Brothers in Arms

Padraic and Cathal Mannion have been leading lights with Galway for over a decade

FROM bust to boom. Also-rans in 2025, hurling's headline story in '26. Galway's rejuvenation has been a seismic development in a rapidly evolving intercounty landscape.

The transformation brought about by Micheál Donoghue, Frannie Forde, Noel Larkin, Aidan Harte and co has been astutely crafted and come with a whole host of fresh faces that have, in many respects, been emblematic of that regeneration.

It's not all that surprising given All-Ireland semi-final man of the match Jason Rabbitte, Cillian Trayers, Joshua Ryan, Cian Daniels, Darragh Neary, Aaron Niland and Rory Burke have lit up the championship at various stages.

Spearheading the accelerated progress, though, is an experienced core. A cohort of seasoned veterans essential to any successful team. Celtic Cross medal holders who have been there, done it and are au fait with success on All-Ireland day - albeit nine years in the rear-view mirror.

Daithí Burke, Conor Whelan and Conor Cooney fall into that category with Galway along with the Mannion brothers, Padraic and Cathal, who at 33- and 31-years-old, respectively, continue to set and drive standards in Donoghue's new-look side.

Though Cathal is a year and-a-half younger, his championship debut under Anthony Cunningham against Laois in 2014 predates Padraic's against Dublin in '15. Their incredible longevity is reflected in 139 championship appearances, Padraic's 70 edging Cathal's 69.

Their combined All-Star award collection is five - Padraic's three (2017, '18 and '22) outranking Cathal's two (2015 and '25) with both in contention to add more.

Padraic was the unanimous pick as The Sunday Game's Hurler of the Year in 2018 before the official GAA-GPA gong went to Limerick's Cian Lynch that winter. Cathal is the most recent award winner, his second coming a decade after his first, one that took Galway's total haul up to 147.

In the hard currency of medals, they've won it all with Galway - National Hurling Leagues in 2017 and '21; Leinsters in '17, '18 and '26; the Holy Grail of Liam MacCarthy Cup success against Waterford in 2017. Add in final appearances in 2015 (draw and replay) and '18, the latter when conquered by Limerick, and the duo bring a wealth of experience and know-how to a team in obvious transition.

Sons of Tomás and Marie, the siblings hail from the townland of Shruffane in Caltra and though neither lives at home, Padraic admits it's an ideal haven to spend time ahead of the biggest fixture on the GAA calendar.

"They're all very grounded and very low-key so they won't be getting too excited about anything. It's a nice, safe space to go to, the environment you want to be in. Our home house is very good that way. They're very grounded and very relaxed, so it's great."

Do players get to savour the build-up to All-Ireland final day?

"It's very enjoyable because we're still meeting up together," replies Padraic. "That's the kind of enjoyable part. If you're preparing for an All-Ireland final and you don't enjoy the little bit of edginess that comes with it, there's no point doing it.

"You have to enjoy it, but that doesn't mean you enjoy the circus that's going on outside. But you enjoy the players' perspective of it. You have to. Sure, what's the point doing it, if you can't do that?

"Obviously, when you're coming into big games, it's very easy to get uptight about it and get tense about it. You have to remind yourself what a position we're in, what an opportunity we have."

They have come up the ranks wearing the colours of Kilglass National School, St. Cuan's College, Castleblakeney, University of Galway and Ahascragh-Fohenagh en route to becoming fixtures at senior level in maroon and white.

"Michael Nee was our principal in Kilglass," Padraic recalls of his influences in schools' hurling alongside those in Ahascragh-Fohenagh. "I get to meet him in Pearse Stadium before games, it’s nice. He used to train us after school, put in a lot of effort and brought everybody in the classroom to the matches. He gave us great opportunities. It’s lovely to meet him before some of the games."

"Tim Byrnes from Pearses and Jim Minogue from Clare, he’s still there, they put a huge emphasis on hurling in the school [St. Cuan's]. The closest we got was when we lost a B final to Raphael’s. That was as good as it got. We didn’t have too much success. Hurling was huge in school though, every lunchtime we’d be out hurling."

Padraic and Cathal are among a sizeable cohort of teachers on the Galway panel. Along with their cousin Brian Concannon, Dan Loftus and captain Darren Morrissey, both are now employed in their alma matar - Padraic teaching maths and science, Cathal on PE.

"I suppose everyone is busy in school, there’s very few times that we are all sitting down together," explains Cathal. "We see each other a lot outside of school which is great. Regardless of who you are talking to, there's probably a lot of sport to talk. It’s great to have the lads around."

Cathal's positioning has been much deeper in 2026 compared to 2025 when he scored 2-67. It's a job description that he is comfortable with, having filled it regularly with Ahascragh-Fohenagh.

"I’ve played midfield a lot with the club and a lot of underage, so there’s very little difference to be honest," Cathal says. "Nowadays, if you look at any midfielder, you’ll find them anywhere on the pitch. They have to get back, help out, get forward and get a score or provide a score whatever the case is. I just try and do what the lads ask me to do. You could find yourself anywhere, picking up anyone at any stage. That’s the reality of it."

Facing Limerick will bring back memories of previous battles. The Shannonsiders started their extraordinary run of five All-Irelands in six seasons when dethroning Galway by a point in the decider. They've also won three semi-finals between the counties in the intervening period.

"They have been the most consistent team," states Padraic. "You have to be at the top of your game if you want to beat them. They’ve shown it again this year. It’s going to be a massive challenge, the biggest one so far this year. Our job as players now is to prepare as best we can and if we do, it gives you confidence to go into the game. That’s our aim."

Being underdogs in something that doesn't unduly concern Cathal and be believes Leinster silverware has injected major confidence into the setup.

"To be honest, what happens outside we don’t [pay attention to it] whether it’s good or bad. I’m sure there’s been many times this year there’s been a lot of negativity around. If you've been listening to it, you’d been wondering why would we even come back playing. Favourites or not it doesn’t matter, that’s everyone else's job outside.

"With the league, we didn't get the results in every game, but we put in a lot of good performances and you could see patterns coming. In the round-robin, Kilkenny was a big game for us because it was the first game and a home game as well.

"After that, it was literally game by game. We were well tested up in Newbridge, well tested down in Wexford. Two big second half performances there. They obviously put us in the position to get to the Leinster final and that was our target. It was a massive to come over that."

While as many as 10 or possibly 11 players will play their first All-Ireland senior finals for Galway on Sunday, the elder statesmen in the group return after eight years away. Padraic admits it's important to stay focussed in the build-up.

"It’s probably different now, social media has gone so big you’ll see an awful lot more about it to even back then. The biggest thing is it’s just a game of hurling and they know that already. The things that got you here are the things to focus on. You don’t need to do anything drastically different, prepare the same as you would for any other game and just enjoy it."

Cathal adds: "It’s up to each individual but personally I just get off it [social media]. You surround yourself with the right people. We’ll obviously be meeting up quite a lot as a group. They are the surroundings you want to be in and they are the people you want to be with. It doesn't change."

"Back then [in 2017 and '18], we probably thought we'd be in them [finals] more frequently," says Padraic. "And when you're young and naive, you think that's the way. But as you get more experience, you learn how hard it is. Other teams are really, really good as well. It's very hard to consistently get back there and even harder to win them. We're in a good position now and you always have a chance."

"Experience tells you that it is another game," commented Cathal. "It’s no different to the last day or the Leinster final. You implement what got us here. From experience, that’s what we have learned. The next day is no different, it is just another game to be honest at the end of the day.

"We prepare to go right up to the 70th or 75th minute. And I think if you stick to the plan that we've shown that we've done a lot, even when you have a rocky patch or when the other team gets a purple patch, if you can stay doing what you're doing, stay doing your job and hopefully at the end, that will put you in a position to be successful. The result, hopefully, will take care of itself."

The annals for Galway GAA history is enriched by famous brothers and families. Padraic and Cathal Mannion have been in that exalted company for more than a decade playing and excelling at the highest level.