Maurice Brosnan on Limerick v Galway: Treaty a side at full blast
Aidan O'Connor of Limerick celebrates with sports psychologist Caroline Currid. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
The system and the rising stars. In the aftermath of their semi-final triumph, Gavin Lee spoke about how their new style of play was unveiled on the opening day of the season.
“Credit to the coaching team and the management team, right from the start,” he said.
“From the off when we went back in for pre-season this year, it was ‘This is what we are doing and this is how we are doing it.’”
At the end of 2025, Galway made a number of changes. Two-time All-Ireland SHC-winning coach Eamon O’Shea left the setup, as did strength and conditioning coach Johnny O’Connor.
They have gradually built a team with the mind and muscle to execute a taxing game plan.
The running demanded of the likes of Lee, Tiernan Killeen, Darragh Neary and others is considerable, while Cathal Mannion and Jason Rabbitte provide the distribution and ball-retention that keeps the system ticking.
Like the Mayo footballers, the introduction of two young prospects into their forward line has done wonders. At the same time, Galway still have plenty of experienced heads. Pádraic Mannion, Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney and Daithí Burke all featured in the 2018 final.
The lack of a sufficient stress test. Should they lose, rest assured this will be offered as an explanation. This group came through a substandard Leinster championship and enjoyed double-digit wins in their last two games. They have numerous new faces. Will all of that eventually catch up with them?
It should be said that the argument isn’t exactly convincing either. Both teams faced Cork recently for starters. This team have spoken openly about what they learned from playing Munster opposition in the league too.
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Jason Rabbitte. We’ve lauded Cathal Mannion in this section before. Tom Monaghan and Conor Whelan have both scored more, but Rabbitte is integral to the way Franny Forde wants this outfit to play.
He has scored 2-10 in the championship, but what the Athenry dynamo gives their attack is a true focal point. Ronan Glennon praised the fact that you can give him a 70-30 ball in the defender’s favour, high or low, and he can still win it. In March 2025, he started for Presentation College in the Croke Cup final as they lost narrowly to Thurles. On every visit to HQ in 2026, however, he has won.
A side at full blast. They might not be what they were, but this is a group hard-wired to max out in 2026. Everything, from John Kiely’s phenomenal off-season review, to the return of Caroline Currid and their clean bill of health suggests a unit ready to hit the highest possible level.
Where Galway’s approach depends to an extent on the opposition doing the wrong thing, Limerick have always been exceptionally good at playing what is in front of them. In Nickie Quaid, they have the standout goalkeeper. Four of the five favourites for Hurler of the Year are Limerick men. What a 2026 it would be if it ended with a Munster League, National League, Munster title and their 13th All-Ireland title.
The output. The semi-final was the second consecutive match that Limerick won by scoring 1-21. Under John Kiely, they have won four championship games by scoring that much or less. Two of them were their last two.
Aaron Gillane has scored just 2-1 in the championship. Shane O’Brien has 0-15. Adam English has 0-6 compared to the 2-16 he hit in the 2025 championship. Their efficiency has been poor in their last two games. In the four All-Ireland final appearances since 2018, Limerick have hit 30 points or more. Can they produce that level of scoring on the big day again?
Diarmuid Byrnes. In the semi-final, Cork scored just one point from outside the opposition 45-metre line. Scores from distance could force Galway to push out and alter their shape. There is no better man than Byrnes.
He has scored 3-14 in the championship, including two goals from penalties and five points from play. The point in the second half against Clare, when he collected possession outside his own 45-metre line, planted his feet just inside his own 65 and let loose, was immense. He recognised the significance of it in the moment, turning to the Cusack Stand and urging the crowd to roar.
Byrnes did miss two frees late on, but his range is such that Galway can’t afford to let him carry the ball into space. They won’t want to completely alter their setup either. The challenge of striking that delicate balance will be at the centre of Sunday’s tactical encounter.
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