Sunday July 26th in Dublin the All Ireland Gaelic Football final takes place seeing Co Kerry playing Mayo . The county with the most All ireland Titles playing Mayo who haven’t won since 1951 . Kerry won the final last year and have faced all the top teams on route to the final beating all . Mayo have come in the soft side of the draw beating lesser teams . Kerry have outstanding forwards including David Clifford but even if Mayo manage to keep him quite Kerry have a host of other top class forwards. Kerry are 1.35 to lift the cup which is a huge price .
Preview: Mayo must be perfect but Kerry have more leeway
24 July 2026; The Sam Maguire trophy is pictured at Croke Park in Dublin alongside an official match ball and the jerseys of Kerry and Mayo ahead of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final between Kerry and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Pho Sam Maguire will be heading back to Kerry or west to Mayo, barring a replay By Niall McCoy RTÉ Sport journalist
A dramatic, story-laden 2026 football championship reaches its conclusion with the meeting of Mayo and Kerry and murmurings of a season with a standing amongst the greatest.
Semi-final weekend did sully that suggestion somewhat as Louth were outclassed and Dublin were, well, outraged, but a big final - crowned with a Mayo win - would elevate it right up there.
In the championship to date, seven games have required extra-time. Some 15 matches have been won by three points or less. The lowest score by a winning team was the 0-15 Tipperary managed against Waterford in Munster.
Pre FRC enhancements, 15 points would have won many a game. In fact, in 2024, the last season of the old rules, 0-15 would have been enough to win an inconceivable 37 championship matches. This year, it would have won just eight.
It's a season approaching greatness, but the coup de grâce needs to come from Andy Moran’s hefty underdogs. Title number 40 for Kerry will hold special significance in the Kingdom but not outside it.
Not that either Kerry or Mayo will be worried about the neutral vote come 3.30pm. Today is about their own selfish wants in a season where both have had to bounce back from defeat.
No team has ever lifted the Sam Maguire after suffering a double-digit defeat en-route to the final. That statistic has mere hours left to live as both lost by 10 points earlier in the championship.
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In the 23 previous editions since second chances were introduced in 2001 - Covid led to the return of knock-out seasons in 2020 and '21 - the Kingdom have racked up the three biggest losing margins before responding with a run to the decider. On all three previous occasions, that recovery has ultimately ended with green and gold ribbons on Sam.
When Donegal chinned them by 10 points in Killarney at the end of May, the scrutiny fell not on their performance but the bruising scenes as the sides tried to exit the field at the interval. Perhaps a blessing.
Behind closed doors, Jack O’Connor wielded the axe after that humiliation, the blade sharpened by the return of the likes of Seánie O’Shea and Gavin White from injury.
Michéal Burns, sent off during the half-time fracas, hasn’t played a minute since. Three other starters that day - Evan Looney, Tadhg Morley and Keith Evans - have played 166 combined of the 840 minutes available to them.
A three-week window and a favourable draw saw them ease past Kildare in response. The arrival of an emotionally broken Armagh to Killarney then provided the perfect chance to re-announce their credentials. They duly did so with a 13-point thumping of the last Ulster side to beat them in a knockout game.
The following day Dublin shocked Donegal. A week later Ger Brennan’s side dumped out Galway. In the space of eight says, three of the supposed ‘big four’ had fallen.
Holders Kerry were the last one standing and it felt like fait accompli as far as Sam was concerned, but there were enough in the subsequent wins over Tyrone and Dublin to suggest that they are fallible after all.
Have Mayo enough about them to grind away at such weaknesses?
There’s a clear area where Kerry will feel they have a very tangible advantage over their opponents and that’s on kick-outs.
Shane Murphy for a large part of the season felt like he was holding onto Shane Ryan’s jersey, but once it became clear he was the number one he moved to a new level.
Kick-out retention for Kerry is sitting at about three from four with Mark O’Shea the primary ball winner this season. For Mayo under newcomer Jack Livingstone, it’s about one from two.
20 June 2026; Mark O'Shea of Kerry and Andrew Murnin of Armagh contest a kickout during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 3 match between Kerry and Armagh at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile Mark O'Shea (L) has been Kerry's chief kick-out winner on their run to the final Much of that owes to Kerry’s physically dominant central quartet of Joe O’Connor, Diarmuid O’Connor, O’Shea and Seán O’Brien, but everyone on the Kerry 15 is a possible kick-out option - even David Clifford won a break ball in the final attack against Tyrone.
Murphy’s - and Kerry’s - preference is a kick to the right flank and then a quick switch to build an attack down the left. It’s too simplistic to suggest that Bob Touhy and Jack Carney, who has six orange flags this season, must disrupt this as much as possible. It’s going to take a co-ordinated press with relentless energy levels from a huge supporting cast.
Mayo simply have to gamble with numbers in the pig pen or they’ll be wiped out.
If they can break close to even, it will be some swing from the situation back in April.
Mayo’s own 10-point loss came courtesy of a second-half collapse against Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final when their midfield was decimated - an appropriate description given the margin of defeat.
The manner of the loss raised eyebrows rather than the result itself. At that stage of the championship, that ‘top four’ had been firmly established. Kerry and Donegal out in front, Armagh tucked closely in behind with Galway on their tails.
Mayo had beaten Armagh and Galway in Division 1 but despite only missing out to Kerry on a final spot due to the head-to-head rule, nobody expected their season to extend to the end of July. That provincial loss to the Rossies only rubber-stamped such a belief.
However, since their loss to Tyrone in Omagh, they’ve found a way past Meath, Cork and Louth to return to the final.
The build-up has been silly, even tetchy at times.
From an unexpectedly dramatic Moran press conference after the semi-final - where he ferociously rode to the defence of the green and red of Mayo - to flippant billboards in the Kingdom that left O’Connor in a rage – especially one of his managerial opponent in a bridesmaid's dress. Anyone remember the ‘five in a row’ T-shirts doing the rounds in Kerry in 1982?
Mayo, as every single media outlet has touched on heavily this week, bring massive baggage into an All-Ireland final as a county, but for the majority of the current team, those 11 final losses since 1989 is the trauma of others.
They still have to have taken lessons from the defeats since their last triumph in 1951 though. There have been worryingly familiar trends woven through.
In the early days, it was fade-outs. In 1989 they didn’t score in the final 18 minutes against Cork. One point from the 45th minute onwards in the drawn final with Meath in 1996. No score from the 52nd minute onwards against Kerry in 1997.
In more recent times it has been the concession of early goals.
By the 13th minute of the 2006 final, Kerry were 2-04 to 0-00 ahead. Donegal led 2-01 to 0-00 after 11 minutes of the 2012 final. Dublin’s first two scores in the 2016 drawn encounter were, incredibly, Mayo own goals.
Con O’Callaghan found the net for Dublin after just 83 seconds in the 2017 final, team-mate Dean Rock needed just 14 seconds in 2020.
19 December 2020; Dean Rock of Dublin scores his side's first goal during during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Dublin and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Dublin's Dean Rock managed a goal after just 20 seconds against Mayo in the 2020 final Somewhat unusually, six of the last eight goals the opposition have scored in All-Ireland finals have come via the hands - fists or open palms - of the opponents.
They have conceded six goals in the opening 10 minutes of All-Ireland finals from 2006 onwards. Eleven inside half an hour.
David Clifford will need no second invitation to gifts like that.
One goal will take him level with Mikey Sheehy’s incredible record of 29 championship goals for Kerry, two will take him out in front. If he does score at least one goal he will also become Kerry’s top championship scorer of all time, moving past Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper.
Clifford's the headline act at Croke Park as he always is, but for this final to be an event, it’s the Mayo inside line that needs to secure the front page on Monday.
Ryan O’Donoghue (2-51), Kobe McDonald (1-25) and Darragh Beirne (2-15) have lit it up.
Their combined championship tally of 5-91 is a single point shy of breaking the 60% barrier for overall team scores. Conor Loftus, with his tap-in off the bench against Louth, is the only other Mayo goal-scorer in this year’s championship.
McDonald has jumped between a greenhorn and a veteran. At times, his inexperience has led to some poor attacking decisions but those moments have been completely overshadowed by a freedom of play that has ignited the green and red support.
11 July 2026; Darragh Beirne of Mayo celebrates scoring his sides second goal, in the 33rd minute, during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship semi-final match between Mayo and Louth at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile Darragh Beirne has scored 2-15 for Mayo in the championship this season That was never more evident than in his flick around the corner with Emmet Carolan in his boots in the semi-final against Louth. The perfectly-weighted touch released O’Donoghue for an early goal, and showed an understanding between the forwards that bodes well for today.
In McDonald’s previous All-Ireland semi-final just two years earlier, he was blotted out by an Armagh minor swarm led by Gavin O’Rourke. Now, with an AFL deal in his pocket, he’s lighting up Croke Park.
At HQ last year, Beirne and his St Colman’s, Claremorris team-mates were held to 0-04 by St Pat’s, Maghera in the Hogan Cup final. Now he has 1-09 in two appearances on Jones Road in 2026.
Throw in O’Donoghue who has brilliantly played the role of minder for the two young bucks and it's a combination of real promise. Promise that must deliver here.
Those three need a constant supply; all three need to show a shooting efficiency approaching perfect. Otherwise, Mayo’s route to Sam looks very narrow.
Twenty years ago, when the same two counties met, Mayo had another feared attacking threesome of Conor Mortimer, Ciarán McDonald and Alan Dillon - they contributed 0-00 from play.
"My job is to make sure they are free to go and play and they don’t get hindered by any of the expectations," Moran told RTÉ Sport this week.
That freedom is set to be severely tested by a Kerry defence that hasn’t conceded a single goal since that heavy defeat to Donegal. It’s another area where it’s very conceivable to see them firmly coming out on top.
And that’s today’s game in a nutshell. Mayo need too many things to go right to cause a major shock. Kerry only need to win a few key battle states before the streamers fall on their ruby celebrations.
The party will be in full swing in the Kingdom.
Preview: Mayo must be perfect but Kerry have more leeway24 July 2026; The Sam Maguire trophy is pictured at Croke Park in Dublin alongside an official match ball and the jerseys of Kerry and Mayo ahead of the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Champions
Kerry should win comfortably but as with all sports they may not turn up on the day. In my degenerate days i would have had a substantial bet on kerry and a look at the handicap of -4.
After losing 13 All-Ireland finals since 1951, Mayo are hoping the curse is finally lifted. But Kerry’s historic record - winning almost a third of finals in the last 75 years - is hard to beat.
35 mins per half if there's a point difference in the score line with time running out historically the referee will give every chance to the team losing to earn a draw for a replay due to the financial rewards for the governing body.
Kerry should win comfortably but as with all sports they may not turn up on the day.In my degenerate days i would have had a substantial bet on kerry and a look at the handicap of -4.After losing 13 All-Ireland finals since 1951, Mayo are hoping the
Kerry are going for their 40th final in a 140 year competition, they breed footballers like no other county . Mayo lost many finals over the past 20 years with far better teams . Kerry have sone of the greatest players to ever play the game . A bit like Limerick hurleys last Sunday Kerry will not be beaten by an average Mayo team . If Mayo were to win which I can’t see it would be the biggest moment in Gaelic Football since Seamus Darby denied Kerry the 5 in a row with his last minute winner for Offaly in 1982 .
Kerry are going for their 40th final in a 140 year competition, they breed footballers like no other county . Mayo lost many finals over the past 20 years with far better teams . Kerry have sone of the greatest players to ever play the game . A bit l
A lot tighter at half time than expected but I’ve topped up on Kerry at 1/2 .. can’t see Mayo been able to sustain the intensity they have put in for the first half .. if Mayo win I’ll pack in gambling …
A lot tighter at half time than expected but I’ve topped up on Kerry at 1/2 .. can’t see Mayo been able to sustain the intensity they have put in for the first half .. if Mayo win I’ll pack in gambling …
Don't know the game as such but just watched highlights, appears that you only get 1pt for putting ball in net, yet is it 9 for putting ball over the net but between the posts. Couldn't make out the rules but seems anything goes, throw it, kick it, punch it, bounce it, forward pass as opposed to Rugby, looked exciting game though.
Don't know the game as such but just watched highlights, appears that you only get 1pt for putting ball in net, yet is it 9 for putting ball over the net but between the posts. Couldn't make out the rules but seems anything goes, throw it, kick it, p
theye #allude to "the curse" on Mayo - butte ne'er #explikatte... #kerntts !! #weknowe
Mayo won All-Ireland Final in fifty-one; come bacjke home, were Tinker's funeral onne; teame didn't stoppe.... Mayo hadde #curse putte on 'em thenne: notte until every monne whatte playedde thatte Sunday day in September for ye #valiant Mayo team, were #dead, would Mayo ever lift Sam Maguire cup againne...
dunno whenne last of ye '51 Team #passed-onne - butte itte aintte #datte#longge ago, #atta.. thinkke thisse is thirteenth or 14th final they've gotten to since thenne.!. or deybouttes
#mekkesya#wunderre
theye #allude to "the curse" on Mayo - butte ne'er #explikatte... #kerntts !! #weknowe Mayo won All-Ireland Final in fifty-one; come bacjke home, were Tinker's funeral onne; teame didn't stoppe.... Mayo hadde #curse putte on 'em thenne: notte unti
Lost my conkers today , couldn’t see this young Mayo team beating a very experienced Kerry team . A crossroads moment in my punting life , I had my biggest bet ever on Kerry at 1/3 to lift the cup before the match at 1/3 (1200) and had half that stake again at half time at 1/2 (600) . It will take me a bit of time to recover financially but I will but I said to myself if I got this wrong which I have I will never again bet so that’s where I’m going , I enjoyed my punting days and was probably a small loser over the course of a year but the 2026 all ireland blew my figures out of the water in a bad way , sorry to anyone that followed me in backing Kerry and best of luck to everyone in the years ahead … over and out Timberman
Lost my conkers today , couldn’t see this young Mayo team beating a very experienced Kerry team . A crossroads moment in my punting life , I had my biggest bet ever on Kerry at 1/3 to lift the cup before the match at 1/3 (1200) and had half that s