With so much talk and debate on ditching the league finals, we’ve taken a look back at some of the best league finals from down through the years from tunnel punch-ups, breath-taking scores and Mayo finally climbing the steps of the Hogan Stand.
League finals provide a marquee weekend in the GAA calendar and these moments show how badly they'd be missed.
1. Dublin and Cork’s tunnel tussle (2011)
Not all the entertainment comes within the white lines! Dublin and Cork shared quite a league rivalry during the noughties and shared the title between 2010-2016. In the 2011 showpiece that spilled into the tunnel and words and shoulders turned into hooks and upcuts with Philly McMahon and Michael Shields dishing out the digs. Cork had the last laugh however and won by the minimum or margins.
2. Stephen O’Neill’s dummy delight
One of the all-time great scores witnessed at Croke Park, O’Neill sold perhaps the best dummy possible. Poor Peter Kelly bought the dummy hook, line and sinker, nose diving into the ground in an attempt to halt O’Neill’s effort. But the 2005 Player of the Year was in unstoppable form and slotted over from near the sideline and what made it more impressive is the fact he done the same thing at the far side, scoring with the outside of his left boot.
The great Stephen O'Neill turns 42 today.
Imagine if there was Tik Tok when he landed these scores against Kildare in 2013. The internet would still be brokenpic.twitter.com/94qKpo6iaC— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) November 19, 2022
3. McGuigan’s sublime sideline
Shane McGuigan was still just making his name when Derry landed the Division Three league title in 2021. Now, the Slaughtneil clubman is regarded as one of the best in the business and back then he was displaying his qualities. McGuigan landed a huge score from the sideline as Derry hammered Offaly to claim the Division Three title as part of their superb rise from rags to riches.
That Shane McGuigan sideline… pic.twitter.com/fGKIyNJi75 https://t.co/sqVn4fxo7u
— Derry GAA (@Doiregaa) June 19, 2021
4. Mayo finally climb the famous steps
After all the pain and heartache felt inside Croke Park, some of that was erased when Mayo landed the National League title in 2019, beating Kerry in the decider. Although it wasn’t the big one that Mayo ultimately wanted, for players that gave their all for the cause like Andy Moran, Lee Keegan and Aidan O’Shea to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand, there was something special about it.
SEE ALSO: McCusker Questions Place Of Aidan O'Shea And The O'Connors In Mayo Team
6. Kerry shatter Dublin’s unbeaten run
Kerry handed Dublin their first competitive defeat in two years when they earned a one-point league final win in 2017. Dublin’s 2015 loss to Kerry was their last as they won the All-Ireland in 2016 and put back-to-back winning league runs in 2016 and 2017 and it was fitting that the Kingdom put Jim Gavin’s men to the sword. Paul Geaney helped himself to 0-8 in their 0-20 to 1-16 triumph.
7. Supersub Rock claims the glory
Dublin ended a 20-year wait for a Division One league title in 2013 and saw off their old adversaries Tyrone in the decider. Dean Rock, who a decade on would become Dublin’s top scorer of all time, came on as a late substitute replacing Bernard Brogan in the Dublin attack. Rock slotted over 0-2 after coming in to see the Dubs over the line.
8. Goals galore on Jones’ Road
Cavan have been through it all in the league, from the heights of Division One to the dark days of Division Four and in 2018, they played out an entertaining Division Two league final with Roscommon. All in all, there were eight goals scores, split evenly between the two, with Roscommon just capturing the title at the end of a hectic final with four-points to spare, winning 4-16 to 4-12.
9. Top bins from Brogan
There’s been plenty of outstanding goals scored in Croke Park down through the years but Bernard Brogan’s three-pointer against Derry in the Division One league final was one of the best. Brogan took possession on the 20m line and sent an angled drive into the top corner of the Derry net, striking the ball so sweetly that it smashed off the back stanchion and bounced back on to the pitch.
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This brilliant Bernard Brogan strike helped our Senior Footballers to Allianz League glory against Derry back in 2014 🏆👕
Dublin & Derry meet again in the Division 1 decider this Sunday at Croke Park! pic.twitter.com/IsnHdnxRzg#UpTheDubs— Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) March 29, 2024
SEE ALSO: The Best Dublin Football XV Of The Past Fifty Years
10. Ulster rivalry saga
Between the years 2013-2015 Monaghan and Donegal shared a fiercely intense rivalry both in the league and the championship. Both teams dominated the Anglo Celt trophy at that time, with Donegal collecting titles in 2011, 2012 and 2014 (beating Monaghan in the final) while the Farney men held the upper hand in the 2013 and 2015 finals against Donegal. In between times there was the league and Monaghan shaded the Division Two final meeting in 2014.
11. O'Hora gives his respect to Clifford
We knew it was Kerry's season when David Clifford lit into life in the 2022 League final. Padraig O'Hora was tasked with containing Clifford on this day, and it didn't go to plan. This mark of respect from the Mayo man after a phenomenal Clifford solo effort spoke volumes.
Lovely finish from David Clifford to get @Kerry_Official's second GOAL of their Division 1 Allianz Football League Final v @MayoGAA #GAANOW pic.twitter.com/TeppsgJN4q
— The GAA (@officialgaa) April 3, 2022
Honourable mention
Ronan O'Neill introducting the GAA Dab in 2016
Ronan O'Neill DabThrowback to Ronan O'Neill doing GAA's first dab! Would you dare to dab?
Posted by Performade on Tuesday, January 17, 2017
