All-Ireland final player-by-player guide to Galway and Limerick line-ups
OH CAPTAIN: Cian Lynch poses for a portrait at the Limerick press night. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
There will be many references throughout these profiles to the March League meeting with Limerick. The first of those begins with Fahy, given how his short puck-out routinely broke down that night. Graph has since trended upward. 75% restart retention against Cork. Shot-stopping was better again. A picture of confidence lately. Composure cannot never leave him on Sunday.
Having started all six League fixtures, injury sidelined him for opening two games in Leinster. The return wasn’t seamless. He was whipped at half-time in Newbridge. He didn’t start either provincial outing against Dublin. The son of 1980s All-Ireland winner Éanna, he velcroed himself to Cork’s Alan Connolly. In his second season seeing minutes, he must now follow and frustrate Peter Casey.
His second All-Ireland final involvement. The first was his successful centre-back role in the 2022 minor football decider. Was handed his debut midway through 2025 league before a nasty hamstring injury ruined both his first senior year and last U20 season. Dublin round-robin defeat was a real learning day for him, especially in the air. So solid since.
Has already climbed the Hogan Stand steps as a minor winning captain. Elevation to senior captaincy at 26 surprised absolutely nobody. As impressive an individual off the field as he is tearing out of rucks. Has become most reliable rearguard member. With Cian Lynch named at midfield, maybe the Cathal O’Neill brief for the teacher.
Spent the off-season coaching Athenry to All-Ireland club camogie glory. The outstanding reader in the Galway line-up. Watch how he covers space on either flank to increase the difficulty for Limerick half-backs and midfielders in finding Aaron Gillane and Shane O’Brien. Intelligent distribution of possession probably only surpassed by his younger brother.
Warrior. Spiritual leader. Galway being indebted to Daithí’s service does not deliver immunity from scrutiny. For early semi-final deliveries into Brian Hayes and himself, glacial was the pace of the 33-year-old's turning. Right knee is not right. Still too invaluable a presence to go without. If he again stands beside Gillane, he’ll again rely on Trayers and Pádraic Mannion for protection.
Was at wing-forward for 2023 semi-final against Limerick. Was at midfield for 2025 exit to Tipp. He only started one other of Galway’s six outings last summer. Transformed in being transferred a line deeper again in 2026. There’s a confident swagger to Glennon that wouldn’t be too common in the Galway make-up. Struggled on Hegarty in first-half of League clash. Does he get a second go?
Championship debut came against Westmeath in 2022, but managing only seven more championship appearances between there and the end of 2025 shows the journey he went on before assuming first-team status. Performance against Cork was the 23-year-old’s most assertive in maroon. Stiches play together effectively. His dad, Ronan, clocked 252 League of Ireland appearances for Galway United.
Back-to-back All-Ireland minor winner in 2019 and '20. He was still U19 when handed his senior debut in 2022. All that promise and potential poured out onto the surface against Cork. Effortlessly threw over a pair of points. A midfielder of real flair. None of that is to overlook his sleeves-up personality. Happy to disappear into a ruck.
Read More
Endless peaks and troughs to this on-again, off-again maroon existence. Debuted in 2017, dropped for the Covid-impacted 2020 and ‘21 seasons. Left out of the starting team for opening three games of this championship. Enters Sunday as their top-scorer from play with 1-25. A summer of sensational long-range shooting. Unheralded ability to create space for colleagues.
Conductor. Orchestrator. Sweeper. Playmaker. Quarterback. Advanced chess piece when Galway change tack. The 31-year-old wears many maroon hats. There’s nobody in the inter-county game to match his versatility. There’s nobody to match the precision and vision of his passing. There’s a myriad of potential roles for him tomorrow. He can’t be everywhere, but he needs to excel. What’s his response if freedom is removed?
Floated between bench impact and first-teamer up until Leinster Round 5. Promotion should have come earlier. Second-half shooting efficiency against Cork was poor. His own second-half display from League game against Limerick will fill him with confidence going back to Croker. Struck three points off Diarmaid Byrnes, was fouled for two converted frees, and assisted a Rabbitte point.
Rejuvenated amid Galway’s redrawn approach. Silenced and redundant are the conversations as to where Whelan's most effective stationing is. 1-22 has him second in the open play scoring chart. Remarkable semi-final resilience. First-half of two wides, two blocked point attempts, and turnover for a Cork point didn’t rattle him a jot. Ferocious appetite for work.
When you actually think about it, it’s a phenomenal display of trust that Galway began the year by asking a teenage debutant to be their lone outlet in a gameplan where everyone else is flooding back and breaking from deep. Rabbitte is so much more than a left paw. He’s temperament. He’s clever. He’s as skillful as he is strong. He’s been an absolute joy to watch.
We’ll not treat the 20-year-old any differently simply because he’s one of the two youngest in the team. Didn’t have a good semi-final. Didn’t have a single shot from play. Must wipe the slate clean. His score of 2026 was arguably his off-the-hurl point against Limerick when making stumbling spectators of Will O’Donoghue and David Reidy. Must table the same wizardry here.
Unhappy end to their first term. Unhappy start to their second coming. Had the self-awareness to realise a new direction was required and spent the off-season drawing up a radical new departure. Micheál Donoghue, selector Noel Larkin, and coach Franny Forde are joined for this latest venture by 2017 All-Ireland winning half-back Aidan Harte.
Their foresight has to be commended in bringing in a raft of youngsters for the 2025 season purely to educate them and direct their physical development. Their subsequent bravery in throwing them all in together is more commendable again.
As we noted earlier in the week, the complexion of Galway's supporting cast has changed notably over the course of the championship. Tom Monaghan and Darragh Neary were the bench impact across the opening four rounds in Leinster.
Cian Daniels has travelled in the other direction and will be first in when middle-third minds and bodies begin to flag.
Conor Cooney is responsible for 4-12 of the bench’s 6-29 contribution to date. He is thriving on the responsibility of now being the first forward in.
Brian Concannon could see more minutes on Sunday than the 16 he’s seen all summer. Seán Linnane and Fintan Burke are defensive back-ups.
Still going strong into his 80th championship appearance. Leadership in spades and made crucial saves in both halves of the Munster final. His brilliance, consistency, and puck-out variety aid both the offensive and defensive sides of the game.
Finn’s muscles and powerful, Bruff physique should never take away from his hurling ability and defensive intellect. Has been through the wringer with injuries, but facing a buoyed-up Aaron Niland, the 30-year-old's experience and aggressive style should be too much.
Coming in for Dan Morrissey, Casey isn’t as aerially commanding, but by using his power, he has a healthy knack for defending against the tallest, ever since tagging Johnny Glynn in 2018. Patience and good form have helped to earn this opportunity.
The quintessential nightmare corner-back and one of hurling’s most intelligent defenders. My mantra was always that 0-3 was a decent return. The problem is Nash can outscore his opponent, between averaging a point every second game and assisting plenty more.
An aerial monster, the highest scoring wing-back in history, and a key factor in beating Clare. The out ball always goes to him to such an extent that John Kiely must get others to sacrifice their game just to ensure that Byrnes is always there to launch the missiles.
The midfield in general is fast becoming one of the great centre-backs as Declan Hannon’s successor. Controls the play, dictates to those around him, and so efficient. Never gives away silly possession. Always pings the ball to hand. A coach's dream pupil.
Another converted forward who could go down as arguably the greatest wing-back we've seen. Slightly subdued this year, but thunders into the fray when needed most. Can play at whatever tempo is thrown at him. Will need his best against Galway’s high-octane approach.
Superb footwork and silky wrists mean that a noted forward is now the ideal midfield foil. His ability to move from congestion to open space and then show accuracy and vision means that as an offensive midfielder, there are few better in the game.
Since his man-of-the-match debut 11 years ago, we've borne witness to an absolute genius on the field. The ultimate team player, he'll shoot when it's on, but dinky offloads are now his trademark. The catch that led to Aidan O’Connor’s goal typifies his leadership.
If a transfer market existed, no money in the world would prise him away from Shannonside. A colossus and a class act. Often moved inside and delivers scores in big moments. But did we ever see a scoreless forward putting in such a semi-final performance for the ages?
Shouldering the free-taking burden, his radar was slightly off in the League and Munster finals, but repaid his manager’s trust. Very mentally strong, good feet, and excellent wrists. His semi-final goal was the highlight of his season. I expect a big final from him.
A minor in ‘19, he bided his time, but now firmly established as a definite starter. The tall frame, long stride, and excellent finishing off the left have become his trademark. Averaging 0-3 per game, 2026 has been his most consistent year for scores.
Iconic in the Limerick attack. After losing form following a brilliant league final, does anyone think a stormer is coming?? Kiely has shown ruthlessness in withdrawing him in the last two games, but unimaginable for him not to start.
Only scored a point in the semi-final, but had a very good Munster campaign, averaging 0-3 per game. Never shirks responsibility. His courage and power make him a fantastic out ball. Can mix it with the best of full-backs. Aptly nicknamed ‘The Bull’.
My favourite forward in the game. A point-scoring expert with a catalogue of magical scores between his first-half shimmy in the ‘21 final, his second-half display in ‘23, and his last score in this year's Munster final. Comes alive on All-Ireland final day.
Between Tom and Dan Morrissey, Darragh O’Donovan, and David Reidy, they have a nice blend of experience and positions covered. There is a similarity between these guys and the players they replace and each substitute is deeply in tune with the game plan. Hardly any instruction is needed and there’s no panic, which all helps Limerick to finish strong.
No Galway half-back will want to see the hard-running Tom Morrissey coming towards them. Dan is a seriously seasoned and versatile defender. O’Donovan is the ultimate workhorse in the engine room, the one opposition players hate and teammates adore.
Reidy is a brilliant game-management player on breaks and offloads. When Limerick were running out of juice against Clare, the bench got them over the line.
The energy levels and insatiable appetite for success haven't waned, making John Kiely and Paul Kinnerk greats of sideline management. Even in the heat of battle, they still find that moment of clarity. In the semi-final, their composure was clear.
Kinnerk went back into the dugout, possibly to discuss the stats. When the TV coverage panned back to Kiely, he had a notebook in his hand.
The way they seek out detail – Where's it going wrong? Who's winning the battle? How can we improve? – even down to the fine detail of Kiely geeing up the fans and his post-match interview describing the crowd as having a job to do, none of this is happening by chance.
It's so commendable that after being so successful, they still challenge themselves as if they were looking for their first All-Ireland.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
