Could u imagine telling Stephen coen who had played nearly every game up until injury ruled him out of the final hes not getting a medal, delighted all members will get one, feel for michael plunkett though.

Thank goodness for that...they all played their part on some way or other.

Absolutely the correct decision. Everyone on the panel played his part. Even giving the five extra medals of a lower quality was an insult. Imagine showing that to one of their grandchildren in years to come and the child saying it’s not a real one. Croke Park took in close to 85 million euro on tickets for the final alone. Not to mention TV etc. By my calculations the medals would cost €10500. Small fry. One player in the English premiership would cost multiples of that each week. Fair play to Armagh. Talk of penny pinching. I’ve seen it said elsewhere that the CB could buy extra medals. A joke.

That's great. Michael Plunkett played some championship part. Will he get a medal

If right is right, he should.

It is right and just. Every single one of them deserve a medal and id nearly give a medal to Lee Keegan even tho he's retired for putting Sean Cavanagh in his box on the Sunday game

Just watched it again. We won again!

We’ll never tire of it John

I'm sure it was probably mentioned before but are Mayo the first team to win the All Ireland after losing twice in the championship?

That’s correct, Trooper Thorn.

@Trooper

Mayo lost one game in the Connacht Championship and one game in the All Ireland series.
They are two completely different competitions now.No connection between them.

Good point FW.
Kerry lost to Donegal and us in the All Ireland series.

I watched the game again last night and something I missed in the previous 8 watches was when Ryan nailed Clifford just before half time. I saw it from Hill 16 on the day but had missed Clifford hitting McHugh the split second before hand. Everything about Ryan's performance was about bending the day to his will. What a leader.

Finally climbing Croagh Patrick tomorrow morning for the first time since the final. Still on a high.

FW.....I think you are incorrect when you say there is no connection between the Connacht Championship. There was a link.
It was in the rules that the two Provincial Finalists would be guaranteed a home game in Round 1 of the All Ireland series.
That's why Roscommon and Galway were at home to Tyrone and Kildare respectively.
Mayo were always going to be Away after the Roscommon defeat, and finished up in Clones against a Monaghan team who qualified for the Ulster Final.

In his preview piece for the Ros/ Mayo game, I remember John staying that it was crucial to win as it would secure a home game in Round 1 of the All Ireland series, win or lose the Connacht Final.
There is your link between the two competitions. Mayo were beaten twice in Championship 2026.

In fairness the defeat to Tyrone was by a very poor referee decision.in any case this is the way championship is now structured.How many all Irelands did Kerry win when they basically had to win 3 games

Not sure i agree with all 42 getting medals. I'm sure lads who didn't get on any of the panels were very important to the setup all year but I'd like them to have the hunger saying i want a medal next year and going to work damn hard to get on the panel and not be getting it for watching from the stand on match day. It could be the extra % needed to drive on again.

The right decision, it would have been a travesty if the likes of Coen, Aido, Cillian etc. had not ended up with a medal.

I'm also inclined to say that the extended panel members having a medal won't blunt their hunger. I remember reading Ger Loughnane's autobiography some years ago, and his take on Clare post-95 was that eaten bread is soon forgotten. Losing in 96 made them even more ravenous to set the record straight in 1997, which they did.

Hopefully we can skip the losing part ;)

I agree with the above. All those players will want to win one on the pitch themselves.

Interesting one, there was another 20+ lads on an extended panel, some of who played FBD games earlier in the year and who didn't make the 42....but actually played more county football this year in FBD and challenge games that some of of the long term injured that will receive medals and arguably contributed as much (or more) in the final squad make up as current members who will receive a medal .....some food for thought in that one , also definitely hope Michael Plunkett receives a medal..

Surely anyone who kicks a ball in the championship is entitled to one and as such Michael would qualify as he played against London, scoring a 2 pointer.

here is the 42
-42-man-panel-for-all-ireland-final-8820308?p

Tirawleybaron - that's not a proper link so you might want to try posting it again.

Here is the 42 man panel

1. Jack Livingstone (Breaffy)
2. Jack Coyne (Ballyhaunis)
3. Donnacha McHugh (Castlebar Mitchels)
4. Eoin McGreal (Garrymore)
5. Sam Callinan (Ballina Stephenites)
6. David McBrien (Ballaghaderreen)
7. Enda Hession (Garrymore)
8. Bob Tuohy (Castlebar Mitchels)
9. Jack Carney (Kilmeena)
10. Stephen Coen (Hollymount-Carramore)
11. Conor Loftus (Crossmolina)
12. Jordan Flynn (Crossmolina)
13. Darragh Beirne (Claremorris)
14. Ryan O'Donoghue (Belmullet)
15. Kobe McDonald (Crossmolina)
16. Rob Hennelly (Breaffy)
17. Fenton Kelly (Davitts)
18. Paddy Durcan (Castlebar Mitchels)
19. Rory Brickenden (Westport)
20. Conal Dawson (Westport)
21. Aidan O'Shea (Breaffy)
22. Matthew Ruane (Breaffy)
23. Paul Towey (Charlestown Sarsfields)
24. Tommy Conroy (The Neale)
25. Cian McHale (Moy Davitts)
26. Seamus Howard (Belmullet)
27. Fergal Boland (Aghamore)
28. John MacMonagle (Castlebar Mitchels)
29. James Carr (Ardagh)
30. Cillian O'Connor (Ballintubber)
31. Diarmuid O'Connor (Ballintubber)
32. Diarmuid Duffy (Ballinrobe)
33. Hugh O'Loughlin (Kilmaine)
34. Michael Plunkett (Ballintubber)
35. Darren McHale (Knockmore)
36. Sean Morahan (Castlebar Mitchels)
37. Kuba Callaghan (Ballaghaderreen)
38. Frank Irwin (Ballina Stephenites)
39. Dylan Thornton (Ballina Stephenites)
40. Liam Golden (Ballina Stephenites)
41. Colm Lynch (Parke/Keelogues/Crimlin)
42. Tom Lydon (The Neale)

Its a 41 man panel as Michael plunkett pulled out after the London game.

I am taking it as given that Kobe is the youngest person ever to win an all Ireland medal?

Cross flan - you appear to be missing David Dolan (Balla).

Only 4 Counties since 1983 have beaten Kerry in an
All Ireland Football Final and 5 since 1969.They have won 19 since 1969 and lost 12.

Dublin 6 1976, 1977, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023
Tyrone 2 2005, 2008
Offaly 2 1972, 1982
Armagh 1 2002
Mayo 1 2026

@KMcLegend: No. He's within a few weeks of as young as is possible under the current rules, but lads in the past under different rules who'd have won Sam at 17 when that was still possible.

Well deserved one and all.

Looking back almost 3 weeks since the win, and Looking at the recent Mayo all Ireland finals also. Its amazing how this year unfolded.
We saw last Season and this Season that some of the best management teams have not grasped the new Rules.

The new Rules in County and club teams suit the very fit teams, shooters and more importantly the strong / deep Subs benches.

Mayo management seemed to have gotten better as the year progresses, notice little or no players getting injured during the championship, how was this avoided?
Also the ferocious style of tackling, shooters from everywhere and just the total composure on the ball v Kerry as the game progressed.

This final on the day all through the 2nd half brought me back to the day of the 1996 semi final v Kerry, I couldn't see Mayo losing that game or even the All Ireland final this year.

I tend to agree with No Doubt. I think (unless I'm mistaken) there are some in that 42 who never kicked a ball in championship football this year? If so, my personal opinion is it diminishes those who made the cut, either at the starting 15 or one of the subs. I wholeheartedly agree that more than the finalists should get a medal but had the pendulum swung too far?

Absolutely brilliant article in Irish Examiner with Kieran Shannon.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41896252.html

I think anyone saying the extended panel don’t deserve a medal may change their mind when they hear the excellent Tommy Conroy interview. What an insight from Tommy of the hard work to recover and mental fortitude to keep going despite the set backs.

@observer 2
Im open to correction here but i don't think provincial placings had anything to do with all ireland series draw.
Completely different and unrelated competition as far as im aware.

That’s not correct, FW. The eight provincial finalists were seeded in the Round 1 draw and they all had home advantage in that round as well.

SouthMayo - They may have not kicked a ball but they contributed to winning the All Ireland by pushing the rest at training. As ROD said in an interview the “B” team beat the A team three times before the final. The other player mentioned walked so I’m not sure someone who leaves the panel should get one…?

I think only the provincial winners should get a home draw.
Galway, Roscommon and Mayo can be on one side of our draw.Doubtless doing the he first round draw before the provincial finals takes away from them.
I think it comes down to hotel accommodations.
Teams waiting in the wings can book a hotel and swap if necessary.
With hotel prices neutral venues are best.

Full panel should get All Ireland Medal, if someone left before final, on their own choice, they dont deserve one.

Offaly 1998 (hurling) lost twice and won an All-Ireland

Mayo 2026 — 42-man panel by former secondary school

St Gerald's College, Castlebar — 12
Jack Livingstone
Donnacha McHugh
Bob Tuohy
Rob Hennelly
Paddy Durcan
Aidan O'Shea
Matthew Ruane
Cillian O'Connor
Michael Plunkett
John MacMonagle
Sean Morahan
Colm Lynch

St Muredach's College, Ballina — 5
Sam Callinan
Jordan Flynn
Frank Irwin
Dylan Thornton
Liam Golden

St Colman's College, Claremorris — 5
Eoin McGreal
Enda Hession
Stephen Coen
Darragh Beirne
Fenton Kelly

Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina — 3
Conor Loftus
Kobe McDonald
James Carr

Rice College, Westport — 3
Jack Carney
Rory Brickenden
Conal Dawson

Ballinrobe Community School — 3
Diarmuid Duffy
Hugh O'Loughlin
Tommy Conroy

St Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen — 2
David McBrien
Kuba Callaghan

St Joseph's Secondary School, Foxford — 2
Cian McHale
Darren McHale

Ballyhaunis Community School — 2
Jack Coyne
Fergal Boland

Our Lady's Secondary School, Belmullet — 1
Ryan O'Donoghue

St Brendan's College, Belmullet — 1
Seamus Howard

St Attracta's Community School, Tubbercurry — 1
Paul Towey

Davitt College, Castlebar — 1
Diarmuid O'Connor

That might technically be true, ExiledinDonegal, but it's not really in practice.

Offaly's second defeat in 1998 (which should have been fatal - I say that as someone who was there and who has strong Clare connections) was the ill-fated All-Ireland semi-final replay against the Banner, on which ref Jimmy Cooney infamously blew full-time with five minutes to go, when Clare led by three points. It was apparent immediately that an injustice had been done and the following day a second replay was ordered, in effect voiding the result of the first replay.

In any event, that doesn't change the fact that Mayo are the first team ever to win an All-Ireland senior championship in football having previously lost two games.

Would love to see an East Mayo schools team and North Mayo schools made up of the B,C and D colleges like Leitrim and Sligo have done to expose the better footballers in the smaller schools to A colleges football.Alot of schools in Mayo not represented in panel Swinford, Kiltimagh, Balla, Achill. St Geralds is basically a football nursery like St Jarlaths was with 12 of the Mayo panel.
2 thirds of the Mayo panel is made of the 5 A schools.

Achill75, I believe the North Mayo schools have a team entered in the Flanagan A this year which is a welcome development. The declining population in rural areas is of real concern. I dare say that Westport probably have more under 10 players than, Lacken, Ballycastle, Knockmore, Ardagh, Moygownagh, Cooneal, Killala, Kilfian, Kiltane and Kicommon combined. It's all very sad and is a very sad reflection on the political class in Mayo and beyond over the past 20 years. Who would have thought that a club like Knockmore would need to seriously consider an amalgamation. Cannot be much craic for players or coaches at training if there are only 10 or 12 kids at sessions. Even play a training game with those numbers is a non-runner.

Achill75. To be pedantic Hugh o loughlin went to school in headford.

I think any player that trained with Mayo right up to the Final, is entitled to a medal.
Not only did they push their more established team mates in training etc, they remained disciplined in travelling to training, diet, lifestyle restrictions etc.
It wasn't any fault of theirs that they didn't get picked to play in a match.

However, any player who left the panel early on of their own accord, is not entitled to a medal imo.
It's a bit like a lotto syndicate member who decides to leave the syndicate, only to feel aggrieved when the commited syndicate members hit the jackpot a few months down the line.

If Plunkett left the.panel why would he get a medal?

Still don't think lads who haven't played a minute league or championship desereves a medal. Sure if they give out a medal for training then all players in the country deserve one. I've no doubt they put in plenty of work at training but come on medals are won on the field and as i said before it could drive on a young player to get what he sees the other lads have won. .just think about it and don't let the romance of the last few weeks cloud judgement winning the holy grail without touching a ball in competitive football is complete nonsense

I was at the semi final in 67 so spring chicken.
Looked again at all our matches in our great run to the final, never was able to look at all our final defeats.
A few observations:
We were very disciplined through out the field and especially in defense.
We realized we could not out field teams so went to plan B.
Our substitutions were spot on.
Towey got a run of games and did trojan work.
Coen as far as the opposition were concerned was always in the wrong place at the right time.
Livingstone mastered the short kick out thanks to Hession.
Kobe and Daragh were superb on our run in.
We were ahead of all in fitness.
Mentality we were right.
We played as a team.
I haven't mentioned the lads the media are all over, like Ryan, McHugh and McBrien.
Playing Louth in a full house served us well as did opting to play into hill 16 in the first half.
Small margins, like the ball bouncing over the bar in 96.

.

That's nonsense, No Doubt. They are all on the county panel as picked by management. They train and put in the committments of an inter county player. And the sacrifices. They deserve a medal for being on the winning panel. Fair play to Armagh for bringing this to attention. Thankfully, they are appreciative of what their entire squad contributed to their all-ireland.

New column up on Patreon for club members, this one from Rob. The previous one, from Mike, is now up here in full on MFT.

@Two Pointer.why would it be nonsense. Nonsense means no sense .of course there's some sense to it .we're in danger of turning this into a big deal which it's not but I know we shouldn't have anything handed to us and in this case I think some have

No Doubt - we have just won our first All Ireland in 75 years and you want the county board to hand back some medals?

@ no doubt, what would your opinion be on a player that made the final day 26 but hadn’t played at any stage during the year?

@John,
Apologies, you are indeed correct about the seeding connection between the two competitions.