Galway dominate Cork to reach All-Ireland final
Galway progressed to the All-Ireland hurling championship decider after a comprehensive victory over Cork at Croke Park, marking their return to the showpiece event for the first time since 2018. The achievement caps a resurgent season in which they also claimed a provincial championship after an eight-year absence.
Galway's success hinged on tactical discipline and distributed attacking power. Cork managed only five points after half-time as Galway's defensive organisation restricted their playmaking, whilst the winners demonstrated attacking depth with contributions from 14 different scorers, capped by substitute Conor Cooney's game-leading tally. The Rebels' difficulties intensified when captain Darragh Fitzgibbon received a red card in the closing stages, completing a familiar pattern of second-half decline in their recent major-final appearances.
- Galway defeated Cork 2-26 to 1-18 to reach their first All-Ireland hurling final since 2018
- A defensive strategy that suffocated Cork proved decisive, with Galway's 14 different scorers contrasting sharply against Cork's narrow attacking options and second-half collapse (5 points)
- Cork captain Darragh Fitzgibbon's dismissal late in the match compounded a performance mirroring their struggles in recent championship finals