Mayo end 75-year wait for All-Ireland title with final win over Kerry at Croke Park

Mayo ended a 75-year wait for the county's fourth All-Ireland Senior Football title with a 1-20 to 1-17 victory over Kerry in a captivating and intense final that went down to the wire at a raucous Croke Park. The emotion poured out of the Mayo squad and supporters as they lifted three quarters of a century worth of pain with a ferocious and tireless performance that denied Kerry a second straight title.

Mayo, who came into the game having failed to win 13 consecutive finals - including two replays - since their 1951 triumph, suffered a slow start and fell 1-5 to 0-1 behind in the opening exchanges as talisman David Clifford's goal helped Kerry establish early dominance. But Mayo bounced back and trailed by only a point at 1-8 to 0-10 at half-time before surging clear in the third quarter, with Darragh Beirne's goal helping the Westerners build a five-point lead.

Kerry clawed their way back and sat just two points down as they chased a late leveller, but they failed to strike before Tommy Conroy's score capped a famous win for Mayo in front of a sold-out 82,300 crowd. It also provided an unforgettable conclusion to a whirlwind first season under manager Andy Moran - who lost six finals during his Mayo playing days - and sends starlet Kobe McDonald off to Australia an All-Ireland champion at just 18 years of age.

"We kept the faith. We're All-Ireland champions," said an overjoyed Mayo captain Jack Coyne, having ascended the Hogan Stand steps to lift the Sam Maguire Cup. "This is what every day of my life I've dreamed of doing. To be able to do this, I can't put it into words."

MAYO FORWARD RYAN O’Donoghue has been selected as man of the match after the 2026 All-Ireland football final, capping off a magical day for his county. O’Donoghue’s five points proved crucial as Andy Moran’s side staged a superb comeback to dethrone Kerry and end a 75-year wait for Sam Maguire success with a 1-20 to 1-17 win.

“I don’t have many words, but this is something I’ve dreamed of growing up, along with the other 41 lads. I’m not married yet, but it’s probably the best day of my life. I didn’t do anything different to any other game. I’m so proud of every single one of the lads. Since the Monaghan game, the crowd have given us so much and that’s probably something we haven’t had in the last couple of years. To hear the ‘Green And Red of Mayo’ at full-time today was something I’ll never forget. That’s why I’m in the gym in October, November. Dark days down in Belmullet clubhouse, wind battering off the windows. That’s what it’s all for and we’re very lucky today to be rewarded with winning Sam.”

The victory was particularly significant as it ended the so-called 'Mayo Curse', which had lingered over the county since 1951. According to legend, a local priest placed a curse on Mayo after the team failed to show respect at a funeral on their way home from winning the All-Ireland title that year.

With tears in his eyes, former Mayo defender Padraig O'Hora - working as a pundit for the BBC - said he "can't put it into words". "Thousands upon thousands of people have dreamed of this day, I can't believe it's here," he said. "There are people who have waited their whole lives for this. Hats off to the lads on the field, it is their day, but if you have green and red blood it belongs to you, young and old. What a moment for Gaelic football, what a moment for sport. It's just something else."

Thousands of Mayo fans had climbed Croagh Patrick, Ireland's holy mountain, ahead of the match, hoping for a divine intervention. The mountain's statue of St. Patrick was adorned with a Mayo flag, and many pilgrims wore the county colors.

When the full-time hooter sounded at Croke Park on Sunday, there was a noise to rival any in the historic past of the iconic Dublin stadium. The players sunk to their knees on the hallowed turf, fully aware of what they had just accomplished. Not only had they dethroned Kerry, the favourites to win consecutive All-Ireland titles and the sport's most decorated team.