All-Ireland 2026: The moments that defined the championship
The 2026 All-Ireland will be remembered as one of the most dramatic and unpredictable, and next season is likely to bring just as many thrilling matches and unexpected twists.
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The 140th All-Ireland Senior Football Championship concluded with a historic triumph for Mayo, but the final was just one of the season’s standout moments. Provincial upsets, impressive comebacks and last-second drama made it one of the most unpredictable editions in recent years.
This 1xBet.ie review looks back at the tournament’s heroes and key episodes.
Championship full of surprises
The new format, without a group stage, left little room for error, while the provincial final results confirmed that the established order had shifted significantly. Roscommon snatched a 3-21 to 2-22 victory over Galway in Connacht, Armagh defeated Monaghan 2-28 to 0-25 after extra time in Ulster, and Kerry comfortably beat Cork 1-23 to 1-15 in Munster.
Westmeath produced the biggest shock of the provincial championships. They were trailing Dublin in the Leinster final, but Senan Baker equalised late in normal time to send the match into extra time. Veteran John Heslin, who had returned to inter-county football, then played a key role by scoring three points. Westmeath defeated the favourites 2-28 to 0-26 to claim their first provincial title since 2004.
Louth and Armagh served up a genuine thriller. The match was decided by the final play, with Louth trailing 1-20 to 2-19. Sam Mulroy’s effort did not appear particularly dangerous, but the goalkeeper failed to gather the ball, and it ended up in the net. The 2-20 to 2-19 victory sent Louth through to the quarter-finals, where they defeated Monaghan to reach the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time since 1957.
The meeting between Kerry and Tyrone was equally dramatic, with Kerry prevailing 2-25 to 0-27. Darren McCurry did not enter the field until the 44th minute, but still managed to score ten points and nearly turn the game around. Another successful kick from the Tyrone forward reduced the deficit to a single point, but Kerry responded by finding the net in their next attack to put the result beyond doubt.
Mayo’s incredible Final comeback
Mayo were just one match away from ending their long wait for the title, The final against reigning champions Kerry got off to a difficult start. Their opponents seized the initiative from the outset and had already moved 1-5 to 0-1 ahead midway through the first half. After the break, a point from Darragh Beirne and a converted 45 from Kobe McDonald put Mayo ahead. In the 40th minute, Beirne scored a goal to extend their lead to four points. Kerry twice reduced the deficit to one point but were unable to draw level. Substitute Tommy Conroy sealed Mayo’s 1-20 to 1-17 victory.
That brought a 75-year wait to an end. Mayo were crowned champions for the first time since 1951, while captain Jack Coyne lifted the fourth Sam Maguire Cup in the county’s history. The triumph was also particularly special for Andy Moran, with the former Mayo forward leading his home side to the title in his debut season as manager.
Players who became heroes
Ryan O’Donoghue emerged as one of Mayo’s key figures and one of the outstanding performers of the tournament. He registered 1-11 in the semi-final against Louth before adding another five points in the final against Kerry. The forward was named Man of the Match in the decider, while The Sunday Game also selected him as Player of the Year.
Darragh Beirne made an equally important contribution, scoring 1-3 in the final, including the goal that put Mayo ahead. Eighteen-year-old Kobe McDonald was one of the championship’s standout newcomers, finishing his debut tournament with a tally of 1-28. Kerry’s David Clifford topped the overall scoring charts with 7-50.
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