Kerry and Mayo clash in the National Football League Division One final on March 30th at 4:00 pm after securing their places dramatically last weekend. Mayo spent a portion of that day sitting in the relegation zone before pulling off a victory to spring them into an unlikely spot in the final.
Kerry had been toying around with the top two spots in the division for most of the season before securing its place on the final day. Can the Kingdom win a record-extending 24th title, or will Mayo pull off one of the best heists in NFL history?
Kerry vs Mayo Predictions
Score Prediction: Kerry 2-24 – 1-21 Mayo
Our GAA prediction is for Kerry to win the National Football League Division One final on Sunday. Their attack has stood out this season, scoring an incredible 170 points. To put that into perspective, Armagh were the next best with 26 fewer. Their defence has been leaky, but the way they have overwhelmed teams going forward has been incredible.
The key to Kerry’s success will be their ability to break down Mayo’s defence while ensuring they do not get caught out by counter-attacks too often. Their particular style means they will almost certainly get caught once or twice. However, the quality of their attack nullifies that. They are capable of outscoring anyone. Mayo will look to disrupt Kerry’s offensive flow and play a tactical, physical game. However, Kerry’s firepower will simply be too much.
GOAL 🚨@Kerry_Official pounce and Dylan Geaney makes no mistake 🟢🟡#GAANOW #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/3D089yFRE6
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 15, 2025
Mayo must focus on a more defensive structure to stop this game from getting away from them. Kerry will be too hard to catch if they run too far ahead. The Westerners have to be patient, try to disrupt Kerry’s flow and then spring forward on the counter. Their physical style and high press will look to deny Kerry time and space, forcing them into mistakes. However, pressing up the entire length of a GAA pitch could bite them here. Mayo’s strong midfield and rugged defence will try to crowd out the attacking threats, making it difficult for Kerry to create scoring opportunities.
Players To Watch
- David Clifford (Forward, Kerry): David Clifford has starred for this all-gas, no brakes Kerry forward line this season. The 26-year-old has shown incredible scoring ability and playmaking skills this term, establishing himself as the heartbeat of their attack. He can win a game on his own and will be the Kingdom’s key man in this game. A win here could eliminate any debate about whether Clifford belongs amongst the best GAA footballers of all time.
David Clifford taking care of business 💼@Kerry_Official #GAANOW #AllianzLeagues pic.twitter.com/nWTzT52MG4
— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 15, 2025
- Aidan O’Shea (Forward, Mayo): Games like this need experienced heads, and Aidan O’Shea is one of the most influential players on the team. His leadership, physicality, and skill are pivotal. He can dictate the tempo of the game and will be a focal point of their attack. O’Shea has won the NFL twice, and his seniority will be relied upon to see this game through.
Kerry vs Mayo Betting Tips
- Full-Time Result – Kerry To Win: Kerry is the favourite to win this NFL final at our online betting site. They are 3/10 favourites to win a record-extending 24th NFL title. Their performances this season have us predicting them to do just that. However, Mayo’s form at the back end of the season poses a serious threat to that. A bet on Mayo is worth 11/4 if you think they can cause the upset.
- Winning Margin – Kerry by 4-6 Points: Kerry’s goalscoring ability this season has been nothing short of remarkable. All their victories in the NFL came by a minimum of three points and as wide as 10. Mayo had a good defence but scored fewer points than any team in the division. They could struggle to keep up with the Kingdom here, especially after a fast start. Betting on Kerry to win by 4-6 points is the right play. With the odds set at 10/3, a winning wager will turn €10 into €43.
- Points Scorers – David Clifford to score a goal: No player in the NFL Division One has scored more goals than David Clifford. He has three this season, and Kerry’s penchant for finding the net has been the story of their campaign. They have scored at least one goal in every game this season, and we expect at least one more in the final. Back their top goalscorer to find the net when betting on the National Football League final.
Kerry vs Mayo Head-To-Head and Key Stats
These slides last met at the beginning of March in round five of the NFL. Mayo edged out Kerry in a thrilling encounter, securing a 0-21 to 1-16 victory. Despite Kerry’s fightback in the second half, Mayo’s strong finish saw them hold on for the win. Mayo built a commanding seven-point lead, with Darren McHale, Matthew Ruane, and Ryan O’Donoghue contributing crucial scores.
Kerry fought back after halftime, with David Clifford’s brilliance and Brian O’Beaglaoich’s goal narrowing the deficit. Clifford’s free gave Kerry a brief lead, but Mayo responded with vital points from O’Donoghue and Fergal Boland. With the game in the balance, Kerry’s chance to equalise was denied by Mayo goalkeeper Colm Reape’s stunning save from Clifford’s free. Ruane sealed the win with a late point, ensuring Mayo claimed their second league victory.
Mayo secured a dramatic 1-18 – 1-16 victory over Donegal in their final league match to reach the Division One final. With seven minutes remaining, Mayo were in a relegation position. A penalty save by goalkeeper Colm Reape and a goal chance hit off the crossbar kept their hopes alive. Jack Carney’s goal and three points helped Mayo to a 1-7 to 0-6 lead at halftime.
Donegal fought back strongly in the second half, with Eoin McHugh scoring a goal and Aaron Doherty adding crucial points. A penalty save by Reape kept Mayo ahead, and despite Donegal narrowing the gap to one point, Ryan O’Donoghue sealed the win with a late point. Mayo’s resilience to earn a third straight victory ensured their Division One status and confirmed their final clash with Kerry.
Kerry defeated Galway 2-19 to 3-24 at Pearse Stadium to secure a spot in the Allianz League final on March 23rd. The match featured an exciting first half, with Kerry leading 2-11 to 1-10 at the break. Gavin White and Dylan Geaney scored Kerry’s goals, while Rob Finnerty netted for Galway. Despite being reduced to 14 men due to Paul Murphy’s black card, Kerry outscored Galway by 2-11 – 1-10, holding a slim lead at halftime.
In the second half, Kerry extended their advantage with points from Geaney and Clifford. A third goal from Damien Bourke sealed their victory. Galway mounted a late challenge with a goal from Matthew Tierney, but Kerry’s dominant finish ensured they held on for the win, ending Galway’s hopes of making the final.
Team Form
The Allianz Football League Roinn 1 went down to the wire this season. Mayo finished top of the table with four teams battling it out for second place. One point separated the top five at the final whistle last weekend. Kerry’s superiority and stronger points difference saw them snatch second place and a spot in the final, but how did they perform throughout the season?
Kerry started the season with their foot planted firmly on the gas and rarely hit the brakes. They began with a 5-15 – 1-24 victory over Derry, and that goal-scoring trend followed them throughout the season. The Kingdom were the only team to score goals in every game they played this season. Their particular brand of attacking football was incredibly effective. Their defence took a hit at times, with coach Jack O’Connor keen to see his team put constant pressure at the top end of the pitch. They ended the season with back-to-back wins to secure their spot in the NFL final.
Mayo got off to an unsteady start in the NFL, winning just one of their first four games. They opened the season with two consecutive defeats, then narrowly defeated a weak Tyrone team. A draw with Armagh followed in round four, and Mayo’s hopes for a postseason date at Croke Park looked to be slipping away. However, an upturn in form toward the end of the campaign saw them win their final three games, including important victories over Kerry and Donegal. They turned their season around and now go into the final on a run of excellent form.
