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Irish Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Post
Kerry crown campaign with 39th All-Ireland title
KERRY secured their 39th All-Ireland Senior Football Championship on Sunday with a scintillating 1-26 to 0-19 victory over Donegal at Croke Park, overwhelming the Ulster champions with a performance that mixed surgical precision and old-school grit. Written off by many after a shaky start to the campaign — including a group-stage defeat to Meath — the Kingdom saved their best football for when it mattered most. In front of a sell-out crowd of 82,300, they produced a clinical, fast-paced display that left Donegal chasing shadows for much of the match. The tone was set from the throw-in. Gavin White, inspirational throughout, burst onto the break and tore into Donegal's half before laying off for Dylan Geaney to clip over the opening score. It was the first of 13 Kerry points in the opening 20 minutes, during which they completely dominated midfield and exposed Donegal's much-vaunted zonal defence. By the 15-minute mark, Kerry were 0-12 to 0-4 ahead, helped by two-point frees from Seán O'Shea and a brace of long-range efforts from David Clifford, who would finish the day with 0-9. White ended with 0-3 himself, while Joe O'Connor — indestructible in midfield — was central to Kerry's engine room. Donegal, meanwhile, looked a pale imitation of the efficient, tactically disciplined outfit that had reached the final. While Michael Murphy and Caolan McGonagle chipped in with scores to stem the early tide, Kerry continued to carve them open at will. The Clifford brothers — Paudie and David — orchestrated play with telepathic understanding, and Sean O'Brien's fisted point pushed Kerry nine clear approaching the interval. A fourth two-pointer — again via David Clifford — capped off a devastating first-half showing. Kerry led 0-17 to 0-10 at the break. Despite a spirited second-half rally — featuring five frees from Murphy and scores from Conor O'Donnell and Shane O'Donnell — they never got closer than four points. A missed chance from Conor O'Donnell on 58 minutes to reduce the gap to one proved pivotal. Moments later, O'Shea nailed another two-point free to restore daylight. With the result slipping away, Donegal were reduced to chasing goals. But Kerry were ruthless in closing it out. A Paudie Clifford fisted point, followed by another David Clifford score, set up a euphoric finish. And it was Joe O'Connor who sealed it in style, hammering the ball into the roof of Shaun Patton's net with under a minute to play — atoning for his earlier misses in the semi-final against Tyrone and bringing the curtain down on Kerry's championship campaign with emphasis. As the hooter sounded, O'Shea booted the ball into the stands and the green and gold erupted. For Jack O'Connor, it marked his fifth All-Ireland title as manager — across three different stints in charge. For Jim McGuinness, meanwhile, it was another final heartbreak. Having led Donegal to glory in 2012, this was his second final defeat to Kerry, following their 2014 loss. Despite coaxing Murphy out of retirement to lead this year's charge, Donegal's dream of a third Sam Maguire ended in frustration. Kerry's path to the title — overcoming Cavan, Armagh, Tyrone, and Donegal in succession — amounts to a clean sweep of Ulster, making this one of their sweetest All-Ireland triumphs of the modern era. TEAM SHEETS Kerry: Shane Ryan; Paul Murphy, Jason Foley, Dylan Casey; Brian O Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White (capt); Sean O'Brien, Mark O'Shea; Joe O'Connor, Sean O'Shea, Graham O'Sullivan; Paudie Clifford, David Clifford, Dylan Geaney. Subs: Diarmuid O'Connor for O'Brien (50), Killian Spillane for Geaney (54), Evan Looney for O Beaglaoich (63), Tadhg Morley for Breen (65), Michael Burns for O'Sullivan (69), Tom Leo O'Sullivan for Casey (70). Donegal: Shaun Patton; Finnbarr Roarty, Brendan McCole, Peadar Mogan; Ryan McHugh, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Caolan McColgan; Caolan McGonagle, Michael Langan; Shane O'Donnell, Ciaran Thompson, Ciaran Moore; Conor O'Donnell, Michael Murphy, Oisin Gallen. Subs: Daire O Baoill for Thompson (23), Hugh McFadden for McColgan half-time, Jason McGee for McHugh (41), Patrick McBrearty (capt) for Gallen (50), Jamie Brennan for Gallagher (59). Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare) See More: All-Ireland, GAA, Gaelic Football
The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
In pics: Kerry footballers and fans rejoice at All-Ireland homecoming
THERE WERE SCENES of celebration this evening in Kerry as fans turned out to welcome home their All-Ireland-winning heroes. Kerry captured their 39th All-Ireland SFC title after an impressive display against Donegal yesterday in Croke Park. Leading by seven points at half-time, they maintained their control of the game in the second half as Joe O'Connor provided the final flourish with a late goal to deliver a 1-26 to 0-19 victory. Jack O'Connor's side brought the Sam Maguire back to the Kingdom today where a huge crowd turned out to greet them. **** Advertisement Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Kerry pride: Broadcaster shares taxi with parents of All-Ireland hero
An Irish podcaster and broadcaster has revealed how he shared a taxi out of Croke Park with the parents of one of Kerry's star players. On Sunday, The Kingdom reclaimed the Sam Maguire following two years of anguish after they beat Donegal on a score of 1026 to 19 points. It is the 39th All Ireland title for the Munster men led by Jack O'Connor, who hold the most titles in the history of the championships. Amongst the scorers for Kerry on the day was Austin Stacks star Joe O'Connor who put the final nail in the coffin when he popped the football into the back of the Donegal net in the 70th minute. Pic: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo Amongst the scorers for Kerry on the day was Austin Stacks star Joe O'Connor who put the final nail in the coffin when he popped the football into the back of the Donegal net in the 70th minute. It was the end of a stellar season and game for the midfielder, who captained the team in 2022. With around 80,000 fans descending on the home of the GAA on Sunday, taxis would have been busy following the match as people departed the stadium. Taxi out of Croke by two lovely people from and Jim O'Connor ask if they might be able to hop in. They're off to the Burlington. They are rightly beaming with pride. Their son's name is Joe and he plays for Kerry. — Eoin Sheahan (@EoinSheahan) July 27, 2025 Indeed, there was plenty to be happy about for Kerry fans as they departed Croke Park, and while the celebrations were getting underway many were eager to get to their respective destinations promptly. Broadcaster Eoin Sheahan took to X to share that he had shared a taxi with a 'lovely' couple from Tralee, Co Kerry. Sharing a picture alongside the couple, Eoin said: 'Taxi out of Croke Park. Stopped by two lovely people from Tralee. An Irish podcaster and broadcaster has revealed how he shared a taxi out of Croke Park with the parents of one of Kerry's star players. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy 'Helen and Jim O'Connor ask if they might be able to hop in. They're off to the Burlington. They are rightly beaming with pride. 'Their son's name is Joe and he plays for Kerry.' Social media users took to the comments with two people commenting on Joe's resemblance to both his mum and dad. One said: 'Hes like his mammy,' while another commented: 'Look at his auld lads hairline! Joe didn't lick it off a stone.' A third praised: 'He is a monster footballer. You'd hate to mark him or owe him money… he'd haunt you.' 'Lovely is too small a word.' a fourth wrote.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kerry's powerhouse Joe O'Connor: ‘It's just unbelievable. What a day'
The Austin Stacks man said: 'A lot of us have lost a few All-Ireland finals, and other big games, and we wanted to right the wrongs. We had setbacks throughout the year as well, and we just kept going at it' Kerryman After the outstanding year that he has had, there was something fitting about the fact that Joe O'Connor was on hand to bury the ball in the back of the Donegal net in the very last minute of the All-Ireland football final at Croke Park. An unrelenting force of nature from the beginning to the end of every game this season, the Austin Stacks powerhouse still had the energy to get on the end of substitute Killian Spillane's assist to put the icing on the Kingdom cake.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Swaggering Kerry sweep past Donegal to win 39th title
Written off in mid-summer, Kerry won their 39th All-Ireland title with a breathless display of attacking football to overcome a Donegal side whose characteristic efficiency deserted them. The victory was built on a blistering opening quarter, Kerry establishing total dominance in midfield and building up a 0-13 to 0-04 lead before the 20th minute. Their intent was evident from the first throw-in. The inspirational Gavin White racing onto the break and knifing into as far as the 21m line to set up a score for Dylan Geaney. White, who finished with 0-03 altogether, was superbly influential, as was the indestructible Joe O'Connor in midfield. Similar to their quarter-final victory over Armagh, Kerry made full use of the two-point option, with David Clifford landing three in the opening 35 minutes. Continually, the Kerry attack found space far too easily against Donegal's much vaunted zonal defence. Donegal did gain at foothold not long after the 20-minute mark, Michael Murphy landing a couple of scores in quick succession to bring it back to a five-point game. However, they were always being kept at arm's length by a Kerry side who worked scoring opportunities at will. Joe O'Connor puts the cherry on the cake for the Kingdom Moments later, Kerry are crowned champions — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 27, 2025 The Ulster champions, who lost Ciaran Thompson and Ryan McHugh during the game, did gain a head of steam in the second half but could never get closer than four points. After Conor O'Donnell pushed a shot wide to bring it back to a one-score game on 58 minutes, Sean O'Shea landed a two-point free at the other end and from there, the result began to look inevitable. It was party time on 64 minutes after David Clifford raced down the left end-line to swing over a point to make it 0-26 to 0-19. Donegal reduced to vainly chasing goals by that stage and Kerry would finish with a euphoric flourish. O'Connor, who missed a hatful of goal chances against Tyrone, brought the curtain down on the season by ramming a shot to the roof of the net with less than a minute remaining on the clock. It's a fifth All-Ireland victory for Jack O'Connor, across 11 seasons in total. And it's one of the sweetest for Kerry, who had dismissed all the leading lights of Ulster en route to the title.
