Hurlers set for final clash against Dublin

Croke Park to host on Saturday

THIS year's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship has witnessed something of a shake-up with six in-a-row holders Kilkenny suffering their earliest exit since 1996 and Offaly’s upward trajectory carrying them to a top three finish and first All-Ireland quarter-final appearance since 2003.

Saturday evening's provincial final showdown at Croke Park between Galway and Dublin, second and first in the standings, brings together the competition's two best teams and certainly has a novel feel to it.

For so long, Leinster was Kilkenny's world with 77 titles to their name - more than all other counties together on 60 - as well as finishing runners-up another 31 times. You generally have to go through the Cats to win the Bob O'Keeffe Cup and that trend has continued to a large degree as both finalists defeated them in the round-robin. A draw with Offaly also contributed hugely to the Noresiders' demise.

Though Galway's opening round victory over Kilkenny stands as their benchmark performance of the season (3-25 to 1-16), Micheál Donoghue's charges have struggled to recapture those lofty heights since then in victories against Offaly (2-26 to 1-18), Kildare (4-22 to 1-22) and Wexford (2-31 to 3-20), as well as a loss to Dublin (0-21 to 3-16). Slow starts have become a worrying theme in recent outings, too.

Dublin's unbeaten campaign started with a draw against Offaly (2-28 to 4-22) before four wins on the bounce over Kildare (3-24 to 1-19), Wexford (2-21 to 0-22), Galway, and most recently Kilkenny (1-26 to 0-22). Their graph has been trending upwards and that latter result came with a red-letter performance and was all the more impressive as they had to absorb the loss of defensive lynchpin Liam Rushe in the warm-up. Eoghan O'Donnell has been a notable absentee of late also.

Galway have suffered more than their share of setbacks on the injury front, particularly in attack, and it remains to be seen if their starting XV will be bolstered by returnees this weekend. 2025 All-Star Cathal Mannion, Aaron Niland and Rory Burke all missed the come-from-behind victory in Wexford. In a positive development, Niland featured in Sunday's U-20 All-Ireland final against Clare.

Kieran Hanrahan (Achilles) will miss out after his injury in Wexford, while Daithí Burke soldiered through an early ankle problem and turned in a terrific display. His importance to Galway's prospects can't be understated, particularly against the threat that Ronan Hayes and John Hetherton both carried in the air when Dublin went direct and struck late goals to take the spoils in Salthill.

Dublin won round robin tie

Hitting 12 wides with the wind during the first half was a crippling number from Galway's perspective that day. They would finish with 17 to their opponents' three and leaked a giveaway goal to the bang in-form Dónal Burke. Dublin defenders Paddy Smyth and Paddy Doyle were superb in their individual duels with Conor Whelan and Jason Rabbitte, while Brian Hayes netted their decisive injury-time goal against Galway and turned in a man of the match performance against Kilkenny.

Galway have shipped three goals in each of their last two outings. In contrast, Dublin have recorded clean sheets in both of theirs. Should Niall Ó Ceallacháin's charges dominate the green flag battle so comprehensively again, it could well be fatal for the westerners' chances.

Galway's selections in 2026 have mixed the experienced with the new. Seasoned campaigners like Daithí Burke, Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney and brothers Padraic and Cathal Mannion are looking to add to their provincial medal hauls. For a sizeable cohort, including captain Darren Morrissey and vice-captain Gavin Lee, plus newcomers to the first XV such as Cillian Trayers, Joshua Ryan, Cian Daniels, Aaron Niland, Rory Burke and Jason Rabbitte, it's an opportunity to pick up a first.

It's Galway versus Dublin for only the second time in Leinster final history, bridging a 13-year gap to the first when the Tribesmen were dethroned on a 2-25 to 2-13 scoreline at GAA headquarters.

Historical record

Though Dublin are contesting their 62nd decider and targeting a 25th title, the county has been success-starved in hurling with 2013 their only winning year in the last 65. To put into further context, Dublin's footballers have won 36 of their 63 Leinster titles in the intervening time.

For Galway, it's a 12th decider since their first foray into the province in 2009 and they have designs on lifting the Bob O'Keeffe for a fourth time following on from 2012, '17 and '18.

Dublin come in with superior form but should Galway absorb the lessons from Salthill three weeks ago and tap into their display against Kilkenny on the championship's opening day, a seismic victory could thrust them back into the national spotlight by Saturday evening.

Throw-in at Croke Park is timed for 6pm with neighbours Carlow and Laois meeting in the day's curtain-raiser in the Joe McDonagh Cup final (3.45pm). RTÉ will broadcast both matches live.