Irresistible Limerick regain All-Ireland title with stunning win over Galway
A Cathal O’Neill goal put Limerick in control early in the second half - from here they pushed on
CHAMPIONS again. Limerick regained the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship title with a 1-29 to 1-18 against Galway on Sunday afternoon at Croke Park.
It is a 13th All-Ireland title for Limerick - and the sixth under the management of John Kiely.
After the four-in-a-row success that culminated in the 2023 win, the Shannonsiders regained the Holy Grail of the sport.
It completes a perfect season for Kiely’s charges - who won every trophy on offer in 2026.
From January’s Munster Hurling League, to the National League win on Easter Sunday to the Munster SHC crown earlier in the summer to the Liam MacCarthy - it has been a remarkable 2026 for the Limerick hurlers.
There was talk of this final being a ‘full circle’ moment - talk inspired by this repeat pairing of the 2018 final. But looking at this Limerick performance, and the performances all year, there is no indication that they are going anywhere.
The key moment - the goal in the 43rd minute - came from Cathal O’Neill. The Crecora-Manister man was starting an All-Ireland final for the first time - he made appearances as a sub in 2022 and ‘23.
Galway were direct from the first attack and looked to get the ball into Jason Rabbitte.
After an Aaron Niland free opened the scoring Aaron Gillane levelled matters 60 seconds later.
Gillane was dangerous from the off and almost set up an early goal. He played the ball to Gearoid Hegarty whose fierce shot was well saved by Darach Fahy. The resultant ‘65 was scored by Diarmaid Byrnes.
The Gillane-to-Hegarty combination caused more problems for the Galway defence who had Fahy to thank for a second wonderful save in the opening six minutes.
A pair of Niland frees put the Tribesmen back in front - all three converted frees conceded by Mike Casey who found himself yellow carded after just 10 minutes.
Limerick were good on possession and Adam English levelled the game before Byrnes knocked over a long-range free - one that he won himself.
Byrnes soon knocked over another before Aidan O’Connor got his first score in an All-Ireland final, a smart effort from play.
It was the second quarter before Galway scored from play - again Clarinbridge star Niland the one to trouble the umpires.
Niland, playing just his sixth ever Championship game, showing no nerves. Others in maroon a bit more tetchy - they hit five wides in the first 20 minutes.
While frees were keeping Galway in touching distance, Cathal O’Neill and Gillane added scores from play to keep the Shannonsiders in front.
An exceptional score from Adam English after tough defending from Sean Finn broke the Galway attack.
Rabbitte responded with a wonderful point from a tight angle before Peter Casey restored the three-point advantage on the half-hour mark.
Limerick ended the first half well on top - scores from Lynch, O’Connor (free) and Gillane’s third from play gave the men in green a 0-13 to 0-8 interval advantage.
Frees conceded would have been the biggest concern for Limerick when the management team got the players into the dressing room.
Galway needed a good start to the second half and a Niland free opened the scoring after the interval - his eighth point, Galway’s ninth of this final.
O’Neill quickly responded though as Limerick kept the pace high.
Kyle Hayes and Barry Nash added long-range scores before Tom Monaghan got one back.
Aidan O’Connor extended the lead before the game’s first major moment. In control of the ball but seemingly stuck in the corner, Aaron Gillane picked out O’Neill. The Crecora-Maniser man shot low and hard - and finally Limerick beat Fahy. Peter Casey quickly added another and just like that the Treaty had a 1-19 to 0-10 lead.
In 10 blistering minutes to start the second half, Limerick had added 1-6.
Galway, to their credit, responded with a pair of Niland frees - the Clarinbridge youngster now in double figures for his personal tally.
Monaghan and Cathal Mannion ate into the lead before O’Neill settled the Treaty down.
Casey added his fourth of the day before shipping a high, heavy challenge from Ronan Glennon - which led to the Galway wing-back receiving a straight red card.
Points from O’Connor, Hayes and GIllane ensured there would be no late, dramatic comeback and the MacCarthy Cup would reside Shannonside for the winter.
O’Neill and Lynch added injury time points to ensure a huge margin of victory for Kiely and his men.
Conor Cooney goaled from a Galway penalty with the last puck of the game.
SCORERS - Limerick: Cathal O’Neill 1-4; Aidan O’Connor 0-5 (3f); Peter Casey, Aaron Gillane and Diarmaid Byrnes (2f, ‘65) 0-4 each; Adam English, Kyle Hayes and Cian Lynch 0-2 each; Barry Nash and David Reidy 0-1 each.
Galway: Aaron Niland 0-10 (8f, 1 ‘65); Conor Cooney 1-2 (1-0 pen, f); Tom Monagan 0-2; Jason Rabbitte, Cathal Mannion, Darragh Neary and Colm Molloy 0-1 each.
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.
Subs: Tom Morrissey for O’Brien (47 mins); Dan Morrissey for Mike Casey (52 mins); David Reidy for Peter Casey (temporary, 57-59 mins); Darragh O’Donovan for English (62 mins); David Reidy for O’Connor (67 mins); Colin Coughlan for Finn (69 mins).
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.
Subs: Conor Cooney for Lee (47 mins); Cian Daniels for Monaghan (54 mins); Colm Molloy for Niland (59 mins); John Flemming for Killeen (59 mins); Sean Linnane for Mannion (70 mins).
REFEREE: Colm Lyons (Cork).