The Liam McCarthy Cup is on the line as Limerick and Galway do battle in the 2026 All-Ireland Hurling Final at Croke Park.
- Fixture: Limerick vs Galway – 2026 All-Ireland Hurling Final
- Venue: Croke Park
- Date: Sunday, July 19
- Throw-in: 15:30
- TV: RTE & BBC NI
- Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)
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Overview
Limerick and Galway battle to take home the Liam MacCarthy in what will be the first meeting between the sides in a final since 2018, when Limerick won by a point. Limerick are looking to win the title for a 13th time while Galway are seeking a sixth victory in the Hurling showpiece.
The last five championship meetings between the sides have all been close finishes. The biggest winning margin for either side was nine points when Limerick came out on top in the All-Ireland Semi-Final of 2023.
Limerick
Limerick have impressed this year, scoring 12 goals in their 6 games. Victories over Clare, Waterford and Tipperary in the Munster round robin series led to a clash with Cork in the Munster Final, who had beaten them earlier on in the campaign.
In the Munster Final, Limerick trailed from the eighth minute until the 70th but came good when it mattered most. Aidan O’Connor (0-8) was prolific from placed balls as ever, and Gearóid Hegarty (1-1) also pitched in to help Limerick over the line. Nicky Quaid pulled off some incredible saves too.
They moved to an All-Ireland Semi-Final against Clare, and it was shades of what happened in the Munster Final for Limerick. Clare led 0-16 to 0-11 at the interval, but upped the ante at the start of the second half as they cut the gap to one. Gearóid Hegarty was once again asserting dominance, but Clare settled and pushed the gap to three points with twenty minutes to play.
A huge moment followed: Peter Duggan was hauled to the ground by Nickie Quaid, and a penalty was the outcome. Tony Kelly found the net and Limerick would have to try and drag themselves back into the game. That is exactly what they did with four pointed frees, and then the defining score as Aidan O’Connor rattled the ball into the net beyond the dive of Eibhear Quilligan.
Galway
Galway are back in an All-Ireland Final for the first time since 2018 and their goal scoring prowess this season has shown their dominance. They have found the net on seventeen occasions, but defensively it has been worrying, as they have conceded fourteen.
Victories in the Leinster Round Robin series over Kilkenny, Offaly and Kildare early on set the standard, and then they suffered defeat against Dublin. A barnstorming second half helped them see off Wexford 2-31 to 3-20.
They moved into a Leinster Final against Dublin, and many people thought it would finish closer than it did. Galway would win the game by fourteen points in the end on a scoreline of 4-29 to 4-15. Aaron Niland (1-8) and Tom Monaghan (0-7) impressed, and fans of the Tribesmen will be looking for similar from both players this weekend.
The All-Ireland Semi-Final came against Cork, a side that Limerick knew plenty about from a couple of meetings in Munster. It was a stunning second-half performance that was the main talking point. They had fourteen different scorers on the day, and the strength of the bench was emphasised by the fact that Conor Cooney came on and grabbed himself (1-1) and finished top scorer for his side on the day.
Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion and Aaron Niland all grabbed three points apiece and similar scoring from Galway will make them a major threat to Limerick on Sunday. Darragh Neary, who found the net early (below), is also a man in top form this year.
2026 All-Ireland Hurling Final Verdict
Prediction: Limerick 2-24 Galway 2-27
Limerick vs Galway Betting Tips
- Best Bet: Galway (5/2)
- First Goalscorer: Tom Monaghan (16/1)
- RTE Man Of The Match: Aaron Niland (16/1)
How to bet on the 2026 All-Ireland Hurling Final
Looking to get involved in the action? Full markets on Limerick vs Galway can be found on the BAR 1 Betting website & app.
With the All-Ireland Football Final to follow on Sunday, July 26, be sure to check out the markets for Mayo vs Kerry.
