How Mayo and Kerry players rated in historic All-Ireland final - O'Donoghue a lifeforce
THREE STARS: Mayo players, from left, Ryan O'Donoghue, Kobe McDonald and Darragh Beirne celebrate after their side's victory in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kerry and Mayo at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile
After five of his first eight kickouts ended up in Kerry hands, critically shifted the game’s momentum by skilfully slicing a few to the corners. Not the only time he’s done some game-changing this season – Mayo’s revival post-Roscommon started with him becoming their number one. Now they all are. 7
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’s in 2003. 8
Caught by that backdoor cut for Clifford’s goal but who wouldn’t have; it was a credit to his shadowing that the rest of Clifford’s 0-6 was scored outside him. 7.5
The least heralded of Mayo’s teen trio but there’s 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’t concede a second goal before making way on 58 mins. 7
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
Colossal. Helped settle Mayo by registering their first point – which was the first of his championship career – 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
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
Had a quiet first half but then so had his direct marker Joe O’Connor. Made some key plays in the third quarter, pressurising O’Connor into shooting a wide and winning a couple of vital kickouts before his shift ended on 53 minutes. 7
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’t force them either, smartly opting to provide the assist for an O’Donoghue one down the stretch. 8.5
Only fitting that one of the O’Connor 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
Relentless. Wasn’t always perfect – 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
Helped Mayo secure the first attack of the game and wasn’t 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
Will always be the man who got The Goal in The Game. Missed an early two-pointer but it didn’t deter him as he kicked a brilliant free in the corner shortly after. Defensively then hounded Kerry into coughing up the ball. 8
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’s score. Like his manager, a lifeforce. And the 2026 Footballer of the Year. 9.5
Took that One Shot he’d engraved on his wrist, even if he missed a few more here. Remained bold and brilliant all through, even when things weren’t coming off – a shot for a point that trickled harmlessly into Shane Murphy’s 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
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 Tá by Hawkeye; nine times out of 10 when that intervention is required from up high, it’s a Níl. Rory Brickendon, Conor Loftus and Paddy Durcan maintained their team’s defensive intensity and shape. 7
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First three long restarts were lost. Didn’t 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.
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’Donoghue couldn’t punish. Won back-to-back first-half frees when again on the verge of being turned over by opposition’s high press. Kobe’s second-half goal shot that Shane Murphy superbly tipped over came from the Kerry corner-back getting turned over.
His dispossession of Ryan O’Donoghue which spawned Kerry’s 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’Donoghue 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.
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’t materialise in an orange flag. The influence of Kobe, after a subdued opening half, grew seismically in the second period.
Assisted Kerry’s second point of the final. Kicked Kerry’s 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.
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.
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’s goal. A late second-half pass to Seán O’Shea was overcooked and finished with Jordan Flynn's 58th minute point. Called ashore shortly after.
Relentless fight in the skies. Had a strong hand in five of Kerry’s 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’s favour for Clifford’s goal, and was again over the ensuing Mayo restart for a Seán O’Shea point. Was also involved in their final score of the half. Second-half prominence not as strong, a microcosm of Kerry’s day.
Same as O’Shea, 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.
Such was his final quarter fight, both under restarts and in general play, the Kingdom lamentation will be that O’Connor wasn’t half as forceful earlier in the day. Of Kerry’s final three scores, he assisted two and won the Mayo kick-out break for the other. Kicked a first-half point and assisted another.
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’s goal, but his misses are the moments he and others will linger on.
Late call-up for injured Diarmuid O’Connor. That it was O’Sullivan’s 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.
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.
Only Clifford himself will know if he should have taken on a two-point kick before O’Shea 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 Seán O’Shea.
Injury incurred during the first-half clearly impacted him. The forward who came into the final sitting second on their scoring list didn’t manage a shot, never mind a flag. Whipped on 52 minutes. An utterly contrasting experience to his last championship final visit to Croker.
Evan Looney’s (5) late first-half involvement included a foul on O’Donoghue 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. Tomás Kennedy and Brian Ó Beaglaoich were without proper meaningful contributions, while Micheál Burns had a pass to David Clifford that he overplayed beyond the inside forward.
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