Kerry claimed a record 24th National Football League title with a 1-18 to 1-12 win over Mayo in the Division 1 final on Sunday afternoon.
Paul Geaney found the net for the victors, who had at one stage boasted an eight-point lead before Eoin McLoughlin closed the gap with a stunning finish at Croke Park.
What a finish from Mayo's Eoin McLoughlin 😍pic.twitter.com/hevfOLXikO
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) March 30, 2025
Kerry's advantage still proved more than enough as they became the first team to ever lift the new Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh trophy, a fitting outcome given the irreplaceable GAA commentator's roots in the county.
Both Doireann and Eamonn, two of Mícheál's children, were in attendance to hand the trophy to Kerry captain Gavin White in an emotional tribute to their late father.
Kerry had their big hitters on the pitch, with Paudie Clifford putting in a Man of the Match performance and brother David Clifford always providing a threat with ball-in-hand.
Kevin McStay critical of David Clifford treatment
While Mayo manager Kevin McStay had little complaints about the result, he pointed to the amount of frees awarded to Kerry in contrast to his side as a point of contention.
McStay was complimentary of the Kingdom and star man David Clifford, as well as referee David Coldrick after the match, but shared his irritation with the alleged protection shown to Clifford by officials.
The star forward was notably involved in a collision with Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape who was then removed from the fixture before its completion.
There was some very judicious tackling made on turnover ball, we would argue," McStay remarked to reporters after the defeat.
"David's one on our keeper, being one of them as he's breaking out, he's just taken out of the game. That's as cynical as you can get in my view. But that's tipping at straws at that stage.”
McStay praised the job Donnacha McHugh did in marking David Clifford during the contest although he did share his frustration for his player at the imbalance of fouls awarded between the pair.
'When you give that list, I’m at the same time thinking, Donnacha (McHugh) gave him a good shot," McStay added.
"He is a fabulous player, we will all agree on that but if you see the camera angles I will look at Monday and Tuesday from behind, he is so clever at making sure the picture the referee sees is an excellent picture for him
"He can’t always be out in front. Nature doesn’t allow that. He can’t be out in front for every ball. I think Donnacha was excellent on him, gave him a really good shot but, I want to be careful, I really like him as a player. I think he is a fabulous player in the game but I thought today he got well looked after.
“I have to say, I love him as a player and all that, but Donnacha’s jersey must be resistant to pulling all together, I don't know. That would be my one and I think David Coldrick is obviously a fabulous referee too, but the tackle count, I think it was 13-1 at one stage.
“I thought we could tackle, that was the last time I checked, we're a good tackling team. So that's something, maybe we'll have to work on that too and tidy it up, maybe we're not presenting good pictures to the refs of our tackle.
“I've said that about David now and you're all going to jump off, that's not what I'm saying. I have huge respect for him, but it has to be a two-way street when these big battles are, he's six foot two or three. Come on, is it a man's game?"
McStay did emphasize his admiration for the All-Star winner, it is worth noting.
He will no doubt be frustrated by the inaccuracy of his forwards, the Mayo attack faltering on the big occasion against more clinical opposition.
