Galway v Limerick live All-Ireland hurling final updates: Limerick lead by five at half-time

All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final: Galway 0-8 Limerick 0-13 (HT)

62 Mins: Aaron Gillane lobs over a joke of a point after basically doing keepie-uppies with the ball for a minute there. Galway 0-15 Limerick 1-25

61 Mins: Aaron Niland is off now after a great contribution in his first senior final. Hegarty wins a free after being dragged off the ball, and the Limerick fans over in the Cusack give him a standing ovation. Another for O’Connor and then Kyle Hayes wins the puckout and sends another over. Cathal Mannion misses another shot. Galway 0-15 Limerick 1-24

59 Mins: O’Connor score the free anyways. Cian Daniels does well to make progress for Galway, but then misses really poorly in front of the posts. Daragh Neary runs the length of Croke Park to get his first point. Peter Casey is now back on. Galway 0-15 Limerick 1-22

56 Mins: Red card for Galway. Ronan Glennon charges in on Peter Casey and catches him with a shoulder to the head. It’s a little harsh given there’s not too much contact, but it is text book stuff for the ref. It’ll be a handy free when Casey gets up. Galway 0-14 Limerick 1-21

54 Mins: After a sweeping Galway move, Tiernan Killeen goes to shoot and is blocked by one man and shouldered hard and fair by Cian Lynch on his left. That really exemplifies the effort and tackling of this Limerick performance. Galway 0-14 Limerick 1-21

52 Mins: Quaid finds O’Neill on his own on the wing and the half-forward slots it over. Galway work it up excellently, but a last ditch bit of pressure from English puts off Monaghan. Tiernan Killeen does well to win the ball but is then robbed and it’s an easy score for Casey. Dan Morrissey is on now for Mike Casey. Galway 0-14 Limerick 1-20

50 Mins: Cathal Mannion finally gets his first score of the final, with a great strike out wide on the Cusack side. There’s a bit of noise from the Galway following now. Galway 0-14 Limerick 1-19

49 Mins: Goal chance for Galway, but Daragh Neary puts it wide under huge pressure. Tom Monaghan tries to play the clever pass infield in the next play, but it’s cut out again. From the next play, he goes direct and scores. Galway 0-13 Limerick 1-19

47 Mins: Conor Cooney is on for Gavin Lee now, which will probably also mean some tactical changes for Galway. Aaron Niland hits a free from the 65′ over the bar. Tom Morrissey is on for Limerick in place of Shane O’Brien. Galway 0-12 Limerick 1-19

46 Mins: Galway win a long range free in their own half and go short, only to lose it in midfield again. Surely Micheál Donoghue will have to make a change quickly. Galway 0-11 Limerick 1-19

44 Mins: Aaron Niland gets another free and slots it over for his ninth of the game. Joshua Ryan is down needing treatment and it’ll be a much needed break for Galway. Galway 0-11 Limerick 1-19

43 Mins: Limerick are devouring Galway whole in the middle third. They win another Galway puckout and Casey scores this time. This one looks over already. Galway 0-10 Limerick 1-19

42 Mins: GOAL for Limerick! Kyle Hayes drives it into Gillane, who feeds O’Neill coming through on goal, who buries it into the corner brilliantly. Galway 0-10 Limerick 1-18

41 Mins: Tom Monaghan gets into a pocket of space along the Hogan sideline and gets his first score of the game. Gillane and Casey combine to get another Limerick score. Galway 0-10 Limerick 0-18

40 Mins: Byrnes strikes that wide unusually. Limerick win the puckout uncontested and Barry Nash points it, so the game is out to seven now. Limerick are surrounding the puckout so well. Then Peter Casey plays a lovely hand pass off the ground to O’Connor who pops it over. Galway 0-9 Limerick 0-17

38 Mins: Kyle Hayes wins the puckout and scores the most Kyle Hayes point you’ve ever seen, charging up the wing and banging it over. Shane O’Brien wins the ball in front then a minute later and it’s out for a 65′. Galway 0-9 Limerick 0-15

37 Mins: Limerick win the ball back in midfield again and O’Neill slots it over. Galway 0-9 Limerick 0-14

36 Mins: We’re back on now for the second half. Limerick will have the benefit of the wind this half playing into the Canal End. Galway work it up slowly under immense pressure, and Darragh Neary wins a free finally. Niland points it. Galway 0-9 Limerick 0-13

Denis Walsh gives us his thoughts at half-time of the All-Ireland hurling final:

"Limerick lead by five points, 0-13 to 0-8, after a first half that was increasingly bent to their will. Cian Lynch, the Limerick captain, has given a tour de force so far at centre field, on both sides of the ball. Gearóid Hegarty has continued in his Hurler of the Year form too and Aaron Gillane, with three points, is having his best day since the league final in April.

Galway have struggled badly to manage their own puck-outs. Hardly anything has stuck when they’ve hit the ball long, and when they hit the ball short the second and third passes are being hit with waves of Limerick pressure.

For scores they have depended on the dead-eye ball striking who has hit all but one of Galway’s scores, only one of which came from play. Young Jason Rabbitte won three frees with his first three possessions in the opening ten minutes, but after Mike Casey was booked Seán Finn was switched onto him and Galway have struggled to the get ball into his hand. Rabbitte got Galway’s only other score with a terrific shot from the sideline.

There has been a much greater variety to Limerick’s threat and by half-time they have six different scorers from play. Hegarty also forced two brilliant saves from Darach Fahy in the opening minutes."

Jason Rabbitte’s point from play is probably the pick of the scores from this half, but it highlights how isolated he is and how much work he has to do to get scores.

Here’s Darrach Fahy’s great save to keep out Gearóid Hegarty early on in the half:

Half-time: Galway 0-8 Limerick 0-13

A late yellow for Darragh Neary after a high tackle on Cian Lynch is the last action of the half. Galway really needed that half-time whistle to come, as Limerick were finally starting to press home their dominance.

36 Mins: Conor Whelan looks to be in space for a shot but his first touch is really poor. Limerick work it to O’Brien who hits the upright, but Gillane wins the break and points it. Galway 0-8 Limerick 0-13

34 Mins: Long free out from Limerick, claimed by Hegarty in the air, and he gets a well-earned free after Gellnon continually drags him back. O’Connor points that one handily. Galway 0-8 Limerick 0-12

33 Mins: Rabbitte is being brought back up the field a little as Conor Whelan goes inside. Galway win the ball but only keep it for about five seconds before it’s back in Limerick hands and then over the bar from Cian Lynch. Galway 0-8 Limerick 0-11

31 Mins: Jason Rabbitte goes down trying to win the ball again, but this time he gets no free. Seán Finn looks to have tripped him, but Colm Lyons obviously sees it as just a tangle of legs. Then Limerick break out, but there’s three catches and Niland gets an easy free for nothing. Galway 0-8 Limerick 0-10

29 Mins: Adam English gets an absolutely unreal score, taking it down with the stick and popping it over. Then Rabbitte gets his first with a savage score of his own, fielding it, thrashing away from the Limerick defence and hitting it from a narrow angle. Then Casey gets an easy enough score for Limerick. Galway 0-7 Limerick 0-9

28 Mins: Galway are just not being allowed to have anything without expending a huge effort at the minute. Limerick look in charge of things, and now Darren Morrisey is robbed in midfield, but the covering defenders do well to smother Peter Casey’s goal attempt. Galway 0-6 Limerick 0-8

26 Mins: Kyle Hayes plays a great diagonal ball into Gillane, who spins his man and pops it over the bar. Galway 0-6 Limerick 0-8

25 Mins: Galway do well to win the ball in their backline and Trayers absolutely levels Cathal O’Neill with a shoulder. But then Peter Casey nips in to rob it back. Possession is bounching from team to team in the middle of the field but eventually there’s a foul called on Jason Rabbitte from Barry Nash. Looks really harsh. Actually it’s for a wild swipe by Kyle Hayes on Tiernan Killeen, who had put that ball in, and Hayes sees yellow. Chaotic play. Niland gets the score. Galway 0-6 Limerick 0-7

22 Mins: Another score that looks all too easy from Limerick, as Hegarty wins another puckout and lays it to O’Neill for a score. Bit of afters between O’Connor and Niland on the sideline. Just shoving and pulling really. Galway 0-5 Limerick 0-7

20 Mins: A really poor miss from an unmarked Gearóid Hegarty. He hit it awkwardly off his left from just outside the 45′ and away outside the uprights. Galway launch it long and Whelan nearly got onto the break, but Seán Finn cleared it out for a 45′. Niland strikes, Niland scores. He has all of their scores so far. Galway 0-5 Limerick 0-6

18 Mins: Despite the positional swap, things haven’t gotten any easier for Mike Casey. His new man, Aaron Niland, wins the ball in front and slots Galway’s first from play over the bar. Then there’s another wasteful wide by Glennon, followed with one by Conor Whelan. Galway 0-4 Limerick 0-6

17 Mins: Diarmaid Byrnes continues his perfect start on the frees there, followed up by a savage point by Aidan O’Connor. Galway 0-3 Limerick 0-6

Malachy Clerkin gives an update from inside Croker: “An early moral victory for Galway - Mike Casey has been moved off Jason Rabbitte after that early yellow card. Sean Finn has gone over onto the young Galway full-forward, with Casey taking up Aaron Niland.”

15 Mins: Diarmaid Byrnes wins a free and really takes his time over it before striking it over from around halfway. Fahy’s long puckout goes straight to Kyle Hayes, but the eventual effort from Cathal O’Neil drifts wide. Fahy goes short now and Galway have trouble beating the press, as Ronan Glennon is forced to overcarry by Hegarty. Galway 0-3 Limerick 0-4

13 Mins: A small bit of a fracas down on the Hogan sideline, started between Aidan O’Connor and Cathal Mannion. Not much in it, but English and Pádraic Mannion both get yellows. That stemmed from Limerick getting immense pressure on the Galway backs trying to get out of defence, a feature so far. Galway 0-3 Limerick 0-3

11 Mins: A really easy looking score for Limerick, as Hegarty lucks the puckout from the sky and feeds the onrushing English who taps it over. Galway are looking to try some short puckouts now. Galway 0-3 Limerick 0-3

10 Mins: This is another easy one for Niland. Casey is now on a yellow too, so Rabbitte is doing his job well so far. Galway 0-3 Limerick 0-2

9 Mins: Peter Casey spoons an effort high into the air and HawkEye is called into action. It’s over the post, so it’s a Níl. Galway win the puckout but Limerick are winning a lot of the tussles in midfield. Adam English strikes from midfield and it comes down off the post. Rabbitte wins a third free off Casey there. Galway 0-2 Limerick 0-2

7 Mins: That second save from Fahy was very good on the replay, which shows Hegarty kicking the close-range effort into the ‘keeper’s body. Jason Rabbitte wins another free off Casey for a little trip, so he has started well. Niland strikes that over so it’s a level game again. Cathal Mannion goes for a free from just outside his own 45 and puts it wide. Galway 0-2 Limerick 0-2

5 Mins: A savage hook from Conor Whelan on Adam English gives Galway another chance, but Tom Monaghan takes on an ambitious shot and hits another wide. Gillane feeds Hegarty who ploughs through on goal again, but there’s another save from Fahy. Galway 0-1 Limerick 0-2

4 Mins: Wonderful top-corner save from Darach Fahy after a great strike by Hegarty. Gillane’s pass split the defence in two there, but Fahy got Galway out of early trouble. Diarmaid Byrnes hits the 65 and puts it over. Galway 0-1 Limerick 0-2

2 Mins: Aaron Gillane gets his first score of the day with his first touch, winning it out in front and slotting it perfectly. Galway 0-1 Limerick 0-1

1 Mins: A good start for Galway, who win a free in an easy spot for Aaron Niland to open the scoring. But there’s already two misses from the Tribesmen too. Galway 0-1 Limerick 0-0

As the parade gets underway, there’s just times to read Seán Moran’s preview of today’s game. Seán is just about shading the advantage to Limerick, but Galway can suprise the favourites.

[Limerick’s perseverance can round off a perfect season with All-Ireland win]

Catherine Connolly is now out to shake hands with the players, her first All-Ireland final as president.

Seán Moran brings us an update from Croke Park:

“The sunshine’s out for the All-Ireland hurling final and there is just one change in the announced match-day panels. Both teams play as selected but Galway have made one alteration to their replacements bench. Portumna forward Declan McLaughlin comes in, in place of Brian Concannon.

Limerick are in pursuit of a sixth All-Ireland in nine years and a first since 2023. Opponents Galway haven’t been here for an All-Ireland final in eight years since then very start of the Limerick supremacy in 2018."

No changes to either starting team, although Brian Concannon has been replaced on the Galway bench by Declan McLoughlin.

Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Cilllian Trayers, Darren Morrissey; Pádraic Mannion, Dáithí Burke, Ronan Glennon; Tiernan Killeen, Gavin Lee; Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion, Daragh Neary; Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland.

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

Nicky English reckons that there was something ‘freakish’ about the Limerick defeats in Croker the last two years, and that Galway might need something similar to get over the line today. Despite highlighting how Limerick play more in snatches than in their heyday a few years ago, he still think they have the advantage in today’s final.

[Nicky English: Galway are a rising power but Limerick have enough in the tank to win]

And here’s Nicky English’s guide to the Limerick lineup. Nicky is out in Croker now as the manager of the anniversary team today, Tipperary’s All-Ireland winning 2001 side.

[Nicky English’s player-by-player guide to Limerick’s starting team for the All-Ireland final]

Right, there’s only 50 minutes til throw-in now, so it’s time to get down to business. Here’s Joe Canning’s player-by-player guide to this Galway team.

[Joe Canning’s player-by-player guide to Galway’s starting team for the All-Ireland final]

Joe Canning was the marquee forward for Galway the last time they lifted the Liam McCarthy Cup in 2017. He says that Galway must be positive and put pressure on Limerick if they want to bridge that nine year gap and lift the All-Ireland again.

[Joe Canning: Galway must keep playing without fear as pushing up on Limerick is the best way to win]

These side have met three times in the All-Ireland hurling final, with Galway winning two (1923 and 1980), while Limerick won the latest clash in 2018. Limerick lead in terms of overall head-to-head record, with 10 wins to Galway’s four, with one draw.

Meanwhile, out in Connacht, Galway also had a big turnaround from last season to now. The return of Micheál Donoghue as manager was the first step, and he has pushed the team on to reach this final today. Kevin Egan writes about the remarkable turnaround of the Tribesmen.

[Micheál Donoghue on Galway’s reinvention: ‘These boys took to it really, really well’]

Limerick went out in the quarters last year to a 14-man Dublin, in one of the biggest shocks of the decade. That defeat led John Kiely to conduct an analysis of epic proportions to ensure a more successful year in 2026. Gordon Manning reports on the insane depth of detail the Limerick manager went to bring Limerick back to the top of hurling.

[John Kiely’s 2026 roadmap gave new meaning to leaving no stone unturned]

Although it’s easy to forget on All-Ireland final day, it’s not really been a classic hurling championship this year. In fact, Malachy Clerkin writes that today’s final might need to be a classic, especially with committees being set up for the game’s improvement and so much praise for the football season this year.

[Malachy Clerkin: Hurling’s twitchy, moody summer is badly in need of an epic All-Ireland final]

One of Galway’s key strengths is their full-forward line. With Aaron Niland and Conor Whelan in the corners, they are complimented brilliantly by a young talent as their target man, Jason Rabbitte. The 19-year-old inherited his ball winning (and the habit of wearing a hurling glove) from Joe, his dad, and has made a big impression in his debut season. Denis Walsh analyses the man of the match from Galway’s defeat of Cork two weeks ago.

[Something special in the heir: the rise of Jason Rabbitte, son of a Galway hero]

There’s been so much great coverage of the hurling final this week, from player profiles, to insight from Galway great Joe Canning and stories of John Kiely’s strenuous pre-season preparations. There’s so many different angles to this game, but just to set the scene first, here is Malachy Clerkin’s All-Ireland final by the numbers.

[The All-Ireland hurling final: By the numbers]

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2026 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final. We’re finally here; down to the last two and this year it’s Galway and Limerick who will battle it out in Croke Park.

Limerick have looked back to their best so far this year, winning the Munster title over Cork and snatching a late win over Clare in the semi-finals. Their last title was in 2023, when they completed a four-in-a-row.

Meanwhile, Galway came under the radar somewhat, and are definite underdogs in this final. However, their last two performances have been superb; first the Leinster final destruction of Dublin, and then their big win over Cork in the semis.

We’ll have blow-by-blow coverage of the match, as well as plenty to get you ready as we build up towards throw-in, so stick with us through the day.

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