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July 19 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Croke Park Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Competition:

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

Description:

Limerick defeated Galway by 1-29 to 1-18 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday July 19th at Croke Park.

Match Highlights

All-Ireland SHC Final: Limerick triumph again

Limerick 1-29 Galway 1-18

Report By Cian O’Connell at Croke Park for GAA.ie

In an era of unprecedented Limerick success, another pleasant chapter was added to the green and white story.

A gifted generation of players, primed so often for the big occasion by the shrewd John Kiely and his management team, delivered on the Croke Park stage.

Powerful and purposeful, Limerick dealt with Galway’s energy. Everywhere on the field, Limerick players were excelling.

Centre back William O’Donoghue anchored the defence with trademark authority flanked by the splendid Diarmaid Byrnes and Kyle Hayes, who landed gorgeous points from range.

At centrefield Adam English and captain Cian Lynch dovetailed nicely, creating and taking scores.

Further up the pitch, Gearóid Hegarty was industrious and influential. Cathal O’Neill, relevant throughout, finished the contest with 1-4. Inside, Aaron Gillane and Peter Casey contributed four points each.

Galway battled, but just couldn’t cope with Limerick. Initially, there had been some encouraging signs for the underdogs.

Jason Rabbitte was carrying a threat, winning frees as Galway edged 0-3 to 0-2 ahead by the 11th minute. Nonetheless, Galway goalkeeper Darach Fahy had made two fine saves to thwart Gearóid Hegarty in the early exchanges.

Following Aaron Niland’s 11th minute free, Limerick steered over four without reply. Even though the game was still in the first quarter, it was a crucial burst.

Hegarty’s fetch and pass released English to level. Byrnes nailed two frees and Aidan O’Connor subsequently landed a point from play to edge Limerick 0-6 to 0-3 in front.

With Niland sharp Galway did register three of the next four scores, but Limerick were unperturbed. Gillane, English, clipped points before a defiant effort from Rabbitte for Galway.

Galway had the deficit down to two, but three points in a row as the interval approached from the inspirational Lynch, O’Connor (free), and Gillane ensured Limerick departed with a 0-13 to 0-8 advantage.

After the restart it remained about Limerick’s combination of graft and craft. Limerick were eight clear, 0-18 to 0-10, when they pounced for a 43rd minute goal.

Gillane’s neat pass fashioned the opportunity for the dynamic O’Neill to make the Galway net dance. Peter Casey rifled over a point seconds later, and Galway trailed 1-19 to 0-10.

Cathal O’Neill Goal for Limerick

There was a mini Galwegian revival as Micheál Donoghue’s outfit stitched a four point sequence together. Limerick weren’t worried.

O’Neill ended an eight minute search for a Limerick score. Casey added a point prior to Ronan Glennon’s 57th minute red card for a foul on the Na Piarsaigh corner forward.

Aidan O’Connor’s resultant free had Limerick 1-22 to 0-14 in the ascendancy. Darragh Neary and substitutes Conor Cooney and Colm Molloy did supply points for Galway, but Limerick were inflicting damage too.

Byrnes, O’Neill, Lynch, and substitute David Reidy whipped over delightful points as Limerick closed out the deal with the minimum of fuss. Galway did pinch a last gasp consolation goal courtesy of a Conor Cooney penalty.

Limerick supporters, though, were celebrating a 13th All-Ireland SHC title. That six have now been collected since 2018 illustrates the greatness and glory of the Kiely years.

Scorers for Limerick: Cathal O’Neill 1-4, Aidan O’Connor 0-5 (3fs), Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey, and Diarmaid Byrnes (2fs, 1 65) 0-4 each, Kyle Hayes, Adam English, and Cian Lynch 0-2 each, Barry Nash and David Reidy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Aaron Niland 0-10 (8fs, 165), Conor Cooney 1-2 (1-0 pen, 1f), Thomas Monaghan 0-2, Cathal Mannion, Darragh Neary, Jason Rabbitte, and Colm Molloy 0-1 each.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Gearóid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, Peter Casey.
Subs: Tom Morrissey for O’Brien (48), Dan Morrissey for M Casey (53), David Reidy for P Casey (58-60), Darragh O’Donovan for English (63), David Reidy for O’Connor (68), Colin Coughlan for Finn (70).

Galway: Darach Fahy; Darren Morrissey, Daithí Burke, Cillian Trayers; Joshua Ryan, Padraic Mannion, Ronan Glennon; Tiernan Killeen, Gavin Lee; Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion, Darragh Neary; Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbite, Aaron Niland.
Subs: Conor Cooney for Lee (49), Cian Daniels for Monaghan (55), John Fleming for Killeen (59), Colm Molloy for Niland (59), Seán Linnane for C Mannion (70).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).

Team News

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Cian Lynch, Adam English; Gearoid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, Peter Casey.

GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Cillian Trayers, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Ronan Glennon; Tiernan Killeen, Gavin Lee; Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion, Darragh Neary; Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland.

WHERE IS LIAM MacCARTHY HEADED – GALWAY OR LIMERICK?

It’s showpiece time for hurling, with the great spectacle that is the GAA All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final set for Croke Park on Sunday (3.30pm).

Limerick and Galway go head-to-head for the Liam MacCarthy Cup in what will be their first meeting in the final since 2018 when Limerick won by a point. Colm Lyons (Cork) will referee.

It promises to be a splendid occasion, with Limerick bidding to win the title for the 13th time, while Galway are seeking their sixth title.

Limerick last won the title in 2023; Galway were last successful in 2017.

HOW THEY REACHED THE FINAL

GALWAY

  • Galway 3-25 Kilkenny 1-16 (Leinster round robin)
  • Galway 2-26 Offaly 1-18 (Leinster round robin)
  • Galway 4-22 Kildare 1-22 (Leinster round robin)
  • Dublin 3-16 Galway 0-21 (Leinster round robin)
  • Galway 2-31 Wexford 3-20 (Leinster round robin)
  • Galway 4-29 Dublin 4-15 (Leinster final)
  • Galway 2-26 Cork 1-18 (All-Ireland semi-final)

Played 7, Won 6, Lost 1

LIMERICK

  • Cork 2-22 Limerick 1-23 (Munster round robin)
  • Limerick 2-30 Clare 1-18 (Munster round robin)
  • Limerick 2-29 Waterford 2-20 (Munster round robin)
  • Limerick 5-27 Tipperary 0-25 (Munster round robin)
  • Limerick 1-21 Cork 2-17 (Munster final)
  • Limerick 1-21 Clare 1-19 (All-Ireland semi-final)

Played 6, Won 5, Lost 1

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS

  • 2023: Limerick 2-24 Galway 1-18 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 2022: Limerick 0-27 Galway 1-21 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 2020: Limerick 0-27 Galway 0-24 (All-Ireland semi-final)
  • 2018: Limerick 3-16 Galway 2-18 (All-Ireland final)
  • 2005: Galway 1-18 Limerick 2-14 (All-Ireland qualifiers)

PREVIOUS ALL-IRELAND FINAL MEETINGS

  • 2018: Limerick 3-16 Galway 2-18
  • 1980: Galway 2-15 Limerick 3-9
  • 1923: Galway 7-3 Limerick 4-5

FINAL FACTS & FIGURES

  • This will be the 17th championship meeting between the counties with Limerick winning eleven to Galway’s four, with one draw from the previous sixteen meetings. Galway’s last win was in a 2005 qualifier. Limerick won in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
  • Limerick beat Galway by 2-27 to 0-31 in this year’s Allianz League clash in the TUS Gaelic Grounds in March.
  • Galway scored a total of 17 goals in their seven championship games this year. The only game where they failed to score a goal was against Dublin, which was also the only game they lost. They conceded 14 goals.
  • Limerick scored a total of 12 goals in their six championship games. They conceded eight goals.
  • Nickie Quaid is the most capped Limerick player, having made 79 championship appearances since making his debut in 2010. Tom Morrissey is on 59, Gearóid Hegarty 58, Diarmaid Byrnes 57 and Cian Lynch 56.
  • On the Galway side, Conor Cooney has made the most championship appearances, having played 72 times since making his debut in 2012. Pádraig Mannion and Daithí Burke are both on 70, Cathal Mannion 69 and Conor Whelan 66.
  • John Kiely is in his tenth season as Limerick manager, having guided the county to All-Ireland title successes in 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
  • Micheál Donoghue is in the second season of his second stint as Galway manager, having previously been in charge from 2016-2019. He led Galway to All-Ireland glory in 2017 and managed Dublin in 2023 and 2024.
  • If Galway win, it will be the first time since 2017 that the Leinster champions have won the All-Ireland title.
  • This is only the third time in ten years that the Leinster and Munster champions meet in the final. The previous two occasions were in 2022 and 2023 when Limerick and Kilkenny contested the decider.
  • Colm Lyons takes charge of the final for the second time, having previously refereed the 2022 All-Ireland final between Limerick and Kilkenny.

2026 ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE & CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD

  • Galway: Played 13, Won 9, Lost 4.
  • Limerick: Played 13, Won 11, Lost 2.

ALL-IRELAND FINAL HISTORY

  • Limerick have reached the All-Ireland final 21 times previously (1897, 1910, 1918, 1921, 1923, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1973, 1974, 1980, 1994, 1996, 2007, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023), winning 12 titles in 1897, 1918, 1921, 1934, 1936, 1940, 1973, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
  • Galway have reached the All-Ireland final 25 times previously (1887, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1928, 1929, 1953, 1955, 1958, 1975, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 2001, 2005, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018), winning five titles in 1923, 1980, 1987, 1988 and 2017.

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Broadcast Details:

Venue:

  • Croke Park