Limerick and Galway meet in All Ireland Hurling final

Limerick and Galway will contest the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final at Croke Park in Dublin on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in a repeat of the 2018 decider that launched Limerick's era of dominance. The match, scheduled for a 3:30 p.m. start, is expected to draw a capacity crowd of over 82,000 spectators.

Limerick, managed by John Kiely, are seeking a sixth Liam MacCarthy Cup in nine seasons, having previously won four consecutive titles between 2020 and 2023. Their path to the final included reclaiming the Munster Championship and a hard-fought, two-point semifinal victory over Clare. In contrast, Galway, under returning manager Micheál Donoghue, have undergone a rapid resurgence this season. They captured the Leinster Championship and delivered an emphatic 11-point win over Cork in the semifinal, a performance that established them as serious contenders.

The final presents a clash of proven experience against surging momentum. Limerick's squad, with an average age nearing 30, boasts extensive championship pedigree and an unblemished record in All-Ireland finals under Kiely. Key players like Gearóid Hegarty, who was instrumental in the semifinal, and Diarmaid Byrnes...