All-Ireland football final: Kerry v Mayo – triumph, pain and ‘the curse’

As that great Kerry team’s powers began to fade by the end of the decade, Mayo would find a new nemesis as after defeat by Donegal in 2012, Dublin would account for them in the 2013 decider, again in 2016 after a replay that was largely down to two first-half own goals in the drawn game, while Dean Rock would break their hearts with a winning free at the death in the 2017 final.

However, Kerry and Mayo would serve up some incredible semi-final drama in the 2010s as after Kieran O’Leary salvaged a draw for Kerry at Croke Park, the Kingdom would win after extra-time in a thriller at Limerick’s Gaelic Grounds.

Three years later at the same stage, it was roles reversed as Paddy Durcan rescued a draw for Mayo who finished the job in the replay thanks to goals from current manager Andy Moran and Diarmuid O’Connor.

While the counties lost two All-Ireland finals apiece since that game, Kerry have added two more titles in the third coming of O’Connor.

They sides swapped wins in 2022 and 2023, Kerry now an established force led by the talents of the Cliffords, the Geaneys, Gavin White and Sean O’Shea.

Mayo contain many survivors of their most recent final defeat by Tyrone in 2021, but a fresh crop have also emerged in Kobe McDonald, Darragh Beirne, Eoin McGreal and Cian McHale.

Will the ghosts of All-Ireland finals past continue to haunt Mayo and Kerry cement their place at the top, or will the 75 years of hurt finally come to an end against a county that has handed them three of those 11 defeats since 1951?

Sunday will be a day to remember for one set of supporters, while the other will revisit that sense of devastation both know only too well on All-Ireland final day.

As for the ‘curse’? Well, the last member of the Mayo 1951 panel, Dr Mick Loftus, passed away in 2023.