The 2026 All-Ireland football championship was simply unique. Here are 26 moments to remember as Mayo finished the year as kingpins.
Few could have predicted what would unfold across the summer, as of the 84 championship matches across provincials, Sam Maguire and Tailteann Cup; we witnessed hit after hit of classic encounters.
Now that the dust has settled for 31 counties, with the Mayo party expected to continue until after Christmas, we reflect on the season that was, handpicking 26 of its most magical moments.
Mayo end 75 years of pain
Starting with one of the greatest stories ever written, Mayo finally have their Hollywood ending. The script writers felt that 75 years and 11 finals worth of anguish was more than enough for anyone, meaning 2026 was to be their year.
Led by the legendary Andy Moran, Mayo did it the hard way and took the road less travelled. Defeats to Roscommon and Tyrone put them on the back foot, but after Omagh there was no going back. Meath were reeled in, Cork and Louth were outclassed, and, when it mattered most, Kerry failed to find the answers to curb a moment of Irish sporting folklore.
Westmeath bag a second ever Leinster crown
Any other year, Westmeath’s provincial triumph would be the moment of the summer, and perhaps of a full sporting calendar. Taking on one of Leinster’s greatest juggernauts on a fresh May afternoon, Mark McHugh’s men took back just their second Delaney Cup, some 22 years on from their first.
The Lake Men trailed at the break and needed a late Senan Baker point to force extra-time, but 20 minutes of action later, they held firm to win by eight points, as Jack Duncan sent Croke Park into a frenzy with a 90th-minute clinching goal.
Wicklow take the Tailteann Cup
Like their eastern neighbours, the Garden County launched an unprecedented 13-point comeback to deny Down a second Tailteann Cup in four seasons.
Oisín McConville’s men looked down and out at the break, but man of the match Dean Healy led the way as they outscored their opponents by 1-17 to 0-06 in the second half to secure a long overdue piece of silverware for the county.
Armagh finally win a thrilling Ulster final
The last of four provincial deciders, played on a wet and dreary evening in Clones, but yet it delivered another posterchild moment for those who want to keep the format in its rightful place.
In a nip-and-tuck epic, Armagh outlasted Monaghan to lift the Anglo-Celt Cup for the first time in 18 long years; having lost the last three finals, all of which after extra-time and two of them in penalty shoot-outs over the previous three seasons. The pain quickly dissipated at full-time however, bringing scenes of unmitigated joy.
14-man Louth make final four
In a year where many droughts came to an end, the penultimate claim was snapped up by Louth, as they progressed to the last four for the first time since 1957.
Despite losing midfielder Seán Callaghan to a red card inside the first ten minutes, Gavin Devlin’s side never wavered with Sam Mulroy kicking five points as the Wee County edged out a three-point victory over the Farney men.
Roscommon the high kings of Connacht
Back to the provincial boundaries next as Roscommon ended a 25-year wait to lift the Nestor Cup on home soil. It was a year few could begrudge them, ruling over Connacht with minor, under-20 and senior titles to their name.
Admittedly, this contest was far from smooth sailing and looked to be another Galway victory after Damian Comer’s 61st-minute goal. But the Rossies rallied with three two-pointers to snag a famous victory, and a 25th Connacht crown.
“Those lads are legends for the rest of their lives.”
Lee Keegan, Peter Canavan and even Tomás O’Se are overwhelmed with the emotions around Croke Park as Mayo are finally crowned champions again.
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2026
‘Green and Red’ reverberates around HQ
Returning to last Sunday’s moment of jubilation for Mayo fans the world over, and a non-footballing singsong which is still ringing in the years of the one million plus viewers and attendees.
Croke Park’s added push to play upbeat victory music in recent years has been met with great satisfaction, but not since ‘Dreams’ first played in 2018 have we seen a song belted out with such gusto as ‘The Green and Red of Mayo’ was just minutes after the hooter had sounded.
Monaghan and Derry – a game for the ages
Arguably the best game of the 2026 championship came back in May, as Monaghan produced another sensational ending, with one of the scores of the year.
At the end of normal time, Jack McCarron nailed a sideline two-pointer, after Rory Beggan’s protestations with the referee. Then the former NFL-aspiring kicker landed three two-pointers of his own, including a last-gasp winner to go alongside a spectacular assist for Micheal Bannigan’s goal; thus sending Monaghan into the Ulster final with a 1-30 to 2-23 win over Derry.
Louth’s late late show in Inniskeen
Without doubt the most jaw-dropping finale witnessed this summer, happened to be Armagh’s undoing. Destined to be heading to the quarter-final stages and sending Louth through the backdoor, it all changed in an instant.
Sam Mulroy’s two-point attempt dropped short, Ethan Rafferty failed to regather, and the size five ball fell into the back of the net, starting another unfathomable scene for the home side. Louth progressed, and a week later, Armagh were done for the summer.
Cork down Donegal in Ballybofey
In a game some dared to list as a formality, the ‘big ball rebels’ provided a major upset in Round 2 of the All-Ireland series, by toppling the league champions on their own patch.
It was the second home loss for last year’s finalists, having been pipped by Down in the Ulster championship, although this game will leave a sting. While Cork established themselves as one of the ‘best of the rest’, their second-half comeback proved to be the beginning of the end for Jim McGuinness’ men, as they were eliminated by Dublin eight days later.
Westmeath upset eastern plans, part 1 – Meath
Croke Park was not the only happy hunting ground for Westmeath this year, as they catapulted into major contention long before that, also in the provincial championship.
Their fateful run to the Leinster final was kickstarted by a 4-18 to 0-25 point win over arch-rivals Meath, in Tullamore, in the quarter-final. Despite a spirited fightback, Mark McHugh’s men held on for a rare scalp over their neighbours.
Tyrone come back from the dead in the Hyde
As ever with Tyrone, their rollercoaster season gave their fans as many reasons to cheer as anyone else, especially in their opening knockout game, a slender one-point win over Roscommon, in Dr. Hyde Park.
Ethan Jordan’s 69th-minute free was all that could separate the two sides in a true championship encounter, as the Red Hand County shook off a disappointing loss to Armagh six weeks earlier.
Mayo storm back from the brink
Before they won the hearts and minds of the nation on Sunday, Andy Moran’s Mayo were staring elimination in the face as early as 20 June.
The All-Ireland champions welcomed Meath to Hastings Insurance MacHale Park hoping to advance to the quarter-finals, but found themselves trailing by ten points after 25 minutes. But as we all know now, the home side clawed their way over the line to win by three points and secure a return to the last eight just seven days later.
Dublin eliminate Donegal in extra-time thriller
The latest contender for game of the year came at GAA HQ, against the backdrop of reams of talking points. One of Dublin or Donegal would not be advancing to the quarter-finals, and losing simply was not an option.
It took 90 minutes, but in the end, it was the Dubs who advanced, spurred on by their returning manager from suspension. Speaking of which…
Jim McGuinness and Ger Brennan faced off in an incredible clash
Ger, Jim, Bans and Discourse
Although Ger Brennan’s original ban was handed down at the culmination of the league campaign, it was a storyline that lingered across the summer, ramping up at the feet of Donegal.
Jim McGuinness’ own coming together Kerry’s Diarmuid O’Connor, which did not lead to any form of reprimand, seemed to galvanise the Dubs, with a tipping point of their dogged win in round three of the All-Ireland series.
A round of applause for the late Paul Clancy, who is represented by his son for the jubilee celebrations.
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2026
Tributes to those passed – Paul Clancy, Frank McGuigan
The essence of the GAA is in the community, and how it links the four corners of this island into one tight-knit group of sports fans with a common interest. The best of which often on display when it matters most.
It was a touching moment to see Finn Clancy, son of the late Paul Clancy, represent his father alongside the Galway jubilee team before the football final (above). While Darren McCurry’s playing-tribute to Frank McGuigan was also notable in its coincidental manner.
Sharp shooting Darren McCurry
Ten out of ten Darren McCurry
Speaking of the Tyrone forward (above), you will be hard pressed to find any better substitute performance from a losing player in any team or code.
In just 27 minutes of action, the Edendork St Malachy’s clubman scored a whopping ten points, including two two-point frees as the Ulster county brought Kerry the whole nine yards in a gripping clash. Darren McCurry’s 0-10 mirrored Frank McGuigan’s 11-point haul against Armagh in the 1984 Ulster final, a little over a month after his passing.
Armagh and Tyrone go the distance
The first weekend of championship action can be like the first daffodil in spring, or the first leaf falling in autumn – depending on your persuasion. Although for 2026, regardless of your standing on art found in nature; the curtain raiser between Armagh and Tyrone drowned the appetite.
Just a single point could separate the counties after 90 minutes of intense action in BOX-IT Athletic Grounds with Conor Turbitt’s fisted point the difference in the end.
Dublin are back, Galway bow out
If the win over Donegal was the kiss of life to Dublin, then the win over Galway was akin to seeing them dancing around the ballroom once again.
The Tribesmen let a six-point lead slip for the second time this summer, as the wily veterans like Con O’Callaghan and Niall Scully dragged Dublin over the line, avenging their 2024 quarter-final defeat to the same opponent, and setting up a grudge match with another old foe.
Kerry and Dublin’s blast from the past
Few footballing melodramas compare to that of the Kingdom against the Capital, with the 2026 instalment capturing the minds of the neutral, and not without controversy.
1-05 from play from David Clifford (above), including bookmark scores to start and close out the tie were vital as Kerry secured a four-point victory, but a dubious penalty, a missed square ball and a possible goal not given left a sour taste in the mouths of the Dublin faithful.
Ryan O’Donoghue’s buzzer beater vs Louth
Back aboard the Mayo bus, and an underappreciated moment that, upon reflection, epitomised the journey that this Mayo team have been on.
With victory secured and the hooter sounded, Ryan O’Donoghue had the ball in his hands just needing to kick it out of play to end proceedings. However, the Sunday Game Footballer of the Year decided to have a crack, and drained a two-pointer from over 45 metres out, to cap off a memorable victory.
Kobe McDonald – Icon
Kobe-mania
Forget Kobe Bryant or Ciarán McDonald, there’s a new superstar in town, but for a limited time only.
Still only 18, and on the eve of his big move to AFL franchise St Kilda’s, it’s fair to say that Kobe McDonald took the GAA world by storm this summer. His searing running threat and impeccable shooting ability lit up Mayo’s run to glory, culminating in assisting Tommy Conroy’s sealing point in the final. If it is the last we see of this phenom in Croker, then what a way to sign off.
GAA takes over the world for just a moment
Every sport is obsessed with the idea of ‘growing the game’, but the GAA have done just that, without moving a muscle.
Clips, commentary and reaction to Mayo’s long-awaited All-Ireland final victory has hit media outlets in the US, UK and Australia and more; while Oasis, Joe Biden and others were sharing their congratulations. Sport’s ability to tug on the heartstrings proving that emotion can help sell any game.
Scintillating from Mayo.
Ryan O’Donoghue powers forward from his own half, beats multiple Kerry men, and Darragh Beirne fires into the net for Mayo.
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— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2026
A run for the ages, and a goal for the history books
When David McBrien intercepted a loose Kerry pass on his own 20-metre line, no one was thinking that a goal chance was on. But within a couple of seconds, Croke Park was shaking with excitement after a legendary score.
Three passes later, Ryan O’Donoghue collected the football, inside his own 45m line, and the rest is history. The full-forward raced past several Kerry challengers and into green pastures before finding McBrien with a handpass, who flicked onto Darragh Beirne and well… you know the rest.
A moment Mayo fans will never forget
Calling full-time on years of heartache
As the hooter sounded and the fans rejoiced, the scenes from Croke Park as Mayo finally won back Sam Maguire were enough to make a heart of stone turn into a weeping puddle of ecstasy.
One man’s reaction – falling to his knees within the confines of the Hogan Stand – was a perfect snapshot of how hundreds of thousands of Mayo fans felt, as years of pain lifted from their shoulders, and left them all feeling like they were walking on clouds.
West’s awake at Mayo’s homecoming
Although no rendition of the song was shouted from the rooftops like Joe McDonagh in 1980; the west is well and truly awake after Mayo’s win.
With fans travelling to Castlebar in their thousands, by whatever means necessary, what greeted the victorious squad was an emotional and visceral afternoon, which everyone wanted to be a part of.
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