Mannion and Niland return for Galway's Leinster SHC final with Dublin

Tribesmen target fourth provincial title

GALWAY manger Micheál Donoghue has made two changes to his team for Saturday evening's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship final showdown with Dublin at Croke Park.

2025 All-Star Cathal Mannion and Aaron Niland return to the starting XV after missing their come-from-behind victory over Wexford a fortnight ago. Niland featured in the county's U-20 All-Ireland final defeat to Clare last Sunday.

The duo come in for Joshua Ryan and Evan Niland in a reshuffled line-up that sees Gavin Lee revert to defence and Tiernan Killeen to midfield.

Rory Burke, who last featured in Galway's win over Kildare, is a notable inclusion on the bench. The fit-again Fintan Burke is also named among the subs.

DUBLIN SELECTION

Meanwhile, Niall Ó Ceallacháin has made three changes to the Dublin team that started their recent win over Kilkenny.

Eoghan O’Donnell, Liam Rushe and Darragh Power are included in the starting line-up, replacing John Bellew, Conor McHugh and David Purcell.

O'Donnell last saw action in Dublin's win over Wexford and missed their recent fixtures with Galway and Kilkenny due to injury. Rushe, so impressive in their round-robin victory in Salthill, was a late withdrawal for their clash with the Cats after pulling up in the warm-up.

It's a 12th Leinster final for Galway since their first foray into the province in 2009. They are bidding to capture the Bob O'Keeffe Cup for a fourth time following on from 2012, '17 and '18. Dublin are chasing their 25th title and a first since 2013.

Throw-in at Croke Park is timed for 6pm on Saturday with neighbours Carlow and Laois meeting in the day's curtain-raiser in the Joe McDonagh final (3.45pm).

GALWAY: Darach Fahy (Ardrahan); Ronan Glennon (Mullagh), Cillian Trayers (Turloughmore), Darren Morrissey (captain, Sarsfields); Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), Daithí Burke (Turliughmore), Gavin Lee (Clarinbridge); Tiernan Killeen (Loughrea), Cian Daniels (Tommy Larkins); Tom Monaghan (Craughwell), Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), Darragh Neary (Castlegar); Jason Rabbitte (Athenry), Conor Whelan (Kinvara), Aaron Niland (Clarinbridge). Subs: Éanna Murphy (Tommy Larkins), Joshua Ryan (Clarinbridge), Fintan Burke (St. Thomas'), Shane Morgan (Loughrea), Cianan Fahy (Ardrahan), Seán Linnane (Turloughmore), John Fleming (Meelick-Eyrecourt), Colm Molloy (Kilnadeema-Leitrim), Conor Cooney (St. Thomas'), Rory Burke (Oranmore-Maree), Brian Concannon (Killimordaly).