![\"Kerry\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5171026_5_articleinlinemobile_95352_3011076.jpg\" "\\"Kerry\u2019s")
Kerry\u2019s David Clifford dejected, Pic: \u00a9INPHO\/Ryan Byrne<\/p>\nAfter five of his first eight kickouts ended up in Kerry hands, critically shifted the game\u2019s momentum by skilfully slicing a few to the corners. Not the only time he\u2019s done some game-changing this season \u2013 Mayo\u2019s revival post-Roscommon started with him becoming their number one. Now they all are. 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n JACK COYNE\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Outside of an unnecessary foul on Dylan Casey that gifted Kerry a late first-half free, his shadowing and positioning was excellent all through. Gets an extra mark too for the most memorable speech since Canavan\u2019s in 2003. 8<\/p>\n
\n DONNACHA McHUGH\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Caught by that backdoor cut for Clifford\u2019s goal but who wouldn\u2019t have; it was a credit to his shadowing that the rest of Clifford\u2019s 0-6 was scored outside him. 7.5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n EOIN McGREAL\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
The least heralded of Mayo\u2019s teen trio but there\u2019s a reason he was entrusted to start over All-Star veterans like Paddy Durcan, so much so he started on Paudie Clifford here. Part of a collective defensive effort that ensured Mayo didn\u2019t concede a second goal before making way on 58 mins. 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n SAM CALLINAN\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Another whose defensive positioning off the ball was excellent. Also provided some vital offence, kicking a key 29th-minute point off his left foot. Made a particularly key interception in the last quarter when the momentum had shifted to Kerry. 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n DAVID McBRIEN\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Colossal. Helped settle Mayo by registering their first point \u2013 which was the first of his championship career \u2013 then created the goal by first intercepting a Gavin White pass before going downfield to provide the assist for Beirne. Personified the steeliness and steadiness of this new team. 8.5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n ENDA HESSION\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
As their primary ball-carrier on slow attacks, he was on the ball as much as any Mayo player while honouring all his defensive duties. 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n BOB TUOHY\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Had a quiet first half but then so had his direct marker Joe O\u2019Connor. Made some key plays in the third quarter, pressurising O\u2019Connor into shooting a wide and winning a couple of vital kickouts before his shift ended on 53 minutes. 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n JACK CARNEY\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Excellent once he got a couple of early stray handpasses out of his system, more than atoning for them with a couple of characteristically monstrous two-pointers. And yet he didn\u2019t force them either, smartly opting to provide the assist for an O\u2019Donoghue one down the stretch. 8.5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n DIARMUID O\u2019CONNOR\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Only fitting that one of the O\u2019Connor brothers was on the field for this breakthrough, and a fine option for Andy Moran to call upon and fill the spot the injured Stephen Coen would normally play. Was on little ball in the first half but won a couple of key kickouts, both in the air and on the ground, in the third quarter. 6.5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n JORDAN FLYNN\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Relentless. Wasn\u2019t always perfect \u2013 he missed his first two-pointer, picked up a 20th-minute yellow card and in the third quarter missed an easy-enough chance off his left. But immediately after each of those mistakes he leaped up to ensure Mayo won the next kickout. Also kicked a massive score on 58 minutes. Harried and worked all day. 9\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n PAUL TOWEY\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Helped Mayo secure the first attack of the game and wasn\u2019t their only player to miss an early two-point attempt but Andy Moran showed both his ruthless streak and desire to get Tommy Conroy into the game. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n DARRAGH BEIRNE\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Will always be the man who got The Goal in The Game. Missed an early two-pointer but it didn\u2019t deter him as he kicked a brilliant free in the corner shortly after. Defensively then hounded Kerry into coughing up the ball. 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n RYAN O\u2019DONOGHUE\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
More than anyone willed his county to this All-Ireland. Had a rocky start, missing a couple of shots and turning over the ball more than once, but never relented, by continuing to harry, tackle, force turnovers and kick scores. And then there was that driving run to set up Beirne\u2019s score. Like his manager, a lifeforce. And the 2026 Footballer of the Year. 9.5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n KOBE McDONALD\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Took that One Shot he\u2019d engraved on his wrist, even if he missed a few more here. Remained bold and brilliant all through, even when things weren\u2019t coming off \u2013 a shot for a point that trickled harmlessly into Shane Murphy\u2019s hands, a couple of wides, a glorious goal chance that ended up only being a point. Still he kept going, nailing the 45 that put his team ahead for the first time and then another key score down the stretch. 8<\/p>\n
\n SUBS: The moment you really sensed it could be their day was when a Tommy Conroy shot only minutes upon his introduction was found to be a T\u00e1 by Hawkeye; nine times out of 10 when that intervention is required from up high, it\u2019s a N\u00edl. Rory Brickendon, Conor Loftus and Paddy Durcan maintained their team\u2019s defensive intensity and shape. 7<\/p>\n
Kerry\u2019s David Clifford dejected, Pic: \u00a9INPHO\/Ryan Byrne<\/p>\n
\n SHANE MURPHY\n <\/p>\n
First three long restarts were lost. Didn\u2019t allow this difficult opening to wobble his confidence. In the first-half, at least, he knew when to throw in a short restart to relieve pressure and dent Mayo momentum. His restarts across the third quarter struggled to find green companions. 50% was his second-half retention return. Two fine saves from Kobe, the first of which came about from Murphy himself lasering a kick-out straight to Jack Carney. <\/p>\n
\n 6\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
\n PAUL MURPHY\n <\/p>\n
The Mayo press went unashamedly after him. That said, he was the outlet Kerry defender constantly being tasked with breaking the press. Was turned over in first quarter but O\u2019Donoghue couldn\u2019t punish. Won back-to-back first-half frees when again on the verge of being turned over by opposition\u2019s high press. Kobe\u2019s second-half goal shot that Shane Murphy superbly tipped over came from the Kerry corner-back getting turned over. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n JASON FOLEY\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
His dispossession of Ryan O\u2019Donoghue which spawned Kerry\u2019s second point was one of his few wins against the possessed Mayo No.14. Fouled Tommy Conroy for a Darragh Beirne two-point free on 26 minutes. Fouled O\u2019Donoghue for a second-half two-point free, but ensuing orange flag attempt dropped short, from which the Kerry full-back shanked an attempted pass out over Cusack Stand sideline. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n DYLAN CASEY\n <\/p>\n
Delivered the opening point of the final, having continued his run after earlier involvement in the move. Late in the first-half, he got caught in Mayo web for an overcarry and converted free. He responded by winning a two-point free, albeit that didn\u2019t materialise in an orange flag. The influence of Kobe, after a subdued opening half, grew seismically in the second period. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n GRAHAM O’SULLIVAN\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
Assisted Kerry\u2019s second point of the final. Kicked Kerry\u2019s 13th point of the day. Came into more and more space in the final quarter. His protection of space at the other end, or rather the effectiveness of such, was under scrutiny at times. 6\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n MIKE BREEN\n <\/p>\n
Under ferocious heat, he was unable to gather and hold an Evan Looney pass late in the opening half. The turnover ended with a Tommy Conroy white flag. Another Kerry defender that was powerless to stem the tsunami of white surges. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n GAVIN WHITE\u00a0<\/p>\n
How different a personal experience to his man of the match contribution of 12 months ago. It was his intercepted pass that began the play which ended with Darragh Beirne\u2019s goal. A late second-half pass to Se\u00e1n O\u2019Shea was overcooked and finished with Jordan Flynn’s 58th minute point. Called ashore shortly after. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n MARK O’SHEA\u00a0<\/p>\n
Relentless fight in the skies. Had a strong hand in five of Kerry\u2019s opening six scores. Involved in their first point, broke the Mayo kick-out to a teammate for their third, assisted their fourth, broke another Mayo kick-out in Kerry\u2019s favour for Clifford\u2019s goal, and was again over the ensuing Mayo restart for a Se\u00e1n O\u2019Shea point. Was also involved in their final score of the half. Second-half prominence not as strong, a microcosm of Kerry\u2019s day. 8\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n SE\u00c1N O’BRIEN\n <\/p>\n
Same as O\u2019Shea, fought manfully under either kickout. His presence was noticeable in this department, but elsewhere, it was his No.9 counterpart, Jack Carney, who succeeded in painting his impact on this final. Dragged wide an early goal shot. Subbed off on 62 minutes. 6.5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n JOE O’CONNOR\u00a0<\/p>\n
Such was his final quarter fight, both under restarts and in general play, the Kingdom lamentation will be that O\u2019Connor wasn\u2019t half as forceful earlier in the day. Of Kerry\u2019s final three scores, he assisted two and won the Mayo kick-out break for the other. Kicked a first-half point and assisted another. 7\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n SEAN O’SHEA\u00a0<\/p>\n
His equalising two-point attempt in the final minute fell short. He was wide with a dead-ball two-point attempt in the opening half. He was twice wide from inside the arc in the second-half. Did raise three white flags and assisted David\u2019s goal, but his misses are the moments he and others will linger on. 6.5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n TOM O’SULLIVAN\u00a0<\/p>\n
Late call-up for injured Diarmuid O\u2019Connor. That it was O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s first involvement since the Munster semi-final way back on April 25 was so apparent. His first action was a loose pass which saw the ball turned over. Midway through the half, he kicked a pair of successive wides. Whipped at half-time. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n PAUDIE CLIFFORD\u00a0<\/p>\n
Never stopped creating. Never stopped raging against the white machine. Assisted two first-half points, had a secondary assist for another. Kicked three second-half points. Assisted two more. As the Kerry chase entered overtime, it was obvious that he was one of three players capable of delivering a sensational comeback. 9\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n DAVID CLIFFORD\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Only Clifford himself will know if he should have taken on a two-point kick before O\u2019Shea dropped his equalising attempt short. He had been wide, from outside the arc, with just under two minutes remaining, so did that affect his decision-making? Against that, he had effortlessly slotted one from the same area, off his right, on 65 minutes. When fed, he was typically phenomenal. 1-6 from play. Assisted 0-2, including a wonder pass to Se\u00e1n O\u2019Shea. 9\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n DYLAN GEANEY\n <\/p>\n
Injury incurred during the first-half clearly impacted him. The forward who came into the final sitting second on their scoring list didn\u2019t manage a shot, never mind a flag. Whipped on 52 minutes. An utterly contrasting experience to his last championship final visit to Croker. 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n SUBS:\n <\/p>\n
Evan Looney\u2019s (5) late first-half involvement included a foul on O\u2019Donoghue for a converted free and risky pass to Breen that was turned over for orange. Came back in on a full-time basis on 61 minutes. Keith Evans (5) kicked their opening score of the second period. He was, however, twice turned over. The first occasion saw him pressed over Hogan Stand sideline, the second time he fouled possession when trapped by a swarm of white shirts. Tom\u00e1s Kennedy and Brian \u00d3 Beaglaoich were without proper meaningful contributions, while Miche\u00e1l Burns had a pass to David Clifford that he overplayed beyond the inside forward.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After five of his first eight kickouts ended up in Kerry hands, critically shifted the game\u2019s momentum by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":569703,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[217463,177329,42,4185,43,40,38,41,39],"class_list":["post-569702","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-headlines","tag-all-ireland-football-final","tag-championship-2026","tag-headlines","tag-mayo-gaa","tag-news","tag-top-news","tag-top-stories","tag-topnews","tag-topstories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/569702","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=569702"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/569702\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/569703"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=569702"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=569702"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=569702"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}