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July 20, 2025 @ 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm Croke Park Referee: Liam Gordan (Galway)

Competition:

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final

Description:

Tipperary defeated Cork by 3-27 to 1-18 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final on Sunday July 20th at Croke Park.

Match Highlights

All-Ireland SHC Final: Glory for Tipperary

All-Ireland senior hurling championship final

TIPPERARY 3-27 CORK 1-18

By Paul Keane at Croke Park for GAA.ie

We dare you to say you saw this one coming.

Tipperary are All-Ireland senior hurling champions for the 29th time after a most remarkable second-half performance, perhaps one of the very greatest ever on the grand stage.

Down by six points at half-time against a Cork side widely backed to end their 20-year wait for MacCarthy Cup success, Tipp dug incredibly deep and mined out a quite remarkable 15-point win with their bare hands.

In just his seventh senior Championship game, Toomevara’s Darragh McCarthy stood up with a brilliant individual display, blasting 1-13 overall.

The more experienced John McGrath was just as totemic at the point of Tipp’s sharpened axe, cutting through the Cork defence for 2-2 and winning a penalty that McCarthy converted.

In all, Tipp outscored Cork by 3-14 to 0-2 in the second-half. If that seems like a typo, it’s not. Tipp were that good and dominated to such an extent that the pre-match favourites were made to look a very ordinary team.

To think that Cork beat Tipp comfortably in not just the Allianz League final earlier this year but also in their Munster round-robin meeting.

When the dust settles and Cork reflect on their season, they will take some consolation from those wins, as well as the trophies they’ve won in 2025.

But right now it will be desolation for Pat Ryan and his players, and everyone on Leeside, after back-to-back MacCarthy Cup final defeats and their third in five seasons.

Shane Barrett’s goal just before half-time left the Munster champions in a great position with that 1-16 to 0-13 advantage.

But it turned out a Tipp side desperate to end its own six-year wait for success was just getting going.

They reeled off 1-5 without response immediately after the restart to put themselves into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Cork briefly got the margin down to a point in the third quarter after a Barrett score but, amazingly, that was one of just two second-half points the Rebels scored.

At half-time, we wondered if Barrett might go on to take the Man of the Match award given the 1-3 he had fired in the opening 35 minutes or so.

By full-time there was a long list of Tipp players who had stormed well ahead of him in the reckoning. McCarthy was simply outstanding but so was McGrath while Michael Breen, captain Ronan Maher and Willie Connors put in Trojan defensive shifts on a famous day for Tipp hurling.

Goalkeeper Rhys Shelly had a second-half to remember too, booming over a long-range score and saving a stoppage time penalty from Conor Lehane.

At that stage, even a goal would have been mere consolation for Cork who will spend the winter wondering just how this game got so badly away from them.

Sure, Tipp had the stiff wind behind them in the second-half but they conjured a performance for the ages to leave Cork supporters open-mouthed and stuck for answers.

The second yellow-card shown to defender Eoin Downey in the 54th minute didn’t help but Cork were already taking on water and sinking fast at that stage.

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill deserves huge praise for how he has turned things around.

When he took over almost three years ago to the day, Tipp were fresh off a three-season spell when they’d won just two of their 10 Championship games.

And there was no instant switch to turn things on in Tipp. As recently as last year, Tipp failed to win a game in Munster and didn’t qualify for the All-Ireland series.

But the impact of U-20 All-Ireland winners McCarthy and Sam O’Farrell this season has been huge and Cahill made a number of savvy personnel and positional tweaks throughout this year’s Championship which paid off handsomely too.

He set his team up with a seventh defender this time, Bryan O’Mara, in a bid to stifle Cork’s clear goal threat and it worked a treat.

Barrett did get through for that three-pointer late in the first-half but, by and large, Tipp were solid at the back where O’Mara floated between the two defensive lines. Willie Connors dropped to wing-back and Sam O’Farrell to midfield to accommodate the sweeper, leaving five in attack.

Tipp skipper Maher picked up Brian Hayes, holding him to just a point while Robert Doyle tracked Alan Connolly, keeping him to a point too. Breen was terrific on Patrick Horgan.

Still, Cork were sitting pretty at the interval with that significant lead and led for the majority of the first-half.

It was all a bit chaotic and frenetic initially with both sides coughing up possession and firing wides, 13 in the first-half between them.

Darragh Fitzgibbon drilled two first-half points for Cork, as did Diarmuid Healy while Barrett took his tally to 1-3 for the half when Rob Downey burst out of defence and fed Mark Coleman who tossed the sliotar to the centre-forward for an excellent goal.

We wondered if Tipp might pay for all the misses, eight in total in the half.

But it turned out they were just getting going and a team that simmered throughout the first-half suddenly came bubbling to the boil with that awesome second-half display.

Conor Stakelum got Tipp’s first point of the second-half. Then Andrew Ormond got back-to-back scores and just like that the Barrett goal had been wiped out.

Tipp got a goal of their own in the 46th minute. McGrath struck it, capitalising on poor defending when Jake Morris’ effort which dropped short wasn’t dealt with, allowing him to steal in and strike to the net.

That was his 21st Championship goal. His 22nd arrived in the 60th minute when he flicked in from close range after a long Eoghan Connolly delivery.

20 July 2025; John McGrath of Tipperary scores his second and his side’s third goal past Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins and Seán O’Donoghue of Cork during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Cork and Tipperary at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

In between, McGrath won a penalty off Eoin Downey – resulting in Downey receiving his second yellow card and his marching orders – for McCarthy to drill home expertly.

Tipp were flying now and sniping scores from all angles. Even goalkeeper Shelly got in on the action. Veteran Noel McGrath came on in the 60th minute for his 79th Championship appearance. He hit the very last score of the game for Tipp and threw his arms aloft, savouring a famous win and his fourth All-Ireland medal. A truly magnificent achievement. A truly magnificent performance and undoubtedly worthy All-Ireland winners.

Tipperary scorers: Darragh McCarthy 1-13 (0-9f, 1-0 pen), John McGrath 2-2, Jake Morris 0-2, Jason Forde 0-2, Andrew Ormond 0-2, Eoghan Connolly 0-1, Robert Doyle 0-1, Willie Connors 0-1, Conor Stakelum 0-1, Rhys Shelly 0-1, Noel McGrath 0-1.

Cork scorers: Shane Barrett 1-4, Patrick Horgan 0-4 (0-3f), Diarmuid Healy 0-3, Darragh Fitzgibbon 0-2, Brian Hayes 0-1, Alan Connolly 0-1, Declan Dalton 0-1 (0-1f), Niall O’Leary 0-1, Seamus Harnedy 0-1.

TIPPERARY: Rhys Shelly; Ronan Maher, Robert Doyle, Michael Breen; Bryan O’Mara; Eoghan Connolly, Craig Morgan, Willie Connors; Sam O’Farrell, Conor Stakelum; Andrew Ormond, Jake Morris; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Jason Forde.
Subs: Seamus Kennedy for O’Mara 50, Alan Tynan for Morgan 56, Noel McGrath for O’Farrell 60, Darragh Stakelum for Conor Stakelum 65, Oisin O’Donoghue for Ormond 66.

CORK: Patrick Collins; Sean O’Donoghue, Eoin Downey, Niall O’Leary; Ciaran Joyce, Robert Downey, Mark Coleman; Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon; Declan Dalton, Shane Barrett, Diarmuid Healy; Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes.
Subs: Seamus Harnedy for Dalton 44, Damien Cahalane for Healy 56, Conor Lehane for Horgan 58, Shane Kingston for Connolly 65, Tommy O’Connell for O’Mahony 67.

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).

Team News

CORK: Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig); Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra); Ciarán Joyce (Castlemartyr), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers, captain), Mark Coleman (Blarney); Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville); Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold), Shane Barrett (Blarney), Declan Dalton (Fr O’Neills); Patrick Horgan (Glen Rovers), Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s).
Subs: Brion Saunderson (Midleton), Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), Ger Millerick (Fr O’Neills), Cormac O’Brien (Newtownshandrum), Tommy O’Connell (Midleton), Luke Meade (Newcestown), Brian Roche (Bride Rovers), Séamus Harnedy (St Ita’s), Robbie O’Flynn (Erin’s Own), Conor Lehane (Midleton), Shane Kingston (Douglas).

TIPPERARY (SHC v Cork): Rhys Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris); Robert Doyle (Clonoulty-Rossmore), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), Michael Breen (Ballina); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Ronan Maher (c, Thurles Sarsfields), Bryan O’Mara (Holycross-Ballycahill); Willie Connors (Kiladangan), Conor Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields); Jake Morris (Nenagh Éire Óg), Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens), Sam O’Farrell (Nenagh Éire Óg); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara), John McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Jason Forde (Silvermines).
Subs: Barry Hogan (Kiladangan), Joe Caesar (Holycross-Ballycahill), Seamus Kennedy (St Mary’s), Paddy McCormack (Borris-Ileigh), Brian McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Noel McGrath (Loughmore-Castleiney), Peter McGarry (St Mary’s), Oisín O’Donoghue (Cashel King Cormacs), Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields), Alan Tynan (Roscrea).

It will be an all-Munster GAA Hurling All-Ireland Final for the sixth time when Cork take on Tipperary.

Cork qualified for the final with a big win over Dublin in the first Semi-Final, while Tipperary beat Kilkenny by two points in the other Semi-Final. Cork’s win took them into the final for a second successive year while Tipperary were last in the final in 2019.

Previous All-Munster Finals were in 1997 (Clare v Tipperary), 2013 (Cork v Clare), 2020 (Limerick v Waterford), 2021 (Cork v Limerick) and last year (Clare v Cork).

Cork last won the All-Ireland title in 2005 while Tipperary were last successful in 2019.

Cork and Tipperary have already met three times this year, with Cork winning two to Tipp’s one. Tipperary won the Allianz League clash by 2-22 to 1-21 in Semple Stadium in February; Cork won the League final by 3-24 to 0-23 in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in April and the Munster round robin clash by 4-27 to 0-24 in Pairc UI Chaoimh, also in April.

PATHS TO THE FINAL

CORK
Clare 3-21 Cork 2-24 (Munster SHC)
Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24 (Munster SHC)
Limerick 3-26 Cork 1-16 (Munster SHC)
Cork 2-25 Waterford 1-22 (Munster SHC)
Cork 1-30 Limerick 2-27 aet (Cork won 3-2 on penalties) (Munster Final)
Cork 7-26 Dublin 2-21 (All-Ireland Semi-Final)
Won 4, Drew 1, Lost 1.

TOP SCORERS
Patrick Horgan………3-50 (1-38 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)
Brian Hayes…………..5-8
Alan Connolly………. 4-9
Declan Dalton………..1-12 (0-4 frees)
Darragh Fitzgibbon…0-14 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)

TIPPERARY
Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 2-23 (Munster SHC)
Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24 (Munster SHC)
Tipperary 4-18 Clare 2-21 (Munster SHC)
Tipperary 1-30 Waterford 1-21 (Munster SHC)
Tipperary 3-32 Laois 0-18 (All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final)
Tipperary 1-28 Galway 2-17 (All-Ireland Quarter-Final)
Tipperary 4-20 Kilkenny 0-30 (All-Ireland Semi-Final)
Won 5, Drew 1, Lost 1.

TOP SCORERS
Jason Forde……………….3-43 (0-25 frees, 0-4 s/l, 0-1 ‘65’)
Darragh McCarthy………1-33 (0-27 frees, 0-1 ‘65’))
John McGrath…………….5-14
Jake Morris…………………0-22
Andrew Ormond………….2-13

LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
2025: Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24 (Munster Round Robin)
2024: Cork 4-30 Tipperary 1-21 (Munster Round Robin)
2023: Cork 4-19 Tipperary 2-25 (Munster Round Robin)
2022: Cork 3-30 Tipperary 1-24 (Munster Round Robin)
2020: Tipperary 2-18 Cork 1-17 (All-Ireland Qualifier)

*This will be their fourth meeting of the year, with Cork leading 2-1 from the previous three. Tipperary won a Division 1A Allianz League group game by four points, while Cork had ten points to spare in the League Final and won the Munster ‘Round Robin’ game by fifteen points.

*Tipperary’s last championship win over Cork was in a 2020 All-Ireland Qualifier.

*Cork scored a total of 15-106 in their last four championship meetings with Tipperary.

*Cork are bidding to end a 20-year wait without an All-Ireland win, having last won in 2005 when they completed a double. Their previous longest gap was 16 years between 1903 and 1919.

*Tipperary won the last major clash with Cork, which was played in Croke Park. That in the 2014 All-Ireland semi-final, which they won by 2-18 to 1-11.

*Cork are bidding to complete and All-Ireland National League double for the first time since 1970.
2025 Records – Allianz League, Provincial and All-Ireland Championship
Cork: Played 13, Won 9, Drew 2, Lost 2
The defeats were against Tipperary in the Division 1A group game and against Limerick in the Munster ‘round robin).
Tipperary: Played 14; Won 10, Drew 1, Lost 3
The defeats were against Cork in the Allianz League Final and Munster ‘Round Robin’ and against Limerick in Division 1A.

HOW CORK WON THEIR 30 TITLES – DECADE BY DECADE
1890-99: 4
1900-09: 2
1910-19: 1
1920-29: 3
1930-39: 1
1940-49: 5
1950-59: 3
1960-69: 1
1970-79: 4
1980-89: 2
1990-99: 2
2000-09: 2

HOW TIPPERARY WON THEIR 28 TITLES: DECADE BY DECADE
1880-89: 1
1890-99: 4
1900-09: 3
1910-19: 1
1920-29: 1
1930-39: 2
1940-49: 2
1950-59: 3
1960-69: 4
1970-59: 1
1980-89: 1
1990-99: 1
2000-09: 1
2010-19: 3

Venue:

  • Croke Park