According to RTÉ, Kerry and Mayo will face off in the 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final at Croke Park on Sunday, 26 July, at 3.30pm. The fixture features Kerry seeking back-to-back titles under manager Jack O’Connor, while Mayo enters the decider following a championship campaign under first-year manager Andy Moran.
Match Details, TV Coverage, and Weather Conditions
Live television coverage begins at 2.15pm on Sunday on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player, according to RTÉ. Full Irish-language coverage starts at 2.55pm on the RTÉ News channel and RTÉ Player, while BBC2 NI will broadcast the game starting at 3pm. According to match arrangements, 2×10 minutes of extra-time will be played if the match ends in a draw, with a replay scheduled for Saturday, 8 August. Martin McNally of Monaghan is named as the referee, with Sean Hurson of Tyrone serving as stand-by referee.
Radio listeners can access live commentary on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1 and Spórt an Lae on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, with local coverage provided by Radio Kerry and Midwest Radio. Viewers in 180 territories can watch the game via GAA+, according to broadcast details. Met Éireann forecasts a cloudy start with patchy light rain or drizzle lingering initially, giving way to sunny spells through the afternoon with highest temperatures of 18 to 20 degrees in moderate westerly winds.
Mayo’s Route to the Final Under Andy Moran
Mayo reached the All-Ireland final after navigating a path that began with a defeat to Roscommon at MacHale Park three months prior, where Mark Dowd’s side won pulling up after a second-half blitz. According to match reports, Mayo subsequently edged Monaghan by a single point in Clones, suffered a defeat to Tyrone in Omagh where Niall Morgan kicked a late two-pointed free, and conceded ten points in the first 25 minutes against Meath before mounting a comeback in Castlebar.
In the quarter-finals, Mayo defeated Cork behind scoring contributions from Darragh Beirne, Kobe McDonald, and Ryan O’Donoghue. In the semi-final, Mayo recorded a 17-point winning margin over Louth, according to match statistics. For Sunday’s final, Mayo has made one change to the starting fifteen that beat Louth, naming Conor Loftus on the half-forward line in place of Paul Towey.
Kerry’s Path and Team Selection
Jack O’Connor prepares Kerry for his ninth All-Ireland final appearance as manager, aiming to secure the county’s 40th Sam Maguire title and back-to-back All-Ireland wins. According to team announcements, Kerry is unchanged from their semi-final win over Dublin, with captain Paul Geaney returning to the matchday squad as a substitute after recovering from a muscle tweak that kept him out of the last-four clash.
Kerry’s championship route included a routine win away to Kildare, a victory over Armagh in Killarney, a tight win against Tyrone at Croke Park, and a semi-final victory over Dublin. According to RTÉ, three contentious decisions went against Dublin in that semi-final encounter, alongside 13 wides registered by Ger Brennan’s side, before Kerry secured a decisive margin.
Did you know?
According to historical records, this will be the 31st championship meeting between Mayo and Kerry. The head-to-head record stands at 20 wins for Kerry, 6 for Mayo, and 4 draws from previous championship encounters.
Head-to-Head Statistics and Championship Records
Statistical records show that Kerry scored 14 goals across their seven championship matches this year, while conceding four goals—all within their first three games, keeping clean sheets against Kildare, Armagh, Tyrone, and Dublin. Mayo scored six goals across their seven games and conceded seven, keeping clean sheets against Tyrone, Cork, and Louth, according to official data.
History highlights Mayo’s record in All-Ireland finals since their last title in 1951: the county has lost 11 and drawn two of 13 finals contested between 1989 and 2021. Furthermore, Kerry has not lost an All-Ireland final to a Connacht county since defeat to Galway in 1965, having subsequently beaten Roscommon in 1980, Mayo in 1997, 2004, and 2006, and Galway in 2000 and 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the 2026 All-Ireland SFC final start?
Throw-in at Croke Park is at 3.30pm on Sunday, 26 July 2026.
Who is refereeing the Kerry vs Mayo final?
Martin McNally of Monaghan is the referee, with Sean Hurson of Tyrone as the stand-by referee.
Where can I watch the match on television?
Live coverage is available on RTÉ2, RTÉ Player, BBC2 NI, the RTÉ News channel for Irish-language coverage, and via GAA+ in 180 territories.
What happens if the match ends in a draw?
Two periods of 10 minutes of extra-time will be played. If the sides remain level, a replay is scheduled for Saturday, 8 August.
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