Two superb goals from Coen and Noone’s late point sees Galway turn tables on Kerry​

For in a chaotic climax to an absorbing if defensively dominated All-Ireland Final, Kerry thought they had won; Galway thought they had lost only for the outcome to end up the other way round.

With only seconds remaining, Kerry's Siofra O'Shea had an opportunity to snatch the spoils with a free from just outside the two-point arc, but the odds were against her leaving Galway deflated again.

For not once in a final hampered by a swirling wind had there even been a two-point scoring attempt never mind one being converted, leaving O'Shea under savage pressure to buck that trend with virtually the last kick of the game.

Her effort dipped under the crossbar in a crowded area only for referee Maggie Farrelly to correctly disallow the goal for a square ball infringement. Cue Galway celebrations and Kerry devastation.

This was not a decider for the purists. For two evenly matched teams became a hostage to the big prize at stake with little evidence of the free-flowing attacking football which had carried both of them to the decider in emphatic fashion.

With understandable question marks about Galway's big-day temperament given their fortunes over the past few seasons, this was the day when Daniel Moynihan's charges really stood up to be counted in capturing only the county's second All-Ireland title.

Every flag raised was precious in a low-scoring encounter, but when Kerry went 0-11 to 1-6 in front in the 53rd minute after two O'Shea points in quick succession, the Brendan Martin Cup appeared to be slipping from Galway's grasp – again.

This was crisis time for Galway but they refused to buckle, steeled no doubt by the legacy of past disappointments. And in trademark fashion, Nicola Ward set off on another lung-bursting charge which culminated with Leanne Coen superbly planting the ball to the Kerry net.

The job wasn't done, however. Kerry quickly equalised when Niamh Carmody set up Caoimhe Evans to split the posts and with time running out, the smart money was now on a replay in front of an attendance of 26,451.

The tension was palatable but it was Galway who held their nerve. The Noone sisters, Hannah and Eva, had been carrying the fight to Kerry all day and it was their combination to the right of the opposition posts which culminated with Eva's cultured left foot sending the ball over the crossbar for what would turn out to be the matchwinner.

The late drama, however, surrounding O'Shea's disallowed goal left Kerry aggrieved as their joy turned to agony in an instant. It was tough on them, especially as the application of the advantage rule after a foul on Róisin Rahilly had ended just before O'Shea landed the equaliser from play.

But it must be put on record that the Galway players had stopped engaging the Kerry attacker having heard Farrelly's whistle and, in those circumstances, it's debatable if O'Shea would have managed to score given the mass of maroon jerseys in front of her.

If ever a team deserved a break, however, it was Galway. After last year's shattering extra-time semi-final defeat to Dublin and losing the League final to Cork this spring – not forgetting their heavy loss to Kerry in the 2024 All-Ireland Final – it was almost getting to stage of 'if not today when' for the Connacht champions.

Like Kerry, they were defensively well-marshalled and though it was the first All-Ireland Final played under the new rules, this encounter didn't look much different to what we had become familiar with up to 2026.

The contest was physical and enthralling, with neither prepared to compromise. There were goal chances at both ends, but Galway possessed the final's assassin in Coen who scored two goals of the highest quality.

Her first came in the 16th minute and what a score it was. Eva Noone intercepted out the field and from her angled delivery, Coen ran hard at the Kerry cover before deftly steering the ball past Mary Ellen Bolger's outstretched fingertips. It was a goal out of nothing but those are the ones which stamp the great forwards apart.

That green flag was needed too as Galway were struggling to make their wind advantage count. In that opening half, they only converted five of their 14 scoring chances, while Róisin Leonard had a close-range shot blocked by the excellent Emma Costello in the 15th minute.

Both teams coughed up possession at times but massed defences at each ends contributed to that scenario. Kerry, in particular, were often a bit too methodical in possession, and lacked the necessary cutting edge

Yet, when Galway only retired on level terms (1-4 to 0-7) at the break, you felt they were in trouble despite first half points from Olivia Divilly (two), the hard-working Kate Slevin and a fine effort from Kate Thompson.

They also had a big escape in the sixth minute when Rahilly broke though only to drag her low effort just wide of Leah O'Halloran's right-hand post. Three O'Shea frees, together with points from impressive trio, Emma Costello, Carmody and Niamh Ní Chonchúir, accounted for Kerry's opening half total.

On the resumption, there was no score for nine minutes although a seemingly casual O'Shea had spurned a routine opportunity from a close-range free which she lofted against the far post. It was a miss which would prove very costly.

Eventually, Ó Chonchúir broke the deadlock before the tireless Louise Ward set up Olivia Divilly for her third score of the final in the 42nd minute. Stalemate again followed although both teams came close to finding the net.

Louise Ward had her close range effort thwarted by Costello, while Slevin saw her strike from the rebound saved by 'keeper Mary Ellen Bolger. At the other end, Sarah Ní Loingsigh was in the right place to divert substitute Leah McMahon's shot out for a fruitless '45.

In the 49th minute, Galway regained the lead when Leonard thumped the ball over the bar after Thompson had created the opening, but out of sync with the rest of the final, Kerry hit back with three quick points on the spin from O'Shea (two) and Ní Chonchúir to forge into a 0-11 to 1-6 lead.

The momentum was with them, but Nicola Ward had no interest in being a gallant loser in the Galway jersey again. She careered through the Kerry cover in demonic fashion and from her pass, Coen applied a bullet-like finish to edge them back in front.

The final could have gone either way down the home stretch, but Eva Noone went into ladies' football folklore with that brilliantly taken winner as Galway ended a 22-year All-Ireland title famine.

Great credit is due to team manager Daniel Moynihan and his backroom team for masterminding a triumphant campaign. Galway didn't look like a team which had fallen short in big games in the past. They were mentally strong and in superb physical condition.

The new champions – backboned by those mighty players from Kilkerrin-Clonberne – had heroes all over the field. Brónagh Quinn did a great policing job on O'Shea in a full back line where Ní Loingsigh and team captain Kate Geraghty defended as if their lives depended on it in front of ‘keeper O'Halloran, who notably kept a clean sheet for the second big-match in succession.

Outside them, Hannah Noone, Nicola Ward and Niamh Divilly all made incalculable contributions, while Louise Ward and Siobhán Divilly – largely used in a selfless sweeper role – typified the team's work ethic.

Significantly, all of Galway's forwards scored which was some achievement given that they only managed nine over the course of the final. Two-goal hero Coen and matchwinner Eva Noone will dominate the headlines, but Olivia Divilly, Kate Slevin, Kate Thompson and Leonard can also be proud of their efforts on a momentous day for Galway ladies' football.

In the seconds after the final whistle, you could see both the relief and joy on the faces of the Galway players. They had served a tough apprenticeship in trying to win the All-Ireland title and were now finally reaping the rewards of their endurance and never-say-die spirit.

And having faltered in key knock-out games over the past four years, Sunday’s triumph will mean even more to them. They were sick and tired of being in the vanquished dressing room. Now, Galway are the proud football queens of Ireland.

​Galway: L O'Halloran; B Quinn, S Ní Loingsigh, K Geraghty; H Noone, N Ward, L Ward; N Divilly, S Divilly; Eva Noone (0-1), K Slevin (0-1), K Thompson (0-1); O Divilly (0-3, 0-1f), L Coen (2-0), R Leonard (0-1). Subs: S Hynes for Thompson (51), E Power for S Divilly (56), A Trill for Leonard (57).

Kerry: M E Bolger; E Lynch, D Kearney, A Dillane; A O'Connell, N Carmody (0-0), Rahilly; E Costello (0-1), M O'Connell; M Mulvihill, N Ní Chonchúir (0-0), C Evans (0-1); J Lucey (0-1), D O'Leary, S O'Shea (0-05, 0-03f). Subs: L McMahon for Mulvihill (43), E McGlynn for Lucey (51), R Dwyer for O'Leary (57).

Referee: M Farrelly (Cavan).