It looked like it was going to be a cakewalk for The Kingdom as they raced out to a six-point lead just after the 15-minute mark with David Clifford scoring a goal. However, as the first half wore on, Mayo came into the contest and started giving Kerry several headaches.
Mayo clawed their way back into it to be within one point going into the sheds, and they came out all guns blazing in the second half, as a one-point deficit soon became a four-point lead with a goal from, teenager, Darragh Beirne.
The Kingdom had a comeback of their own and got to within a point, but Mayo, as they did throughout, put a crazy amount of pressure on the 2025 Champions, and Andy Moran got his side to execute a perfect game plan to keep the Cliffords as quiet as they could.
Ryan O’Donoghue was the talisman for the side as ever today, as he was everywhere on that Croke Park pitch doing everything he could to end the curse, and there’s no better way to sign off for 18-year-old Kobe McDonald than to be lifted to mythological status by playing a part in Mayo winning the Sam Maguire.
A late insurance point sealed the three-point win as captain Jack Coyne became the first Mayoman since 1951 to lift the Sam Maguire Cup to end 75 years of hurt.
It was an emotional afternoon at Croke Park as there were tears from everyone in the green and red of Mayo in the stands and the players in white on the pitch. RTÉ pundit and Mayo legend Lee Keegan fought back the tears in his eyes as Joanne Cantwell asked him for his immediate reaction, and the rawness of it speaks volumes of how much it means to this county.
"I’ve nothing to say. I’m f****** delighted," he immediately said. "I’m so proud. I just have no words; I’m sorry. It’s just unbelievable. I thought I’d never get to see this come and to see what they did today, the way they finished it.
"The sneering for years, the laughter at Mayo. Those guys are going to be legends for the rest of their lives, and I just couldn’t be happier as a Mayo man today. I’m so proud of that team and what they’ve done and what they’ve achieved."
They’ll be partying on the streets of Mayo for weeks and months to come, and no county deserves it more than the lads in green and red. After 11 final defeats since 1951, legends of the game coming and going without the success, it’s finally their time to shine.
As Jack Coyne signed off in his goosebump-inducing victory speech, "THE WAIT IS OVER – SAM IS HOME!"
"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.
📺 Watch on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 26, 2026
📻 Listen on RTÉ Radio 1#SundayGame pic.twitter.com/R28MSyl3oo
* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Comments