Team news ahead of All-Ireland hurling final as Cian Lynch named to start

Michael Bolton

It is one of the biggest days of the sporting calendar in Ireland as Galway face Limerick in the All-Ireland hurling final.

Two teams who know how to win on the biggest days, the last decade has had plenty of moments to remember for both counties.

For Galway, it is their first final since 2018, having won Liam MacCarthy in 2017; they were defeated by Limerick the following year.

It was not known at the time, but this would mark the start of a dominant era for Limerick. John Kiely's side would win four All-Ireland titles in-a-row between 2020 to 2023, in one of the greatest teams the sport has seen.

For Galway, it has been a long road back to the biggest occasion, with big names retiring, and young players making their mark this season.

Galway won Leinster with a dominant win over Dublin, and were impressive winners over Cork in the semi-final.

Limerick overcame Cork in the Munster final, and had to come from behind to defeat Clare in the semi-final.

Team news

Limerick captain Cian Lynch has been named to start at midfield, having started from the bench in the semi-finals.

Also coming into the side is Mike Casey at full back.

Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue and Kyle Hayes make up the half-back line, as Gearoid Hegarty, Man of the Match the last day out, O’Connor and Cathal O’Neill line out in front of the full-forward line of Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien and Peter Casey.

Galway named an unchanged side to the team which defeated Cork.

Rory Burke misses out for Galway having picked up an injury early in their Leinster final win over Dublin last month.

Captain Darren Morrissey starts at corner back, Joshua Ryan and Cillian Trayers joining him in front of Darach Fahy’s goal, while Padraic Mannion, Daithí Burke and Ronan Glennon make up the half-back line.

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Cian Lynch (capt); Gearoid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, Peter Casey. Subs: Colin Ryan, Colin Coughlan, Fintan Fitzgerald, Matthew Fitzgerald, Hugh Flanagan, Ethan Hurley, Darragh Langan, Dan Morrissey, Tom Morrissey, Darragh O’Donovan, David Reidy.

Galway: Darach Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Cillian Trayers, Darren Morrissey (capt); Padraic Mannion, Daithí Burke, Ronan Glennon; Tiernan Killeen, Gavin Lee; Tom Monaghan, Cathal Mannion, Darragh Neary; Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland. Subs: Eanna Murphy, Shane Morgan, Fintan Burke, Cian Daniels, Cianan Fahy, Conor Cooney, John Flemin, Seán Linnane, Cillian Whelan, Colm Molloy, Brian Concannon