Kingdom cruise past Mayo to record 24th National League success

March 30, 2025

Kerry's David Clifford is challenged by Donnacha McHugh of Mayo during the Allianz Football League Division 1 final at Croke Park ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Kerry had too much for Mayo this afternoon as they triumphed to the Allianz Football League Division 1 title with a 1-18 to 1-12 victory at Croke Park.

In what was the Kingdom’s 24th National League success, David Clifford led the way with 0-8 for the Munster champions while his brother Paudie Clifford chipped in with 0-3 from play and provided the assist for Paul Geaney’s goal in a ‘Man of the Match’ display.

Geaney’s strike came after a dozen minutes of the decider at headquarters, where 21,596 fans were in attendance, and surged Jack O’Connor’s side into a 1-3 to 0-4 lead.

The scores of David Clifford (3) and Barry Dan O’Sullivan saw Kerry stretch their advantage to five (1-9 to 0-7) come half-time and it’d be out to eight within 10 minutes of the second-half before Mayo struck their goal.

It came via Eoghan McLaughlin’s blistering run and superb finish to the bottom corner of the net and, with Ryan O’Donoghue sailing over a two-pointer from a free a minute later, suddenly only a goal stood between the sides.

Substitute Tony Brosnan grabbed the next score for the Kingdom and a fisted point from David Clifford steadied their ship ahead of Paul and Conor Geaney hitting points that wiped out scores from Paul Towey and O’Donoghue at the other end.

David Clifford would round off the winning tally in the last minute as Kerry deservedly triumphed to the newly named Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh Cup for their first piece of silverware in 2025.


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