Kerry win All-Ireland football final after win over Donegal

Michael Bolton

Final score: Kerry 1-26 Donegal 0-19

Kerry are once again All-Ireland champions after a 1-26 to 0-19 win over Donegal in Croke Park.

David Clifford scored nine points as Donegal were unable to recover from a strong start to the game from the Kingdom.

It is the second All-Ireland for the Clifford brothers, and the 39th time Kerry will lift the Sam Maguire.

Jack O'Connor has now won his fifth All-Ireland title, in the first All-Ireland winners under the new rules.

Gavin White put in one of the great performances as an All-Ireland winning captain, as they won their first All-Ireland since 2022.

As it happened

69th minute: Joe O'Connor makes it a special day as he scores the only goal of the game to seal victory.

65th minute: A great score from David Clifford and a goal chance denied have made this a very difficult task for Donegal heading into the final moments of the game.

60th minute: The momentum has shifted back to Kerry as a two-point free from O'Shea and a breakaway point from Paudie Clifford has made Kerry's lead more comfortable in the final few minutes.

54th minute: A free from Murphy had brought Donegal to within four, before White responded with a point to retain Kerry's five-point lead.

However, Kerry gave away another free kick, which Murphy made no mistake with.

47th minute: Donegal have had their best period of the game with scores from Conor and Shane O'Donnell chipping the lead to five points.

40 minutes: Paudi Clifford rounds off a great team move from Kerry to extend their lead and move the lead out to eight points.

Kerry have started the second half strong with scores from O'shea and David Clifford ensuring they have continued where they left off.

Donegal have responded with a free from Murphy.

Kerry are on course to win the 2025 All-Ireland football championship as they lead Donegal 0-17 to 0-10 at in Croke Park.

Two pointers from David Clifford, who has scored seven points, put Kerry in control early in the game, as they opened up a 0-12 to 0-4 lead after 15 minutes.

Gavin White, Sean O'Shea, and Dylan Geaney have also chipped in with scores to put them in a commanding position.

Oisin Gallen and Michael Murphy have scored three points each to keep Donegal in touch, who trail be seven going into the second half.