Evening all and welcome along to our Leinster hurling final coverage. It’s Dublin against Galway in the big one at Croke Park with a 6pm throw-in time.

A novel pairing, their only previous final meeting was in 2013 when Dublin enjoyed a famous success, their last Leinster title win. Galway’s most recent Leinster triumph was after a replay in 2018.

The province has largely been in the grip of Kilkenny, who have strung together the last six championships. In a time of change, the Cats have failed to emerge from the Leinster round-robin this season after Dublin’s success a fortnight ago in Parnell Park.

Offaly secured the coveted third spot, but the silverware is up for grabs tonight between Niall Ó Ceallacháin’s Dublin and Michéal Donoghue’s Galway. Who’s your tip to win it out?

Galway boss Micheal Donoghue. Evan Logan / INPHO Evan Logan / INPHO / INPHO

Dublin manager Niall Ó Ceallacháin. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The curtain-raiser has just finished, Laois winning the Joe McDonagh Cup final by 1-27 to 1-18 against Carlow.

We’ll have a report shortly from Croke Park with Paul Keane covering that game for us.

Fans heading towards Croke Park for this one, interesting to see what size of a crowd there will be, come 6pm for this one.

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

A Croke Park update from Declan Bogue, our man on the ground this evening:

A sparse crowd here to be honest and three changes; Conor McHugh for Eoghan O’Donnell and Brendan Kenny – who has played around 20 minutes of county hurling this year – for Cian O’Sullivan, while Galway replace Gavin Lee with Rory Burke.

So here’s the starting teams:

Dublin 

1. Eddie Gibbons (Kilmacud Crokes)

2. Paddy Doyle (Naomh Barróg), 3. Paddy Smyth (Clontarf), 20. Conor McHugh (Na Fianna)

5. Chris Crummey (Lucan Sarsfields), 6. Liam Rushe (Na Fianna), 7. Conor Burke (St Vincent’s)

8. Brian Hayes (Kilmacud Crokes), 9. Conor Donohoe (Erin’s Isle)

10. Fergal Whitely (Kilmacud Crokes), 11. Dónal Burke (Na Fianna), 12. Darragh Power (Fingallians)

26. Brendan Kenny (Kilmacud Crokes), 14. John Hetherton (St Vincent’s), 15. Conal Ó Riain (Kilmacud Crokes)

*****

Galway

1. Darach Fahy (Ardrahan)

2. Ronan Glennon (Mullagh) 3. Cillian Trayers (Turloughmore), 4. Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields – captain)

5. Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), 6. Daithi Burke (Turloughmore), 25. Rory Burke (Oranmore-Maree)

8. Tiernan Killeen (Loughrea), 9. Cian Daniels (Tommy Larkins)

10. Tom Monaghan (Craughwell), 11. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh Fohenagh), 12. Darragh Neary (Castlegar),

13, Jason Rabbitte (Athenry), 14. Conor Whelan (Kinvara), 15. Aaron Niland (Clarinbridge)

Almost set for throw-in at Croke Park.

Game on, Michael Kennedy from Tipperary is the referee for this one.

Galway 0-1 Dublin 0-0

2 mins – Conor Whelan grabs the game’s opening score for Galway.

Galway 0-2 Dublin 0-1

2 mins – Tom Monaghan squares a neat pass for Rory Burke to split the posts, then John Hetherton enters the contest, a superb shot over his shoulder for a point for Dublin.

Galway 0-3 Dublin 0-1

4 mins – Aaron Niland off target with his first shot of the game. No matter, he grabs the resultant puckout and fires a hand pass inside to Tom Monaghan, the Craughwell man clipping over a score.

Galway 0-4 Dublin 0-1

5 mins – Galway have settled well. They bring players back into defence, work it neatly through the lines and a free is awarded inside for a foul by Paddy Smyth on Jason Rabbitte. Aaron Niland nails the close-range free.

Galway 0-4 Dublin 0-2

6 mins – That is sensational from Brian Hayes! He gathers a handpass from Liam Rushe, accelerates upfield, leaving Galway players trailing in his wake, and then hands off to Conor Burke, the St Vincent’s man pointing. Galway counter, go direct to Rabbitte who fetches and is fouled, his U20 colleague Niland pointing.

Galway 0-7 Dublin 0-3

10 mins - Points traded, Fergal Whitely from a central attacking spot for Dublin, Cathal Mannion from distacne for Galway. Then Rabbitte turns scorer for Galway, the gap is out to four.

Goal for Galway from Darragh Neary!

Galway 1-7 Dublin 0-3

12 mins - Galway strike an early blow! Dublin are turned over in possession coming out of defence, Conor Whelan seizes and Galway counter with the Dublin defence stretched and a wide open gap appearing in front of the Dublin goal. Rory Burke tears through and unselfishly flicks the ball to his right, allowing Darragh Neary the simple task to tap to the net.

Burke has been injured in the build-up though, as has defender Daithi Burke. Two injury issues for Galway! Conor Cooney is in for Rory Burke, looks like Daithi Burke will try to play on.

GOAL 🚨

The dream start for @Galway_GAA as Darragh Neary finds the back of the net to give the Tribesmen a seven point lead 🔥#DUBvGAL pic.twitter.com/Z8eytrxjVF

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 6, 2026

15 mins - Dublin have a huge chance to get back into this. It’s route one stuff to Hetherton, who gathers, gets in behind the defence and unleashes a drive that Darach Fahy is equal to in the Galway goal. 

Galway 1-8 Dublin 0-5

17 mins - Points traded, Brendan Kenny on target for Dublin, then Niland replies for Galway. Conal Ó Riain adds another one for Dublin.

Galway 1-9 Dublin 0-6

20 mins - Conor Whelan lobs over a point from play for Galway, Donal Burke hits back with a free for Dublin. Six in it after 20 minutes.

Dublin's Fergal Whitely with Tiernan Killeen of Galway. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO

Darragh Neary celebrates his goal for Galway. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Galway 1-9 Dublin 0-8

23 mins - Dublin gain bit of momentum, Conor Burke points from play, Donal Burke nails a free. Galway might be aggrieved with the latter passage of play, Rabbitte made a brilliant catch but was harshly blown for over-carrying when he hit the ground, it looked like the Dublin defence might have fouled him. But the gap is down to four.

Goal for Dublin from Conal Ó Riain!

Galway 1-10 Dublin 1-8

25 mins - The gap narrow now! A raking delivery down the right wing by Conor Donohoe in the direction of Ó Riain, the Kilmacud Crokes player turns the defence neatly and races in from the right. He could have tapped over a handy point, instead he went for broke and lashed home a fierce drive to the net past Fahy. Tom Monaghan responds with a badly-needed point for Galway.

Galway 1-11 Dublin 1-8

27 mins - Three points in it now. Rabbitte is causing wreck up front for Galway, he claims a delivery and is fouled, Niland taps over the resultant free. Big change for Dublin, Ronan Hayes is pressed into action, Darragh Power comes off.

Galway 1-12 Dublin 1-9

30 mins - Galway haven’t lost their composure since the setback of that Dublin goal. They string together some lovely passes, Neary makes ground on the left wing, wriggling away from Dublin defence and draws a foul. No mistake from Niland by the free. Dublin counter as Rushe surges forward and feeds Whitely to point.

Galway 1-13 Dublin 1-10

32 mins - Galway pick off a score through Tom Monaghan, his third of the evening, well set up by Conor Whelan who spotted him in space. Dublin respond again, midfielder Conor Donohoe knocking a shot over.

Galway 1-14 Dublin 1-11

35 mins - Dublin almost break through for a point through the searing pace of Hayes but Galway win possession break and draw a free. Mannion picks a perfect pass to Ronan Glennon who points, Kilmacud man Brendan Kenny keeps Dublin in touch with a score. Two minutes of injury-time in store.

Galway 1-15 Dublin 1-11

37 mins - Brendan Kenny off then with what looks a hamstring injury for Dublin, David Purcell comes in. Conor Whelan had earlier smashed over a point for Galway.

Half-Time: Galway 1-15 Dublin 1-11

Second-half action is underway! Four points in it in favour of Galway.

Galway 1-17 Dublin 1-11

37 mins - Galway aren’t hanging around in this second half. Tom Monaghan sets up Conor Whelan for a point, Cathal Mannion sets up Monaghan for a point, and the gap is gone to six. Galway pulling Dublin apart here.

Galway 1-17 Dublin 1-12

39 mins - Whitely lofts over a shot from the Hogan Stand side into the Hill, Dublin needed that. They’ve also just lost Chris Crummey through injury, Eoghan O’Donnell comes in.

Galway 1-18 Dublin 1-12

41 mins - Cathal Mannion delightfully floats over a sideline cut for Galway and this is a decent cushion for them.

So close for Dublin! Ronan Hayes narrowly wide as he whips the ball past Darach Fahy. Dublin pushed hard there but got no scoring reward. It’s all gone pretty flat since half-time, Galway in control.

Couple chances float away for Galway, Whelan from play, Mannion from a free. Six in it after 44 minutes.

Galway 1-18 Dublin 1-13

45 mins - Ronan Hayes trying his best to ignite a Dublin charge. He does really well to engineer the space to lob over a point.

Galway 1-21 Dublin 1-13

47 mins - Galway are finding space so much easier. Monaghan with his fifth from play, then defender Ronan Glennon gets in on the act, and so does Aaron Niland from play. This game is really stretching away from Dublin.

Subs: Dublin bring in Andrew Dunphy and Seán Currie, Liam Rushe and Conor Donohoe make way.

That was an injury which forced Rushe off.

Galway 1-21 Dublin 1-14

50 mins - Donal Burke, who’s been pretty quiet today, converts a free for Dublin. Seven down with 20 minutes left, they need to lift this for a huge comeback.

Galway 1-23 Dublin 1-14

51 mins - Galway just finding scores from several sources, Conor Cooney lobs over after being fed by Rabbitte. Dublin’s woes continue, Conor McHugh going off injured, the latest withdrawal. David Purcell had a chance before Cooney’s score but he was denied by the tenacity of the Galway rearguard. Tiernan Killeen with another point for Galway.

Subs: McHugh seems set to soldier on for Dublin. Galway bring in fresh legs, Gavin Lee and Joshua Ryan in, while off comes Cian Daniels and Ronan Glennon.

Penalty for Dublin and it’s a black card for Galway’s Conor Whelan!

Goal for Dublin from Donal Burke!

Galway 1-23 Dublin 2-14

56 mins - Could this be a major turning point? Donal Burke smashes his penalty to the net, Whelan is off the pitch. Can Dublin take advantage?

Galway 1-24 Dublin 2-14

57 mins – Joshua Ryan surges upfield for Galway and gets a heavy challenge from Conor McHugh, who escapes with a yellow card. Niland gives bit of breathing space to Galway with the pointed free.

Galway 1-24 Dublin 2-15

59 mins - Sean Currie taps over a point for Dublin, the move was engineered by another powerful run forward by Eoghan O’Donnell.

GOAL 🚨

Dónal Burke makes no mistake with the penalty to give @DubGAAOfficial a spark in the Leinster Final ⚡️#DUBvGAL pic.twitter.com/ZvmabHYqn2

— The GAA (@officialgaa) June 6, 2026

Galway 1-25 Dublin 2-15

61 mins - Galway still capable of keeping Dublin at arm’s length – Niland slots another pointed free after he was fouled by Paddy Doyle.

Galway 1-26 Dublin 2-15

63 mins - Galway are just that bit more slicker in front of goal, they work it well again in attack and Darragh Neary knocks it over. Diarmuid Ó Dúlaing in for Dublin for David Purcell.

Penalty for Galway and black card for Dublin’s Andrew Dunphy!

Goal for Galway from Aaron Niland!

Galway 2-26 Dublin 2-15

66 mins - That should be that. Niland makes no mistake as he fires low to the corner and Galway have sailed 11 points clear.

Goal for Galway from Conor Cooney!

Galway 3-26 Dublin 2-15

68 mins - So much space up front for Galway and they exploit it. The excellent Tom Monaghan delivers to Conor Cooney and despite being fouled, he makes the most of the advantage to finish from close range. Fintan Burke is in for Galway for Daithi Burke.

Galway 3-27 Dublin 2-15

70 mins - A sixth point from play for Tom Monaghan, he has been outstanding.

Galway 3-28 Dublin 2-15

72 mins - Getting ugly now for Dublin, Monaghan with his seventh point of the game.

Galway 4-29 Dublin 3-15

74 mins - A late burst of scores! A consolation goal for Dublin from Conal Ó Riain, then Whelan points for Galway. Substitute John Fleming fires in a fourth goal for Galway.

Galway 4-29 Dublin 4-15

75 mins - Fergal Whitely with a late goal for Dublin.

Full-Time: Galway 4-29 Dublin 4-15

And that’s it, emphatic success for Galway, they cruised to victory in the end and picked up a first Leinster title since 2018.

So that’s it from Croke Park, Galway crowned Leinster senior hurling champions, Dublin must head towards the quarter-final stage against Clare in a fortnight.

Thanks for joining us, Declan Bogue will have all the coverage from Croke Park.