GAA live updates: Mayo and Galway face off in Connacht final as Kerry ease to another Munster title

FIXTURES

Munster SFC final: Kerry 4-21 (4-3-15) Clare 0-20 (0-2-16)

Connacht SFC final: Mayo 0-2 (1-0-2) Galway (0-1-0)

Here’s the Mayo goal.

Darren McHale finishes out a wonderful Mayo move to score the opening goal of the game and put his side in front.

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14 mins: Mayo will be delighted with the opening to this game. They’ve kept possession for long stretches and pinned Galway back. No score from either side for seven minutes here.

7 mins: Huge GOAL for Mayo! Davitt Neary broke through the Galway rearguard to feed Darren McHale. His shot was almost cleared off the line by Johhny McGrath but it finds the net. That’s a massive score against the wind. Mayo 1-2 Galway 0-2

6 mins: That’s the danger for Mayo in playing against the wind. Paul Conroy stroked that over from outside the 45 for a two-pointer. Mayo 0-2 Galway 0-2

5 mins: Ryan O’Donoghue opens the scoring with a handy free after Aidan O’Shea was fouled. And then another after a 4v3 breach by John Maher. Mayo 0-1 Galway 0-0

And we’re underway.

Anthem time.

A word from the managers...

Mayo manager Kevin McStay and Galway boss Padraic Joyce both offer their pre-match thoughts ahead of the Connacht final.

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📱 Updates https://t.co/mi3uQQiSgC pic.twitter.com/vOXTyQhZjM — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 4, 2025

Mayo look to have won the toss and chosen to play against the wind in the first half. Not entirely sure why - that’s a huge breeze in Castlebar.

Before we get there, a quick word from King David of Fossa.

David Clifford admitted Kerry wanted to blitz Clare early on in the Munster final and it came to pass

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📱 Updates https://t.co/ApD8XaM0f4 pic.twitter.com/Bu8xYFXVka — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 4, 2025

Team check from Castlebar. Throw-in four o’clock.

MAYO: Colm Reape; Jack Coyne, Donnacha McHugh, Enda Hession; Rory Brickenden, David McBrien, Stephen Coen; Diarmuid O’Connor, Matthew Ruane; Davitt Neary, Darren McHale, Jordan Flynn; Aidan O’Shea, Jack Carney, Ryan O’Donoghue. Subs: Adrian Phillips, Conal Dawson, Conor Reid, Dylan Thornton, Fenton Kelly, Fergal Boland, Frank Irwin, Kevin Quinn, Paddy Durcan, Paul Towey, Sam Callinan.

GALWAY: Conor Gleeson; Johnny McGrath, Seán Fitzgerald, Jack Glynn; Dylan McHugh, Sean Mulkerrin, Liam Silke; Paul Conroy, Sean Kelly, Cein Darcy, John Maher, Cillian McDaid; Matthew Tierney, Robert Finnerty, Matthew Thompson. Subs: Conor Flaherty, Daniel Ó Flaherty, Cian Hernon, Kieran Molloy, Cathal Sweeney, John Daly, Sam O’Neill, Liam Ó Conghaile, Tomo Culhane, Colm Costelloe, Peter Cooke.

On to the Connacht final. It will surely be a different story, won’t it? Gordon Manning is in Castlebar for us and has sent this over to set the scene...

“MacHale Park is filling up nicely on what is a beautiful sunny May afternoon in Castlebar. There has been a decent buzz around the town all morning and already it looks like there will be a big crowd to watch the latest Mayo-Galway showdown.

“Four in-a-row chasing Galway enter the game as favourites but there has been one constantly repeated message coming from the local stewards outside and inside the ground today – ‘Mayo won’t win the All-Ireland but we’ll win today.’

“Whether that’s misplaced confidence, wishful thinking or prophetic analysis will become evident over the next few hours. Either way, given the one-sided nature of events transpiring in Killarney let’s hope for a more competitive contest here.

“The goalkeepers are on the pitch going through their warm-up, Phil Lynott is singing about Whiskey in the Jar over the PA system, the 2025 Connacht SFC final is just over half an hour away from throw-in.”

David Clifford announced as Man of the Match - he scored 2-5 from seven shots. Can’t really argue with that.

Here’s Ian O’Riordan’s early verdict from Killarney...

"So that’s Munster football title number 86 for Kerry, a fifth in succession, as they eased past Clare 4-20 to 0-21.

“Despite Clare winning the second half by four points, four Kerry goals inside the first 26 minutes made absolutely sure this ended as a contest even before half-time.

"Two goals by David Clifford in the first six minutes, followed by Micheál Burns on 23 minutes, then Barry Dan O’Sullivan three minutes later, turned it from match to spectacle.

"To their credit Clare battled hard in the second half, Emmet McMahon and Mark McInerney leading the chase, but it wasn’t enough to impact on Kerry’s overall dominance. Seanie O’Shea also hit two two-pointers, finishing with 0-8, and Clifford scored 2-5."

The second half was a dead duck, as we all presumed it would be. Clare did at least win the second half, as they would have aimed to at the break. But it was over very early and it stayed over. Five Munster titles in a row for Kerry. They will play Roscommon at home in the first round of the Sam Maguire.

FULL-TIME: Kerry 4-21 Clare 0-20

64 mins: A quick couple of points from Mark McInerney and Clare move onto 0-19. To be far, they’ve been far mroe energetic in this second half and McInerney has shown fine quality inside. But they’re not at the races at this level. Kerry 4-20 Clare 0-19

60 mins: It’s all just playing out time now. McMahon and Geaney swap frees, as Kerry pass the 30-point mark. David Clifford moves his tally for the day to 2-5 with a point from just inside the arc. Fourteen in it with 10 minutes to go. Kerry 4-19 Clare 0-17

57 mins: Kerry’s kick-passing is such a class apart here. Tony Brosnan and Micheál Burns are peppering passes into full-forward line all day and Clare are getting run ragged by them. Burns picked out Dylan Geaney with a sumptuous one there and he did the needful. Kerry 4-17 Clare 0-16

54 mins: It’s all a bit turgid now but that’s a lovely two-pointer from Clifford to put Kerry 14 clear. Kerry 4-16 Clare 0-14

48 mins: Clifford and O’Shea reply with frees for the home side. Kerry 4-13 Clare 0-13

43 mins: And that’s another two-pointer for McMahon, after the ref brings them forward 50m for Kerry not handing the ball back. Five points in a row for Clare. Kerry 4-11 Clare 0-12

41 mins: A 4v3 rule breach by Kerry gives Emmet McMahon the chance to kick a two-point free for Clare and he duly obliges. Kerry 4-11 Clare 0-10

36 mins: No change on either side and we continue as we were - Dylan Geaney notches his first point of the day for Kerry straight from the throw-in. Kerry 4-11 Clare 0-7

Ian O’Riordan has whipped this account of the first half up the line from Killarney...

“Four Kerry goals inside the first 26 minutes made absolutely sure this Munster football final ended as a contest even before half-time, and it could make for an even longer second half from Clare.

“Two typically majestic goals by David Clifford in the first six minutes, followed by Micheál Burns on 23 minutes, then Barry Dan O’Sullivan three minutes later, took the life out of whatever fight Clare brough to Killarney to begin with.

“Seanie O’Shea also hit two two-pointers, one from a free, one from play, and with Paul Geaney and Tony Brosnan in excellent form, Clare had no way of keeping with the pace.

“They did get a soft penalty on 27 minutes, only for Keelan Sexton to blast his shot over the bar, and O’Shea continued to show a welcome return to top form, adding two more frees before the break.

“Kerry are cruising in the afternoon sunshine, 4-10 to 0-7, some of the Clare supporters perhaps eyeing the exit gates already.”

It’s not even as if the Kerry goals were amazing. Look at these, by Clifford and O’Sullivan. Clare are frequently killing themselves here.

Worrying start for Clare as David Clifford bags a goal with this solo run

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Barry Dan scores Kerry's fouth goal of the day and we haven't even reached half-time

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Half-time: Kerry 4-10 Clare 0-7. Entirely straightforward stuff for Kerry. David Clifford should have a hat-trick - he rattled the crossbar after his early brace. Seanie O’Shea has looked very sharp and the Kerry midfield is rampant. But even by the standards of one-sided Munster finals between these two, Clare have been extremely poor.

32 mins: Paul Geaney cuts inside for a nice score, Seanie O’Shea takes a mark and when it coems to nothing, goes back and kicks the free. That’s a 15-point lead for Kerry with half-time approaching. Mark McInerney coems on the loop for a nice one for Clare in response. Kerry 4-9 Clare 0-7

28 mins: And as if in tribute, that’s desperately sloppy stuff from Kerry at the other end, handing Clare a penalty - which Keelan Sexton drives over the bar! Sexton had been left free inside the boix from a quick Clare free and was tripped in the act of going for goal. But he’s made a mess of the penalty. Kerry 4-7 Clare 0-6

26 mins: GOAL number four for Kerry. Clare haven’t turned up here at all. They had the ball there in their own defence but David Clifford snapped onto a sloppy pass and found Paul Geaney, who and flicked it across to Barry Dan O’Sullivan. Kerry 4-7 Clare 0-5

22 mins: A third GOAl for Kerry. Dylan Geaney finds Burns with the brilliant turn and handpass. It came Clare gave up the kick-out following a fine point from Brian McNamara. Kerry 3-7 Clare 0-5

16 mins: Ah, that’s a killer black card for Clare. Emmet McMahon wrapped his arm around Paul Geaney’s leg in a scramble on the ground - there wasn’t a lot in it but Noel Mooney decided it was a deliberate trip and he’s gone for 10 minutes. Seanie Shea nails the resultant free. Kerry 2-7 Clare 0-4

14 mins: Mark McInerney lands a 45 to settle himself. He actually missed an easier one earlier in the game that would have counted for two points so that’s a bit better. And now Keelan Sexton gets in on the act as well, dancing inside the Kerry cover to whip one of his own. They need loads more of that. Kerry 2-5 Clare 0-4

8 mins: Another GOAL for Kerry. And it’s Clifford again. Micheál Burns was in a mile of space eight yards out and draw a fine save from Eamon Tubridy. But Clifford was on hand to tap home. Referee Noel Mooney went in to ask his umpires whether Clifford might have been in the square but the goal is given. Seanie O’Shea and Paul Geaney follow up with points of their own and this is already a hopeless cause for Clare. Kerry 2-4 Clare 0-1

4 mins: GOAL for Kerry. And who else? David Clifford rolls home his 15th championship goal with a slightly scruffy effort after slaloming around the Clare full-back line. Daniel Walsh fists Clare’s opener at the other end. Kerry 1-2 Clare 0-0

2 mins: Kerry are off the mark with a two-pointer from Seánie O’Shea. So much for Kerry being reluctant to tale those shots on. Kerry 0-2 Clare 0-0

A quick pre-match dispatch from our man in Killarney, Ian O’Riordan...

“A day for the sunscreen and watermelon on the terraces at Fitzgerald Stadium, as Kerry play Clare in the Munster championship football final for the third successive year. Kerry won the last two by a combined 21 points.

“Both teams will play as selected. Kerry manager Jack O’Connor has made six changes from the Munster semi-final win over Cork, Seán O’Shea set to start his first game for Kerry since February.

“Gone are the suspended Paudie Clifford and injured Shane Ryan, Paul Murphy and Graham O’Sullivan, along with Tadhg Morley and Ruairí Murphy. O’Shea starts along with Tony Brosnan, Micheál Burns, Shane Murphy, Tom O’Sullivan and Mike Breen.

“Kerry are chasing Munster title number 86, a fifth in succession, Clare’s last success coming against Kerry back in 1992.

“It’s the first time Clare manager Peter Keane, the former Kerry manager, will face his native county. A crowd of 15, 514 attended the final in Ennis last year, something less expected today.”

Team check for the Munster final, 15 minutes to throw-in.

KERRY: Shane Murphy; Dylan Casey, Jason Foley, Tom O’Sullivan; Brian Ó Beaglaoich, Mike Breen, Gavin White; Joe O’Connor, Barry Dan O’Sullivan; Tony Brosnan, Seán O’Shea, Micheál Burns, David Clifford, Paul Geaney, Dylan Geaney. Subs: Seán Coffey, Tadhg Morley, Damien Bourke, Killian Spillane, Ruairi Murphy, Mark O’Shea , Armin Heinrich, Seán O’Brien, Conor Geaney, Evan Looney, Keith Evans.

CLARE: Eamon Tubridy; Manus Doherty, Cillian Brennan, Ronan Lanigan; Cillian Rouine, Ikem Ugweuru, Alan Sweeney; Brian McNamara, Daniel Walsh; Aaron Griffin, Emmet McMahon, Dermot Coughlan; Keelan Sexton, Eoin Cleary, Mark McInerney. Subs: Tristan O’Callaghan, Fionn Kelleher, Conor Meaney, Shane Griffin, Gavan Murray, Darragh Burns, Rory McMahon, Evan Cahill, Diarmuid O’Donnell, Cormac Murray, Darren Nagle.

Away from today’s football, the big row over the weekend in Gaelic games was, of course, the skorts controversy in yesterday’s camogie. Here’s Denis Walsh on a row that was long overdue.

[ Walsh: Camogie players are right to protest about skorts - it’s scandalous they still need toOpens in new window ]

Denis Walsh: Camogie players are right to protest about skorts - it’s scandalous they still need to https://t.co/bOPmpHOTua — The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) May 4, 2025

And as if by magic, here’s your pic of Fitzgerald Stadium in all its gorgeousness.

A general view of Fitzgerald Stadium before the Munster final (©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)

Two games today on the Irish Times GAA liveblog. First up, it’s Kerry v Clare in the Munster final in Killarney - without being too dismissive, it’s likely to be one of those days where the photos of the Reeks off in the distance are as big a draw as the action on the pitch. It throws in at 1.45.

The Connacht final at 4pm promises to be much closer fare, with Mayo trying to stave off a Galway four-in-a-row and neither Shane Walsh nor Damien Comer available for the defending champions. We’ll be with you until the last ball is kicked, whatever happens.

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