 0-4 (All-Ireland semi-final)

How They Won Their All-Ireland Titles

Mayo won All-Ireland titles in 1936, 1950 and 1951, while Kerry have won 39.

Decade Kerry Titles
1900-09 3
1910-19 2
1920-29 3
1930-39 5
1940-49 3
1950-59 3
1960-69 2
1970-79 4
1980-89 5
1990-99 1
2000-09 5
2010-19 1
2020-25 2
Total 39

Key Facts

  • Jack O’Connor leads Kerry into the All-Ireland final for the ninth time, having guided them to victories in 2004 (Mayo), 2006 (Mayo), 2009 (Cork), 2022 (Galway) and 2025 (Donegal), while suffering defeats in 2005 (Tyrone), 2011 (Dublin) and 2023 (Dublin).
  • Andy Moran is in his first year as Mayo manager.
  • Kerry beat Mayo by 2-29 to 0-19 in this year’s Allianz League.
  • Martin McNally will referee an All-Ireland final for the first time. The Corduff clubman from Monaghan will officiate in his 32nd senior inter-county championship game. Sean Hurson (Tyrone) is the stand-by referee.
  • Kerry scored 14 goals in seven championship games this year, conceding four. Mayo scored six goals and conceded seven.
  • Since winning the All-Ireland title in 1951, Mayo have lost 11 and drawn two of their 13 All-Ireland final appearances.
  • Thirteen counties have won the All-Ireland title since Mayo were last successful: Kerry, Dublin, Cork, Galway, Meath, Offaly, Louth, Armagh, Donegal, Derry, Down, Tyrone and Cavan.
  • Kerry have not lost an All-Ireland final to a Connacht county since Galway beat them in 1965. Since then, they have defeated Roscommon (1980), Mayo (1997, 2004, 2006) and Galway (2000 replay, 2022).

2026 League & Championship Record

  • Kerry: Played 15, Won 10, Drew 2, Lost 3
  • Mayo: Played 14, Won 10, Lost 4

GAA All-Ireland Senior Football Roll of Honour

  1. Kerry – 39
  2. Dublin – 31
  3. Galway – 9
  4. Meath – 7
  5. Cork – 7
  6. Down – 5
  7. Cavan – 5
  8. Wexford – 5
  9. Kildare – 4
  10. Tipperary – 4
  11. Tyrone – 4
  12. Louth – 3
  13. Mayo – 3
  14. Offaly – 3
  15. Armagh – 2
  16. Donegal – 2
  17. Limerick – 2
  18. Roscommon – 2
  19. Derry – 1

Broadcast Details:

Venue:

  • Croke Park