Half-Time! Kerry 0-7 Galway 1-4 

29 mins: Kerry 0-7 Galway 1-4

Rahilly gets overturned and Galway tear away with the ball. But the ball is turned over again and Kerry go on the attack.

A frantic few moments ends in an easy free for Kerry which O’Shea puts over to bring the sides level.

28 mins: Kerry 0-6 Galway 1-4

Kate Thompson goes for it from just inside the arc. But it’s a wide.

28 mins: Kerry 0-6 Galway 1-4

Free out to Kerry with half-time looming. They give it away though, and Galway will look to end the half with a point if they can find a way through.

27 mins: Kerry 0-6 Galway 1-4

Galway corner-back Brónagh Quinn advances up the field and goes for a point, but her shot is blocked out for a ’45.

25 mins: Kerry 0-6 Galway 1-4

Great defensive work from Galway to force Emma Costello to overcarry and win a free out. Olivia Divilly tries to get a point at the end of the move with a powerful kick. But it trails off target, and the gap remains at one.

23 mins: Kerry 0-6 Galway 1-4

Niamh Ní Chonchúir with a nice point on the run. Kerry then win the kick-out and Emma Costello comes driving through the middle and boots over a point to leave just one between the sides.

21 mins: Kerry 0-4 Galway 1-4

Divilly on target again for Galway. This time it’s from play with a brilliant strike to give Galway a three-point lead.

20 mins: Kerry 0-4 Galway 1-3

Super goal from Leanne Coen!

It came from a misplaced Kerry pass and Galway punished them with a quick counter. Coen gathered the ball on the arc and took on two Kerry defenders before finishing to the net.

Jadyn Lucey replies with a point for Kerry and Olivia Divilly converts a free at the other end.

GOAL! Kerry 0-3 Galway 1-2 (Leanne Coen ’17)

15 mins: Kerry 0-3 Galway 0-2

Galway win the ball back and go short from a free. Leanne Coen comes forward and tries to find a way through. The way is shut, but Galway keep possession and work it out to Kate Thompson who thumps it over.

Just one point between the teams at the end of the first quarter.

13 mins: Kerry 0-3 Galway 0-1

Another Galway shot drops short. This time it’s Leanne Coen. Róisín Leonard follows up with an attempt at the posts, but it’s well off target.

12 mins: Kerry 0-3 Galway 0-1

Louise Ward tries to get the equaliser, but she can’t manage to squeeze it over. Kerry go on the march and feed O’Shea inside. They work the ball around as Niamh Carmody storms forward and swings it over off her left boot.

10 mins: Kerry 0-2 Galway 0-1

Kerry win another free as O’Shea goes down holding her boot. It looked like she might have picked up an injury, but it’s just her boot got caught in her sock.

She quickly gets to her feet to pop the ball over and give Kerry the lead again.

9 mins: Kerry 0-1 Galway 0-1

Galway are off the mark!

They make the most of that counter-attack as Kate Slevin rifles over a shot. It could have been a goal, but they’ll settle for the point.

All square in Croke Park.

6 mins: Kerry 0-1 Galway 0-0

MISS!

A lot of lateral play here from Kerry, but they maintain control and eventually find the gap through corner back Róisín Rahilly. She uses some nice footwork to get inside the Galway defence and shoots for a goal from close range.

But it’s wide.

4 mins: Kerry 0-1 Galway 0-0

Kerry win the kick-out and launch another attack. A stray pass is briefly intercepted by Hannah Noone, but Kerry win it back.

After some patient play, O’Connell tries one from distance but it falls short and Galway get moving.

Louise Ward gets on the ball and Kate Thompson then gets a shot away but there’s a half block and Kerry are in possession again.

1 min: Kerry 0-1 Galway 0-0

Kerry win a free early doors through Mary O’Connell, and it’s an easy tap over for Síofra O’Shea.

Throw-In! Kerry v Galway

The anthem has been played, it’s time to get going!

It’s pre-match parade time. You still have a few minutes to call a winner here. Who will be climbing the Hogan Steps at full-time?

Kerry change before throw-in:

19. Mikala Mulvihill starts for Anna Galvin.

It wasn’t the week that Kerry fans wanted after losing their bid for a Sam Maguire two-in-a-row last weekend. But the Ladies team will hope to give their people something to cheer for at full-time today.

After that breakout victory in 2004, Galway got back to the final the following year, where they lost out to a Cork team that was about to dominate the sport for the next decade.

Further final appearances followed in 2019, and that clash with Kerry in 2024, but victory has proved elusive for Galway. Can they end that wait today?

As always, here’s the usual hit of essential pre-match reading:

• Hoping Kerry support translates for All-Ireland and reflecting on a colourful sporting career
• The first LGFA All-Ireland final under the new rules – and the potential for a shootout
• ‘People probably think we’re underdogs as well’ – Can Galway take inspiration from Mayo?
• Having watched 2025 All-Ireland final poolside in Portugal, Kerry back with unfinished business
• ‘You wouldn’t see it in men’s football. That’s a little bit disappointing’

And here is how Kerry is set to line out

Kerry

1. Mary Ellen Bolger (Southern Gaels)

2. Róisín Rahilly (Ballymacelligott), 3. Deirdre Kearney (Na Gaeil), 4. Eilís Lynch (Castleisland Desmonds)

5. Aishling O’Connell (Scartaglen), 6. Emma Costello (Firies), 7. Aoife Dillane (Austin Stacks)

8. Anna Galvin (Southern Gaels), 9. Mary O’Connell (Na Gaeil)

10. Niamh Carmody (Finuge/St Senans), 11. Niamh Ní Chonchúir (Corca Dhuibhne), 12. Caoimhe Evans (MKL Gaels)

13. Jadyn Lucey (Na Gaeil), 14. Danielle O’Leary (Rathmore), 15. Síofra O’Shea (Southern Gaels – captain).

Here’s how Galway have been named to line out:

Galway

1. Leah O’Halloran (Claregalway)

2. Brónagh Quinn (Annaghdown), 3. Sarah Ní Loingsigh (Naomh Anna Leitir Móir), 4. Kate Geraghty (Tuam Cortoon – captain)

5. Hannah Noone (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 6. Nicola Ward (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 7. Niamh Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)

8. Louise Ward (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 9. Siobhan Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonberne)

10. Olivia Divilly (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 11. Kate Slevin (Claregalway), 12. Kate Thompson (Salthill Knocknacarra)

13. Eva Noone (Kilkerrin-Clonberne), 14. Leanne Coen (Corofin), 15. Róisín Leonard (Corofin)

It’s All-Ireland final day in the Ladies Football calendar with the usual festival of three deciders gracing the stage in Croke Park.

Antrim kickstarted the occasion with victory over Carlow in the Junior final while Roscommon have just been crowned intermediate champions in the last few minutes after a comfortable win over Fermanagh.

And now it’s over to Kerry and Galway to contest the senior showpiece. It’s a repeat of the 2024 final where Kerry lifted the Brendan Martin cup for the first time since 1993. Galway are still chasing a first senior All-Ireland success since winning their first-ever in 2004.

This will be the first year of Ladies All-Ireland finals under the new playing rules which adds to the intrigue as well.

We’ll have team line-ups for you in the next few moments as we close in on the 4.15pm throw-in. Stay tuned.