This will whet the appetite nicely, too.

'The Cork and Galway rivalry stretches back over a hundred years'
Watch Galway v Cork on @rteone and @rteplayer on Saturday from 3pm pic.twitter.com/9SCAfo9wXt

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) July 3, 2026

Some pre-match reading to get stuck into ahead of throw-in…

• Cork’s main man – how Hayes has become central as latest Galway test awaits
• Clarinbridge connection inspiring Aaron Niland’s unorthodox free-taking technique
• ‘In the playing group, we appreciate him’ – The wait for a Croke Park chance with Cork

Or a podcast clip, from our man in Croke Park Fintan O’Toole, if you’d prefer a quick hit…

“I’d say they’ll be absolutely ravenous to make the most of this opportunity.”

🎙️ @fotoole13

Listen to the GAA Weekly preview of this weekend's All-Ireland SHC semi-finals on The 42 app or wherever you get your podcasts. pic.twitter.com/TiUuvOAAM5

— The42.ie (@The42_ie) July 3, 2026

The preceding All-Ireland camogie quarter-final went to extra-time, and Kilkenny have beaten Waterford 2-19 to 1-19. A huge win for the Cats.

Team news

Here’s how both teams have been named to start. We’ll let you know if there are any late changes.

Cork

1. Patrick Collins (Ballinhassig)

2. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons), 3. Damien Cahalane (St Finbarr’s), 4. Seán O’Donoghue (Inniscarra)

5. Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers), 6. Robert Downey (Glen Rovers), 7. Mark Coleman (Blarney)

8. Tim O’Mahony (Newtownshandrum), 9. Tommy O’Connell (Midleton)

10. Darragh Fitzgibbon (Charleville, captain), 11. Shane Barrett (Blarney), 12. Diarmuid Healy (Lisgoold)

13. Alan Walsh (Kanturk), 14. Alan Connolly (Blackrock), 15. Brian Hayes (St Finbarr’s)
Subs

Galway

1. Darach Fahy (Ardrahan)

2. Joshua Ryan (Clarinbridge), 3. Cillian Trayers (Turloughmore), 4. Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields – captain)

5. Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh), 6. Daithí Burke (Turloughmore), 7. Ronan Glennon (Mullagh)

8. Tiernan Killeen (Loughrea), 9. Gavin Lee (Clarinbridge)

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)

Fans are arriving to Croke Park in their droves. James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

Here we go. It’s All-Ireland semi-final weekend!

Cork and Galway open the last four action at Croke Park this afternoon, before Limerick and Clare go head to head on Sunday as the Race for the Liam MacCarthy Cup reaches fever pitch.

Cork are targetting their third final appearance in a row – and an end to a 21-year wait for All-Ireland glory. Galway are looking to reach their first final since 2018, having last reigned supreme the previous year.

Throw-in is at 3.30pm, with the game live on RTÉ One and BBC Two NI, but we’ll keep you up to date right here.