Galway and Kilkenny to contest Leinster SHC final as Antrim drop down to Joe McDonagh Cup

May 25, 2025

Dublin's Paddy Smyth and Cathal Mannion of Galway ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Galway and Kilkenny will meet in the Leinster senior hurling championship final for the third time in four years following the Tribesmen’s 0-29 to 3-15 victory over Dublin at a sold-out Parnell Park this afternoon.

After a sluggish start, Rian McBride’s goal helped Dublin to go in level at half-time (0-10 to 1-7) before the visitors pulled away in the second-half with Conor Cooney, David Burke and Brian Concannon among those to send over points for their side.

Dublin did get goals back late on from Sean Currie (free) and Conal O'Rian, but the damage was done and it means they’ll now have to settle for a place in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-finals while Micheál Donoghue's side advance to the eastern province's decider against the Cats at Croke Park in two weeks' time.

There was late drama in Tullamore as Offaly retained their Leinster SHC status by relegating Antrim to the Joe McDonagh Cup with a 3-15 to 1-16 victory.

A disaster start for the visitors saw them shipping a Brian Duignan goal two minutes in before they were reduced to 14 men three minutes later when corner-back Niall O’Connor was issued a straight red card. 

The Faithful men went on to hold a 2-9 to 0-11 lead at the half, but Davy Fitzgerald’s side would battle back in the closing quarter with a couple of points from James McNaughton being followed up by a goal from the same player to make it a one-point game with five minutes remaining.

However, a minute later, the sliotar would be in Antrim’s net via Killian Sampson to settle Offaly’s nerves as they won out by five in the end to hold on to their topflight championship status and demote their Ulster counterparts in the process.

Meanwhile, Rory O’Connor and Lee Chin bagged the goals for Wexford as they finished their campaign with a 2-19 to 1-15 win against a much-changed Kilkenny side at Chadwicks Wexford Park.


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