Joe Brolly believes Kerry got too complacent after storming into an early lead against Mayo in the All-Ireland final.

Kerry had a lead of seven points in the 17th minute, but from that moment on until the end of the game, Mayo outscored the Kingdom by 1-19 to 0-12, fighting back to claim the win by a score of 1-20 to 1-17.

Writing for The Irish Independent, Mayo resident Joe Brolly believes it was the strong start that was ultimately the downfall of Kerry, arguing that the 2025 champions took their foot off the gas far too early.

Brolly wrote: ‘When David Clifford scored one of his improbable goals in the 15th minute, and Seán O’Shea followed up with a point a minute later to make it 1-5 to 0-1, we shook our heads sadly and said, “Oh dearie, dearie me”.

‘Kerry, thinking Mayo were no good and the game would be a formality, switched off. Meanwhile, Mayo were suddenly cloaked in the delightful glow of the confident underdog.

‘Having lost six of their first eight kick-outs, having kicked four balls into the Kerry keeper’s hands and looking gripped in terror, they suddenly looked bigger, faster and better than Kerry, except for David Clifford,’ said Brolly, who thinks that slow start helped Mayo relax into the game.

‘When a team (Kerry) switches off psychologically, it is virtually impossible to switch on again. Meanwhile, Mayo were like the marine on the Normandy beach who gets hit in the helmet with a German bullet.

‘He takes his helmet off, checks his head, cannot believe he is still alive and in the lightness of mood that follows a near-death experience, goes on to become a war hero.’

Joe Brolly just about summed up the game and Kerry’s performance perfectly, with the reigning champions seemingly thinking it would be a walk in the park, which it certainly wasn’t.