Cork v Galway: Cathal Mannion and Brian Hayes hold the keys

Galway match up well against Cork in the All-Ireland semi-final and there is no denying that this group has made considerable progress this year, but they are not as far down that road as the Rebels

Galway's Cathal Mannion and Cork's Brian Hayes. Pics: Sportsfile

GALWAY 

The case for: Their new system poses all kinds of challenges. In reality, it is a stretch to call it new. Coach Franny Forde has been developing this style for months now. After their 2025 quarter-final exit, players returned for this season and immediately committed to their running and retreating gameplan.

Jason Rabbitte is the primary outlet and often the sole inside forward, but Micheál Donoghue’s side often has a significant scoring spread. Tom Monaghan, Aaron Niland and Conor Whelan will all require minding. That is not to mention two-time All-Star Cathal Mannion.

Galway match up well with Cork. Daithí Burke and Darren Morrissey are top-tier defenders and Darach Fahy’s puckouts continue to be a reliable platform. They have beaten the Rebels in their last five championship meetings, dating all the way back to 2009. In the 2022 quarter-final they were significant underdogs too.

The case against: Baggage and the bench. This group has their own scars too. Their last semi-final victory was in 2018. They have suffered three semi-final losses since. Their record in Croke Park before the Leinster final was dreadful, with their last win coming in 2020.

There is no denying that this group has made considerable progress this year, but they are not as far down that road as Cork are.

Donoghue’s other concern is squad depth. Conor Cooney was called upon early last time out and impressed, finishing with 1-1. They do not have the same number of threats to come in as their opponents have.

That said, they can get creative if necessary. Fintan Burke, Gavin Lee and Joshua Ryan are all capable players further out the field.

Can’t do without: Cathal Mannion has filled countless different roles for Galway. Every one of them comes with an element of apprehension. That is inevitable when a player of his talent is asked to fulfil so many duties. No one can do it all.

Mannion became the main free-taker in 2025, but it is a role that he hasn’t always filled, even with his club. He is an immense conductor and the downside of that is that it often requires him to drop deep away from the opposition goal. His shooting ability off both sides is outstanding, though this system requires him to be delivering ball rather than finishing it.

Nevertheless, he is the man who can make them tick. The fact that he drops so deep poses a question to Cork about how they deal with him. It is why the league meeting between these sides will carry plenty of relevance this weekend. In January, Robert Downey sat off and let Mannion go.

That day, Mannion scored two from play but could have had 1-4 with a little more efficiency. It would be a considerable win in Croke Park if Mannion and Galway can force Cork to change things up mid-game.

CORK 

The case for: They have been one of the top two teams in the country for three years now. All of the elements that have ignited this charge are clicking once more.

So much of Cork’s power stems from their half-forward line. Ben O’Connor would have been delighted to get Darragh Fitzgibbon back on the field in the quarter-final, while Shane Barrett scored 1-3 as he seeks to get back to his best. Diarmuid Healy was one of the best players on the pitch in the Munster final. He ran himself into the ground. Brian Hayes is the focal point of their puckouts and attack.

They have serious weapons among their substitutes. There is so much talent in this panel.

The case against: We don’t need to make the point again that Ciarán Joyce is a considerable loss. For the purposes of the exercise, we’ll opt for prior trauma. How do Cork react if Galway go on a run and charge at them in the second half?

Now, any comparison between what happened in the second half of the Munster final and All-Ireland final collapse is utterly unreasonable. Yes, Cork did not score from play after the Brian Hayes wonder goal on the 38 minute-mark, but they lost a one-point tie. It was not like the walls caved in.

This group have spoken admirably about how 2025 was put to bed. For Saturday, Galway must hope that they can plant a seed of worry as the clock starts to tick down. That is when their pulse will be sufficiently tested.

Can’t do without: Brian Hayes. The way they have weaponised his batting ability from puckouts is a wonder. There are club teams across the country trying to replicate it. The man provides enormous relief.

That is not to mention his goal-scoring. Just consider the array of finishes he produced in the quarter-final. That trademark pass to the back post, the batted touchdown, juggling his own hurley before steadying himself and picking out the top corner. These are sophisticated finishes frequently made to look simple by a St Finbarr’s sensation.