Kerry's 'experience' crucial in final - O'Connor

While Kerry manager Jack O'Connor suggested Mayo produced the more "impressive" semi-final display, he feels his side's greater "experience" can help them to back-to-back All-Ireland Senior Football Championship titles on Sunday.

Kerry are bidding to retain Sam Maguire for the first time since 2007 and secure a 40th title overall when they take on Andy Moran's side who have built steadily throughout the campaign.

Few will be surprised Kerry are back on Gaelic football's biggest stage, but Mayo's return to a first final since 2021 was not given the same vote of confidence.

However, with a new wave of stars emerging from the Yew County including Kobe McDonald, Darragh Beirne, Cian McHale and Eoin McGreal, Mayo put a disappointing semi-final exit from the Connacht Championship to improve with each week in the All-Ireland series, culminating in a 17-point semi-final win over Louth.

Kerry had it much tighter in their last four encounter when two goals and some favourable calls went their way as they overcame Dublin by four points.

Still, they enter this weekend as favourites and have with an embarrassment of riches in the Cliffords, the Geaneys, Sean O'Shea, Joe O'Connor and last year's skipper Gavin White who have all been there and done that.

"We will have to come on because if you are judging the two teams, Mayo were more impressive than we were," O'Connor - who had led Kerry to five titles over three spells as manager - said of the respective semi-final displays.

"We will have our hands full with that elusive forward line they have, those young lads like Beirne, Kobe and they have various scoring threats. Ryan O'Donoghue was sensational [in the semi-final] so we have a lot of improving to do.

"The thing in our favour as we have a bit more experience than some of their younger players, but the exuberance of youth, they might come and shoot the lights out.

"It will make for a great occasion; Mayo are great supporters and Andy Moran has done some job along with Paddy Tally and the boys there in their first year, so we're expecting a massive battle."

What has also turned Kerry's way is the return of some key figures as the championship progressed.

Team captain Paul Geaney missed out on the semi-final due to a muscle injury but O'Connor is "fairly confident he will be fit for the final".

Although they had to dig deep against Dublin in the last four and Tyrone in the quarter-final, those games will have helped bring the recent returnees on but the Kerry boss is adamant they are still not firing on all cylinders.

"I can guarantee you there are men who are still not 100 percent," O'Connor said following their semi-final win.

"You can't miss eight, ten weeks like Seanie O'Shea did and back back up to speed.

"I thought that was remarkable [semi-final performance] for the amount of time he has missed and we've a share of players like that.

"Gavin White didn't kick a ball from the end of November until five or six weeks ago - that's a long time to be out of football, so I still think we have men finding their feet."