Limerick to host Cork in hurling league final after surviving late scare against Galway
RELENTLESS: Limerick goalscorers Aaron Gillane and Cathal O'Neill shared 2-10 between them as they beat Galway to reach the league final. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
Limerick will host Cork in the league final on Easter Sunday at 4pm after a cracker at TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night.
The favourites for All-Ireland glory were immense at times and led by 11 points at one stage of the second half. They looked at their brilliant best in the third quarter.
Yet they needed two goal-line saves deep into injury time from a Cathal Mannion free and then Brian Cancannon's ground pull on the rebound to survive. It was the most compelling contest of the season so far with some terrific scores and plenty of bite.
Galway started brightly and staged an epic fourth-quarter comeback. A second Treaty goal after Aaron Gillane pounced on a point-attempt that dropped down from the post looked to have decided matters but Galway were still within a puck of a sliotar of an upset.
The Tribe are the most-improved team this spring and we'll watch with interest to see if they can carry their form into Leinster, where Kilkenny look more vulnerable than they have in some time. Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland and Cillian Trayers have emerged as quality prospects and Micheál O'Donoghue has them hurling with better structure and far more aggression.
Matters in Munster are all that will occupy the Treaty and Cork for the time being as they prepare to collide in the league decider three weeks before a provincial showdown at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It will be Limerick's first championship outing while Cork face Tipperary in Thurles the week before.
The All-Ireland champions have flown under the radar after a patchy league and are no doubt delighted the spotlight is on Limerick and Cork for now. John Kiely's side have only faced the Rebels twice in finals across the modern era, the 2021 All-Ireland when they cruised to victory and last year's Munster decider that was decided on penalties.
The big plus for Limerick this weekend was their younger hurlers' new status as genuine leaders. Adam English excelled with four points from play from midfield and Cathal O'Neill was Man of the Match to the tune of 1-6. Aidan O'Connor remains ahead of Gillane as the free-taker and clipped a couple from play too.
Of course, having a fully-fit Nickie Quaid and an on-song Cian Lynch is hugely beneficial while Kyle Hayes stopped Mannion's free at the death before Concannon's rebound was scrambled out for a 65. The better team unquestionably won but it showed that Limerick aren't an unstoppable force either.
A league final so close to championship probably isn't ideal for Cork or Limerick but it's certain to be a memorable occasion that will generate interest the secondary national competition rarely does. It'll be a double-header, with Clare v Dublin in Division 1B as the opener.
Unlike the game earlier this month, Ben O'Connor and his selectors will pick as strong a starting 15 as they can. There will be a huge incentive to collect, or in Cork's case retain, the silverware and land a psychological blow heading into the summer.
Apart from a sluggish showing in their league opener away to Waterford, Limerick have ticked all the boxes so far in 2026 but Cork are always capable of rising to their challenge.
C O’Neill 1-6, A Gillane 1-4, A O’Connor 0-5 (0-3 f), A English 0-4, G Hegarty 0-3, D Reidy, D Ó Dálaigh 0-2 each, E Hurley 0-1 each.
A Niland 0-10 (0-8 f), C Mannion, J Rabbitte 0-4 each, D Neary 0-3, T Monaghan, C Whelan, C Molloy 0-2 each, R Glennon, P Mannion, T Killeen, B Concannon 0-1 each.
N Quaid; S Finn, D Langan, B Nash; D Byrnes, W O’Donoghue, K Hayes; A English, C Lynch; G Hegarty, A O’Connor, C O’Neill; A Gillane, S O’Brien, D Reidy.
D Ó Dálaigh for O’Brien (HT): E Hurley for Lynch (40-43, temporary); H Flanagan for Hegarty (56); M Casey for B Nash (62); P O’Donovan for O’Connor (64); C Coughlan for Byrnes (69).
D Fahy; J Ryan, C Trayers, D Morrissey; R Glennon, P Mannion, C Fahy; TJ Brennan, C Daniels; T Killeen, C Mannion, A Niland; T Monaghan, J Rabbitte, C Whelan.
S Morgan for Morrissey, D Neary for Fahy, C Molloy for Brennan (all HT); B Concannon for Monaghan (47, inj); S Linnane for Glennon (65).
C Mooney (Dublin).
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