The Sam Maguire is on the line. Will the famous old trophy be staying put in Kerry or heading west to Mayo?
- Fixture: Kerry v Mayo – 2026 All-Ireland Football Final
- Date: Sunday, 26 July
- Throw-in: 15:30
- Venue: Croke Park
- TV: BBC NI & RTE
- Referee: Martin McNally
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Kerry
Kerry come into the final as defending champions and are looking to complete back-to-back All-Ireland wins for the first time since 2007. This weekend could also be a big one for Kerry as they are looking to claim a 40th All-Ireland title with victory at Croke Park.
The Munster campaign went swimmingly as ever, and they grabbed a sixth successive title with victory over Cork at Fitzgerald Stadium. David Clifford (1-6) and Tony Brosnan (0-5) top scored for the Kingdom.
Kerry have had ups and downs in the Championship campaign this year, and the one notable down was the defeat to Donegal in Killarney, which looked to put them in a spot of bother. They had to regroup and go to Newbridge and face Kildare; they impressed there with a fourteen-point victory where David Clifford grabbed himself (1-4).
The draw that neither wanted in the next round came to fruition as Kerry vs Armagh came out of the hat for Saturday, June 20th, with one team exiting the Championship with defeat. David Clifford continued his rich vein of form as Kerry dominated the game from start to finish, and he would walk away with (1-10) to his name. It ended as a thirteen-point mauling, and Kerry scored a whopping 4-18 to send a message to rivals that the title wasn’t going to be handed over easily.
They faced Tyrone in a quarter-final, with the question the week before whether Tyrone would cause them problems. Tyrone did cause Kerry a scare or two, and Darren McCurry scored (0-10) off the bench, but it wasn’t enough to dethrone the Kingdom as David Clifford was the star on show again with (1-8), but this time he was aided by Dylan Geaney who grabbed (0-08).
The Semi-Final draw would pit them against Dublin and another potential banana skin but once again Kerry overcame the opposition by four points in a rip-roaring battle. Kerry seemed to get close calls to favour them during the game; a ball that was potentially over the line for a Dublin goal wasn’t given, and before that a dubious penalty and a Kerry goal that looked a square ball.
While David Clifford (1-05) always excels, it was his brother Paudie (0-05) with a man-of-the-match performance as he was awarded far too much space to get his hands on the ball and pull the strings. The hooter went, and the ball left the boot of David and ended up in the arms of a fan in the upper tier, perfect precision.
Mayo
If you are a Mayo fan, over the years, you have been on a rollercoaster of emotions and the same will no doubt happen as you make the walk to Croke Park on Sunday. Eight All-Ireland Final losses since 2004 is a record that no team wants, and this could be the year that they finally put it right.
The Mayo curse goes back to 1951 when they emerged victorious from Croke Park, beating Meath by five points. They reached the village of Foxford, and a funeral was said to be taking place at the local church. The team failed to stop and pay their respects to mourners, something the priest apparently took issue with.
He then confronted them about their behaviour and cursed the team that they would not win another Sam Maguire as long as the team members remained alive. If the myth is proved to be right, this will be Mayo’s first final since Dr Mick Loftus, an unused sub, passed away in 2023. Will it prove to be correct? We will have to wait and see.
A trip to Ruislip was on the calendar early in the Connacht Championship, and Mayo would oblige by thirteen points. Ryan O’Donoghue, who has been prolific this summer, would start his campaign with (0-11). They would subsequently move to a Connacht semi-final against Roscommon, and they came unstuck. They dominated the first half and then went missing in the second and lost by ten points.
They had to wait a little over a month for their next game, which was a trip to Clones to face Monaghan. Mayo looked to be cruising, but a Monaghan rally in the second half would have them worried. The front three of Ryan O’Donoghue (0-08), Darragh Beirne (0-04) and Kobe McDonald (1-04) would show Mayo fans what to expect for the rest of the summer, ultimately scoring 1-16 of the 1-24 total.
Tyrone would prove too much for Mayo in a gripping round 2A clash, and that looked like the end for Mayo as they would be drawn against a Meath side in Castlebar in a winner-takes-all clash. A Mayo comeback would ultimately floor the Royals with Ryan O’Donoghue and Kobe McDonald grabbing four points apiece.
They would arrive at Croke Park for a clash with Cork in a quarter-final full of confidence, and so it proved. Mayo’s youthful front three were to the fore with 0-19 between them from the total score of 0-23. They are starting to cause defences trouble, and the movement is hard to stop.
They would face Louth in a semi-final, and while fans of the Wee County went to the capital full of hope, they would leave disappointed as it was the Mayo front three who again demolished another defence and scored 2-17 between them from a total of 3-23. Whether it was the occasion that got to Louth or just the sheer dominance from Mayo, it looked impressive, and they will certainly give the Kerry backline plenty to think about.
2026 All-Ireland Football Final Verdict
Mayo have a front three to cause the Kerry defence a lot of problems, and Kerry have David Clifford, who loves the big day and putting on a performance. Mayo have transformed themselves since the loss in the Connacht semi-final, and they could cause a little bit of a shock here by edging it by a couple of points in the end.
2026 All-Ireland Football Final Prediction
Kerry 1-21 Mayo 2-20
Kerry v Mayo Betting Tips
Kerry vs Mayo odds: Kerry 2/5, Mayo 11/4, the draw 15/2
2026 All-Ireland Football Final FAQs
When is the 2026 All-Ireland Football Final?
The 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final takes place on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at Croke Park in Dublin.
What time is throw-in for Kerry vs Mayo?
Throw-in is scheduled for 15:30 (Irish time).
Where is the 2026 All-Ireland Football Final being played?
The final will be played at Croke Park, Dublin, the home of the GAA and the traditional venue for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.
What TV channel is showing the 2026 All-Ireland Football Final?
The match will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2 and BBC Two Northern Ireland, with live streaming available through RTÉ Player and BBC iPlayer.
Who is playing in the 2026 All-Ireland Football Final?
The 2026 All-Ireland Football Final sees Kerry take on Mayo in a bid to lift the Sam Maguire.
Who are the favourites to win Kerry vs Mayo?
Kerry enter the final as the bookmakers’ favourites, although Mayo have impressed throughout the championship and will be aiming to end their long wait for All-Ireland glory. Check our latest odds for the most up-to-date prices.
Who won the 2025 All-Ireland Football Final?
Kerry are the defending champions after defeating Donegal in the 2025 All-Ireland Football Final.
