Galway hurlers not without a chance of upsetting Cork in All-Ireland semi-final 

Remarkably, Cork go into this weekend’s game as heavy favourites but Galway’s recent record against The Rebels will give them plenty of confidence.

The Tribesmen have defeated Cork in the last five championship meetings between the sides, occurring in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 and 2022. Cork’s last win against this weekend’s opponents came in 2008 in an All-Ireland qualifier in Thurles.

However, the make-up of both teams has changed significantly since they last met in the championship. Ben O’Connor has taken over the reins from Pat Ryan as Cork senior hurling manager this season. Cork were undefeated during the round robin series before suffering a narrow Munster final defeat to Limerick.

O’Connor’s side cruised to a comprehensive 6-25 to 2-11 win over Offaly in the All-Ireland quarter-final. Both Tommy O’Connell and Tim O’Mahony are expected to be back in contention after missing that hopelessly one-sided clash at Semple Stadium.

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Galway manager Micheal Donoghue is hoping to have both Daithi Burke and Rory Burke available this weekend. Daithi Burke picked up a knee injury in the Leinster final which the Turloughmore clubman battled on through injury.

“Daithi Burke’s going OK. It was a significant knock for him. We have a really, really good medical team and he's working with them now for the last few weeks and making good progress. It was a significant enough injury, so we just have to see how it goes closer to the time,” said Donoghue speaking ahead of the All-Ireland semi-final at the Raheen Woods Hotel.

Meanwhile, Rory Burke was also forced off with a hamstring injury during the first half of Galway’s clear-cut Leinster final victory over Dublin.

“It's been well-documented and highlighted. (Rory Burke) just picked up another hammer injury on it, so it's just a reoccurrence of it. He's working hard with the medical team, you'd be hoping the four weeks might benefit us. Right now they're just working around the clock to see where we can go with it.

“The issue with it being a reoccurring one, there's always going to be a bit of a risk there with it. He's been a revelation this year. He's been brilliant. First and foremost for him, it's hard on him with it reoccurring. We have a really good medical team and he's really diligent in his work, trying to get back. You can see the enthusiasm and his absolute desire to try and get every ounce of himself and give himself the opportunity.”

Donoghue’s charges come into this clash on the back of a four week break which marked their first victory at Croke Park since 2020. The Galway manager feels it has given his side time to work on the training pitch.

“When the Leinster championship is on, you're going from game-to-game and week-to-week. I think it's very hard to do a whole lot in between games. I think the optimal for us would probably be a three-week gap between every game. If you go two to three weeks, then you could actually keep building and do more on the pitch. So, it's kind of alien to us having the four weeks off. After the Leinster final, we gave the lads a few days to enjoy it, then get in some rest and obviously then get back to work. It's gone ok for us.”

Cillian Trayers, Cian Daniels, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland, Darragh Neary and Rory Burke have all cemented their places in Galway's starting XV, bringing a welcome energy and freshness to the side this season.

The experience of Daithí Burke, Pádraic Mannion, Conor Whelan and Cathal Mannion remains invaluable, while Ronan Glennon, Darren Morrissey and Tom Monaghan are developing into real leaders within the squad.

Galway's priority this weekend will be to avoid conceding early goals and allow themselves to settle into the game, particularly given how Cork dismantled Dublin with ease in last year's All-Ireland semi-final.

That said, there's a case to be made that Cork's attack hasn't quite hit the heights it reached last season. They scored 18 goals during the 2025 championship compared to 12 so far this year, with half of those coming against Offaly.

They also managed just one point from play in the final 30 minutes of the Munster final. Factor in the manner in which Cork faded in last year's All-Ireland final, and there's every reason to believe Galway can take this contest deep into the closing stages and potentially spring an upset.

There are several key match-ups that the Leinster champions must get right. Containing Brian Hayes, Shane Barrett and Darragh Fitzgibbon, who has returned to full fitness after appendix surgery, will be crucial if Galway are to come out on top.

Donoghue is aware of the opportunity for his side this weekend and how rare these chances are. “The way I view it is it's a massive opportunity. For us, winning Leinster, it gave you the four-week gap and the opportunity to play in the semi-final. It's not lost on us as a management or the group that these opportunities don't come around too often.

“I said in the aftermath of the Leinster final that was our number one goal with the group, so it was really satisfying to achieve that.

“But in equal measure, you get the opportunity to go straight through the semi. For us, it's getting this group in as many high-pressurised games, if you like, to amass that experience that hopefully will stand them in good stead as they move on in their careers.

“They've had a really good experience in the Leinster final. It's another opportunity to play a big, meaningful knockout game that they can really test themselves in Croke Park, probably a full house. It's something we're really looking forward to,” concluded Donoghue.