Say it loud and say it proud, Mayo are All-Ireland champions

Kerry could not contain a force beyond nature that propelled Mayo to their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title in 75 years in Croke Park, the Green and Red winning by 1-20 to 1-17 against the Kingdom, writes Brian Gillespie.

Even the most ardent Mayo supporter couldn't have expected this at the start of the year. It just didn't seen to be on the cards, coming off a few so-so years and with a new management team just starting out.

It came as a surprise, therefore, to see Mayo grow in confidence as the year progressed, really taking flight in the wide open expanses of Croke Park from the quarterfinals onwards.

The task still seemed daunting on All-Ireland final day, however, as the defending champions were regarded by pundits and casual observers alike as too strong for the men from the west.

How did they fail to hold on to their title then? Well, they were defeated by a team that simply refused to lose. Through sheer grit and determination, Mayo overcame a slow start to outfight and outwit Kerry on the biggest stage of all.

From the first minute to last, 15 Mayo players – roared on by thousands in the stadium and probably hundreds of thousands around the world – put the shoulder to the wheel and refused at any point to shirk responsibility.

Long the wait has been for Mayo, and long the celebrations will last too.

You would find it difficult to find a quiet spot in the county in the next month, in fact.

Now let the people enjoy it, for they have waited long and suffered greatly in that long wait.

Now let the people of Mayo celebrate.

STORM

So, how did they Mayo do it? Well, the first thing they had to do was weather an early storm. While Paudie Clifford was fairly well minded, his brother (and Kerry talisman) David was on song, as was Seán O'Shea - in the first half, at least.

By the time 15 minutes had been played, the Kingdom were 1-4 to 0-1 ahead. Dylan Casey opened the scoring on two minutes and the younger Clifford added two points in succession, while Kerry also had a shot on goal by Seán O'Brien that went narrowly wide.

That was all inside six minutes as Kerry dominated the middle. However, following Clifford's second point, Mayo won possession and worked their first score of the day as David McBrien fisted the ball over Shane Murphy's bar.

Three missed two-point attempts (one wide, two short) for Mayo were compounded when O'Shea pointed and then set up David Clifford for the only goal of the first half.

O'Shea added another point on 16 minutes, and Mayo had it all to do at 0-1 to 1-5 down.

They set to work, however. Jack Carney's two-pointer from play was met with big cheers and while Seán O'Shea added another point, Kerry had suddenly started kicking wides.

Mayo pounced. Ryan O'Donoghue kicked a two-pointer from play and a close-range free either side of a tricky placed ball that was knocked over confidently by Darragh Beirne. Sam Callinan punted a shot over from close range after being set up by Kobe McDonald, and the gap was down to just one (0-8 to 1-6).

Tom O'Sullivan landed a much-needed point for Kerry but Beirne kicked another free before Tommy Conroy – who was introduced to the fray on 25 minutes, Paul Towey making way – landed a monstrous point that was confirmed by Hawkeye.

So, despite a horrible start, Mayo were level (0-10 to 1-7), but Kerry had the last say as Joe O'Connor split the posts in the final minute of the half to leave the defending champions ahead by the minimum at the break.

WIPED

That lead was wiped in the first minute of the second half as Darragh Beirne scooped the ball over the bar despite pressure from a Kerry defender.

Kobe McDonald put Mayo into the lead with his first score of the afternoon, a 45 confidently dispatched between the posts, and after Kerry had kicked a bad wide, the Green and Red supporters were in dreamland when Beirne blasted the ball to the net after Ryan O'Donoghue and David McBrien had done well to set up the chance.

Kerry looked forlorn against a tireless Mayo defence but a succession of misses at the Davin end left them still with a chance kicking into the Hill.

Sub Keith Evans scored Kerry's first point of the second half on 41 minutes but Jack Carney responded with a two-pointer, leaving Mayo 1-14 to 1-9 ahead on 45.

Being the champions they are, it was inevitable that Kerry would mount a comeback. Points from Paudie (two, one 45) and David Clifford reduced the gap to two, and it was down to one (1-13 to 1-14) when Graham O'Sullivan stole forward into space and tapped over a simple score.

The momentum was with Kerry now as Mayo struggled to find the target. However, when they needed inspiration, they mounted a good move that ended with Kobe McDonald firing a shot goalwards that Kerry 'keeper Shane Murphy had to divert over the bar.

While David Clifford responded, Mayo hit back with two in a row thanks to Crossmolina pair Jordan Flynn and Kobe McDonald, the latter's chance set up by another Deel Rovers man, Conor Loftus.

Then the piéce de résistance – a magnificent two-pointer by Ryan O'Donoghue, leaving Mayo 1-19 to 1-14 ahead with just eight minutes to play. Surely the time was now?

It would have been safe, you felt, had Flynn diverted a sideline punt by O'Donoghue into the net on 64 minutes. He went mightily close, fisting the ball past Shane Murphy but unfortunately off the crossbar as well, letting the Kingdom off the hook.

And, after that let-off, back came Kerry again. David Clifford landed an inspirational two-pointer off his right foot and Paudie Clifford scored a single, leaving two points in it with three minutes to go.

Kerry had possession too and attempted to work a two-point chance to level matters. David Clifford tried his luck in the final minute but it fell short and Mayo cleared, working the ball forward for Tommy Conroy to fist the ball over the black spot with just seconds left.

The countdown to the hooter saw Mayo supporters rise to their feet. The sounding of the hooter unleashed unheard of levels of celebration.

The roar could be heard from the bowels of Croke Park in Dublin all the way over to the summit of Croagh Patrick on the majestic west coast of Mayo – home of the 2026 All-Ireland senior football champions!

Mayo: Jack Livingstone; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Eoin McGreal; Sam Callinan (0-1), David McBrien (0-1), Enda Hession; Bob Tuohy, Jack Carney (0-4, 2tp); Diarmuid O'Connor, Paul Towey, Jordan Flynn (0-1); Darragh Beirne (1-3, 2f), Ryan O'Donoghue (0-5, 2tp, 1f), Kobe McDonald (0-3, 1 45).

Subs used: Tommy Conroy (0-2) for Towey (25), Rory Brickenden for McGreal (53), Conor Loftus for O'Connor (58), Paddy Durcan for Callinan (65).

Kerry: Shane Murphy; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey (0-1); Graham O'Sullivan (0-1), Mike Breen, Gavin White; Mark O'Shea, Seán O'Brien; Joe O'Connor (0-1), Seán O'Shea (0-3), Tom O'Sullivan (0-1); Paudie Clifford (0-3, 1 45), David Clifford (1-6, 1tp), Dylan Geaney.

Subs used: Evan Looney for Casey (temp, 29), Keith Evans (0-1) for O'Sullivan (HT), Tomás Kennedy for Geaney (51), Brian Ó Beaglaoich for White (59), Looney for Paul Murphy (61), Micheál Burns for O'Brien (63).

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).