LIVE BLOG: Countdown to All-Ireland SFC Final
Mayo senior football manager John O'Mahony, pictured after his side's 1989 All-Ireland final defeat to Cork, will be remembered in Croke Park next Sunday when the Galway team he managed to glory in 2001 is honoured at the 2026 All-Ireland SFC Final. Another key figure of that success, Paul Clancy, who sadly passed away last month, will also be celebrated at the 25th anniversary of Galway's memorable triumph - the last time Sam Maguire has come west. Picture: Henry Wills
Welcome to the Western People's live blog of our countdown to this weekend's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.
Mayo will be looking to end a 75-year wait for Sam when they take on Kerry in Croke Park this Sunday.
We will be featuring some of our wonderful stories from our 56-page All-Ireland final supplement from this week's paper, interviews, analysis and as well as any breaking stories from around the county in the buildup to the game.
Enjoy!
BREAKING: Mayo and Kerry make late changes for All-Ireland final.
Mayo's meteoric transformation into All-Ireland SFC contenders is already one of the stories of the summer, writes Cathal Mullaney.
20 years ago, in advance of the 2006 All-Ireland SFC Final between Mayo and Kerry, double All-Ireland winner Eamonn Mongey wrote in the Western People about what made the great Mayo team of the late ‘40s and early ‘50s so formidable.
Kerry legend Pat Spillane is in the Croke Park press box entertaining an audience of invited guests with his stories of yesteryear. He has just said he sees big similarities with the current Mayo team and the breakthrough Kerry side he won the first of his All-Irelands with in 1975, saying Andy Moran imposes the same positivity upon his players as did Spillane's old mentor Mick O'Dwyer.
Ever wondered what the media are fed on All-Ireland SFC Final day? Well wonder no more! It's a tough job but someone's got to do it. (P.S. It's sandwiches every other game!)
The flags flying, the jerseys out on clothes lines, the chats on the street... the positive feeling about Mayo football again can only feed back into the team, writes Paul O’Malley.
As Mayo prepare to step into battle with Kerry on the greatest stage of all today, Edwin McGreal explains why the county owes Roscommon a debt of gratitude on the double!
We've landed. Work desk for the day. The ground-staff are still painting the pitch. Let's hope Mayo paint the town green and red.
Mikey O’Toole from Inishturk and Clare Island’s Pádraic O’Malley are two of Mayo’s greatest supporters, of that there can be no doubt, writes Edwin McGreal.
One of Mayo football’s most famous fans believes this could finally be Mayo’s year.
One more sleep! And if you're finding it hard to drift off with all the excitement of tomorrow to come, this fascinating article by Kieran Cunningham isn't likely to reduce the buzz one bit. As he says himself, 'This isn't bonus territory for Mayo, this is a real chance!' Enjoy!
If hope was a renewable energy, Mayo would be powering half of Europe and the Strait of Hormuz would be as placid as Lough Conn on a Tuesday afternoon, writes Aonghus Ó Maicín.
Few players did more to try and realise Mayo’s All-Ireland ambitions than Andy Moran. Could he now be the manager who turns that dream into reality? Read Anthony Hennigan's exclusive interview.
Edwin McGreal explores the areas where the All-Ireland final could be won and lost.
Few men are better placed to analyse next Sunday’s clash of Mayo and Kerry than John Cleary who has managed against both in this year’s championship and whose roots are laced in green and red.
Mayo have form when it comes to drawing big championship games in Croke Park, including against Kerry, so what happens if it's all square after 70 minutes on Sunday?
It is 30 years since Colm McManamon was instrumental in Mayo beating Kerry in the 1996 All-Ireland semi-final. He’s been remembering those days – and his sojourn with Australian Rules Football – with Edwin McGreal.
Western People editor - and renowned Mayo GAA historian - James Laffey offers his opinion on Mayo's ambition to end a 75 year famine this weekend.
Mayo has only ever won three senior All-Ireland football titles and Declan Carney has written about his father's involvement in all three of them.
About the Republic of Ireland soccer team, Christy Moore sings of how none of the experts gave us the slightest chance - and the same opinion is floating around nationally about Mayo's hopes of beating Kerry on Sunday. But as Edwin McGreal explores, five sporting miracles prove that the impossible can happen.
Legendary Kerry midfielder David Moran is wary of what a new-look Mayo team could bring to the table in Sunday's All-Ireland SFC Final. "Now you're going in, and you see the likes of Tommy Conroy and all these guys, and your heart is in your mouth. They could get three goals in a second." You can read his thoughts in full here.
9.10am
“Tell me why I don’t like Mondays,” sang Bob Geldof, born 12 days after Mayo last won Sam Maguire. Mayo supporters have had a dozen or so reasons to not like Mondays since 1951. Our only homecomings have been wake like. Except Mayo has never died. Nor the dream, writes
Two dedicated Mayo GAA fans have made an epic 17,000km trip across the world for this weekend’s All-Ireland Senior Football Final clash against Kerry in Croke Park. Read their story of devotion to the county here.
8.40am
Good morning. 31 hours to go!
To kick off the day, Mayo captain Jack Coyne takes us inside the dressing-room in the aftermath of a big championship win like against Cork and Louth.
From a family steeped in football pedigree, Jack Carney is of the belief that the culture within the Mayo squad, where every player is so connected and working off the same ‘hymn sheet’, is something hard to experience in any other walk of life, writes Stuart Tynan.
Charlestown native Conor O’Donoghue was on the receiving end when lining out against his native county for London in the very first game of this season’s senior football championship. He’s been speaking to Fiona Halligan.
As the minutes tick by until Sunday, hear Mayo manager Andy Moran speak about his pride at seeing the Mayo players overcome whatever adversity this year's championship has thrown at them.
Former Mayo footballer Mark Ronaldson believes staying in the moment will be Mayo’s greatest asset. You can read the thought of Andy Moran's former teammate here.
Cormac Dowling reflects on his late father Pat, an adopted North Mayo Kerryman who would have been in his element during this build-up
Family and friends of Mayo stars Ryan O’Donoghue and Seamus Howard were bursting with pride as they gathered in their local bar in Glencastle and showcased the incredible community support for their homegrown heroes.
The four players ready to step into the breach should there be a late withdrawal from the Mayo senior football panel for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Final have been revealed.
The team news is in! Manager Andy Moran has made one change to his Mayo side for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Final against Kerry.
For people in the North Mayo barony who have not got tickets to the All-Ireland final, the Erris Agricultural Show could be a very good fallback option.
Mikey O’Toole from Inishturk and Clare Island’s Pádraic O’Malley are two of Mayo’s greatest supporters, of that there can be no doubt, writes Edwin McGreal.
Jack O’Connor has decided to name an unchanged Kerry team for Sunday’s All-Ireland SFC Final against Mayo - but with an interesting twist or two.
Sunny the 1 year old Dalmatian all set for his first all Ireland final match on Sunday!
It's not just in Gaelic football that many of these men have enjoyed success, but in the beautiful game also. Our soccer expert Paul O'Malley looks at several of the current Mayo GAA panel who have excelled on the soccer pitch over the years.
Mayo selector Colm Boyle has been explaining his emotions in the aftermath of the team's 10-point defeat at home to Roscommon in this year's Connacht SFC - and what has changed - to sports editor Anthony Hennigan.
A Mayo nursing home has gotten into All-Ireland final spirit, with plenty of Mayo flags and banners on display.
Mayo captain Jack Coyne is hoping for another Croke Park performance this Sunday following their wins over Cork and Louth. He's been in conversation with sports editor Anthony Hennigan.
On the eve of next weekend’s All-Ireland SFC Final, Ardnaree Sarsfields GAA are to host a special day of football, music and fun in memory of one of Mayo’s greatest players who came from their community.
Find out from Andy Moran if preparing his team for an All-Ireland SFC Final is what he expected in his first year as Mayo manager. He's been speaking with sports editor Anthony Hennigan.
It is 30 years since Colm McManamon was instrumental in Mayo beating Kerry in the 1996 All-Ireland semi-final. He’s been remembering those days – and his sojourn with Australian Rules Football – with Edwin McGreal here.
Belmullet GAA club is buzzing as two of their own endeavour to return Sam Maguire to Erris.
There has been an update in whether Mayo supporters can avail of catering services on Irish Rail services from Westport to Dublin. The chief executive of Irish Rail responded to a letter from councillors who were seeking to have catering restored to the busy service.
Mayo supporters we be travelling great distances to head to this Sunday's final, with Claremorris native Amy Brett coming from New York to go to the match.
“The flights were booked as soon as the whistle blew at the semi-final but I had my husband well warned that I would be on the first plane out of here weeks before that,” she said.
Read here for the full story
ICYMI: Can Paddy’s historic boots help hand Mayo All-Ireland glory? The boots of Mayo All-Ireland football winning legend Paddy Prendergast sit proudly on display in Donegal pub
The Western People visited the Cúl Camp in Achill this week to ask 40 kids one very important question ahead of Sunday's All Ireland final .
The town and the dual club of Ballyhaunis are rallying behind their clubmate Jack Coyne as he prepares to lead Mayo out at Croke Park this Sunday for the All-Ireland Final.
ICYMI: Anyone from the county town not going to the big game can watch it on the big screen in The Mall.
There has also been an update on parking in Castlebar if you plan on going to The Mall to watch Mayo v Kerry.
You might look at the Kerry GAA crest a little differently on Sunday once you learn that it was designed by a Mayo man (yes, you read that correctly!)
Keith Bourke speaks to Mayo men ‘exiled’ in Kerry have shared their thoughts on what it’s like being a Mayo fan while camped in the Kingdom.
For many Mayo supporters, the 1997 All-Ireland Final defeat to Kerry is remembered as just another disappointing defeat on the county’s long-running quest to reclaim the Sam Maguire. But for the people of Ballyhaunis, it has been remembered in a different and more tragic light for the untimely death of Noel Waldron, a deeply passionate Mayo supporter who died suddenly in Croke Park while cheering on his native county.
Read Paul O'Malley's candid interview here.
Penny from Ballina is looking forward to the big game!
Tickets to this Sunday's All-Ireland final are big demand, and one lucky Mayo native will be returning home after 44 years after winning the national Allianz ‘Coming Home for Match Day’ competition, securing his trip back for the final against Kerry at Croke Park this Sunday.
You can read here about Michael Ruane's wonderful story.
Good afternoon everyone. Stuart Tynan here to take you through the afternoon as the county is gripped by excitement ahead of the All-Ireland final.
We hope you enjoy the blog over the coming days.
