2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final

2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final

Event	2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
Cork Tipperary 1-18 (21) 3-27 (36)
Date	July 20, 2025 (2025-07-20)
Venue	Croke Park, Dublin
Man of the Match	Ronan Maher [1]
Referee	Liam Gordon (Galway) [2]
Weather	20 °C (68 °F), windy [3]
← 2024 2026 →

The 2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship final, the 138th event of its kind and the culmination of the 2025 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, was played at Croke Park on 20 July 2025. ^{[4] [5]}

The match was televised nationally on RTÉ2 as part of The Sunday Game live programme, presented by Joanne Cantwell from the Croke Park studio with analysis by Anthony Daly, Dónal Óg Cusack and Liam Sheedy. Commentary on the game was provided by Marty Morrissey alongside Michael Duignan. ^{[6] [7]} The game was also televised on BBC Two Northern Ireland, presented by Sarah Mulkerrins.

The match drew an average TV audience of 980,000 viewers on RTÉ2 and peaked at 1,119,000 towards the end of the game. ^{[8] [9]}

Cork were strong favourites and led by six points at half time. ^[10] However, they collapsed in the second half, with Tipperary outscoring them 3-14 to 0-2 to win by fifteen. ^{[11] [12]}

Background

Main article: Cork–Tipperary hurling rivalry

• Cork were aiming to win their first title since 2005; they are the second most successful county in the championship's history, with 30 wins; their current streak of 19 consecutive seasons without an All-Ireland was the longest in their history. ^{[13] [14]}
• Tipperary won their first title since 2019 and their 29th title in total. ^[15]
• First meeting of Cork and Tipperary in the final. Such a meeting was only possible since 1997, as prior to that only one Munster county could reach the final. However, both counties had been in 8 finals each since then, but never in the same year. ^{[16] [17]}
• The sixth final to involve two Munster teams, after 1997 (Clare beat Tipperary), 2013 (Clare beat Cork), 2020 (Limerick beat Waterford), 2021 (Limerick beat Cork), 2024 (Clare beat Cork).

Paths to the final

Cork Round Date Opponent Venue (H/A/N) Result Victory margin Score Ref Munster round robin 20 April 2025 Clare Cusack Park, Ennis (A) Draw 0 2–24 to 3–21 [18] Munster round robin 27 April 2025 Tipperary Páirc Uí Chaoimh (H) Win 15 4–27 to 0–24 [19] Munster round robin 18 May 2025 Limerick Gaelic Grounds (A) Loss –16 1–16 to 3–26 [20] Munster round robin 25 May 2025 Waterford Páirc Uí Chaoimh (H) Win 6 2–25 to 1–22 [21] Munster final 7 June 2025 Limerick Gaelic Grounds (N) Draw (won on penalties) 0 1–30 to 2–27 (a.e.t.) [22] All-Ireland semi-final 5 July 2025 Dublin Croke Park (N) Win 20 7–26 to 2–21 [23]

Tipperary Round Date Opponent Venue (H/A/N) Result Victory margin Score Ref Munster round robin 20 April 2025 Limerick Semple Stadium (H) Draw 0 2–23 to 2–23 [24] Munster round robin 27 April 2025 Cork Páirc Uí Chaoimh (A) Loss –15 0–24 to 4–27 [19] Munster round robin 10 May 2025 Clare Cusack Park, Ennis (A) Win 3 4-18 to 2–21 [25] Munster round robin 18 May 2025 Waterford Semple Stadium (H) Win 9 1–30 to 1–21 [26] Preliminary quarter-final 14 June 2025 Laois O'Moore Park (A) Win 23 3–32 to 0–18 [27] All-Ireland quarter-final 21 June 2025 Galway Gaelic Grounds (N) Win 8 1–28 to 2–17 [28] All-Ireland semi-final 6 July 2025 Kilkenny Croke Park (N) Win 2 4–20 to 0–30 [29]

Pre-match

Transport

By 10 June, shortly after Cork and Limerick had contested the 2025 Munster Senior Hurling Championship final, it was reported that the Iarnród Éireann website had announced all tickets on its morning trains to Dublin from Cork Kent railway station and Limerick Colbert railway station for 20 July had sold out. ^[30]

However, instead it was Tipperary who met Cork in the final. There was criticism (including from Cork-based TDs Colm Burke and Thomas Gould) of motorway toll barriers delaying supporters as they travelled to the semi-finals, and requests to have the barriers removed on the day of the final. This was rejected by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). ^[31]

Tickets

Tickets for the match were distributed by the clubs with no public sale and priced at €100 for the stands and €55 for the terrace. ^[32]

Officials

On 8 July, the GAA named Galway's Liam Gordon of Killimor as the referee for the final, his first All-Ireland SHC decider. He previously refereed the 2019 All-Ireland Under-20 Hurling Championship final, and the 2023 Munster Senior Hurling Championship final. Sean Stack and Thomas Walsh were named to assist, Stack filling the role of stand-by referee. ^[2]

Jubilee teams

The Kilkenny team that won the 2000 All-Ireland SHC final was presented to the crowd before the match, on the silver jubilee. ^[33] Absent from the presentation was D. J. Carey, man of the match in the 2000 final but recently disgraced after pleading guilty to defrauding a number of people out of money while falsely claiming to have cancer. His name was announced to audible boos. ^{[34] [35] [36]}

Team news

On 17 July the Cork team was named with no changes to the starting line-up from the semi-final win over Dublin. Séamus Harnedy returned to the panel after missing the semi-final with a hamstring injury. ^[37] On 18 July the Tipperary team was named, also with no changes to the starting line-up from the semi-final win over Kilkenny. There was one change to the panel with Under-20's forward Paddy McCormack replacing Seán Kenneally. ^[38]

Match

Summary

First Half

The match was played in dry conditions with a slight breeze into the canal end in front of a sell-out crowd of 82,331. ^[3] Cork playing with the light breeze in the first half opened the scoring with a point from Diarmuid Healy. Bryan O'Mara was playing as an extra man sweeper for Tipperary in the full back line with Willie Connors dropping in at wing-back and Sam O'Farrell also moving into midfield. ^{[39] [40]} After 12 minutes, Cork had a 0–4 to 0–3 lead with five wides from Tipperary. In the 20th minute, Eoghan Connolly found himself out on the left and went for goal with a low effort thar was just wide to the right at the hill 16 end.

In the 34th minute, Jason Forde scored a goal with a flick to the net after a high ball into the square from Eoghan Connolly which was disallowed when the referee called a square ball. In the 2nd of the two minutes of added time, Shane Barrett scored a goal for Cork after running in from the left before shooting low to the right corner to put Cork into a six-point lead at half time on a 1–16 to 0–13 scoreline. ^[41]

Second Half

In the first minute Patrick Horgan sent a free wide for Cork at the hill 16 end. A minute later Andrew Ormond scored a point and got another point in the 41st minute to narrow the gap to four. Darragh McCarthy then added another point and a free to put one point between the sides. In the 45th minute, Tipperary scored a goal, Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins batted out a high ball which was picked up by John McGrath before he slotted into the net to put Tipperary into a two-point lead. ^[42] In the 53rd minute, Tipperary are awarded a penalty when John McGrath was pulled down by Eoin Downey who was already on a yellow and received a red card. Darragh McCarthy took the penalty and scored with a powerful shot to the left to put seven points between the sides.

In the 60th minute Tipperary got a third goal and a second for John McGrath when he flicked the ball right handed to the net past the advancing goalkeeper after a high ball into the square from Eoghan Connolly, putting twelve points between the sides. ^[43] In the 69th minute, Tipperary goalkeeper Rhys Shelly scored a point from play to increase the lead to thirteen points, it was the first ever point scored by a goalkeeper from open play in an All-Ireland final. ^[44] In added time Cork were awarded a penalty when Brian Hayes was fouled, Rhys Shelley dived to his right to save the peanlty from Conor Lehane. Darragh McCarthy then scored from a free before passing to Noel McGrath to get the final point of the game with Tipperary winning by 3–27 to 1-18. ^[45] They won the second half by 21 points with Cork only scoring two points. ^{[46] [47] [48]}

Details

Cork v Tipperary

RTÉ 2 [49] BBC [50]

July 20, 2025 (2025-07-20) 15:35 IST (UTC+01:00) Final

Report

Cork	1-18 (21)–(36) 3-27	Tipperary
(HT: 1-16 – 0-13)
Gls: Shane Barrett 1 Pts: Shane Barrett 4, Patrick Horgan 4 (3f), Diarmuid Healy 3, Darragh Fitzgibbon 2, Brian Hayes 1, Alan Connolly 1, Declan Dalton 1f, Niall O'Leary 1, Seamus Harnedy 1		Gls: John McGrath 2, Darragh McCarthy 1(pen) Pts: Darragh McCarthy 13 (9fs), John McGrath 2, Jake Morris 2, Jason Forde 2, Andrew Ormond 2, Eoghan Connolly 1, Robert Doyle 1, Willie Connors 1, Conor Stakelum 1, Rhys Shelly 1, Noel McGrath 1

Croke Park , Dublin Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway) [2] Attendance: 82,331 Standby: Seán Stack (Dublin) Linesman: Thomas Walsh (Waterford) Sideline: Colm McDonald (Antrim) Umpires: Damien Gibbons, Alan McClearn, John Larkin, Ollie Reilly (all Killimor) [51]

Cork

Tipperary

GK 1 Patrick Collins FB 2 Niall O'Leary FB 3 Eoin Downey  31'  54' FB 4 Seán O'Donoghue HB 5 Ciarán Joyce HB 6 Robert Downey (c)  42' HB 7 Mark Coleman MF 8 Tim O'Mahony  67' MF 9 Darragh Fitzgibbon HF 10 Diarmuid Healy  56' HF 11 Shane Barrett HF 12 Declan Dalton  44' FF 13 Patrick Horgan  58' FF 14 Alan Connolly  47'  64' FF 15 Brian Hayes Substitutes: 16 Bríon Saunderson 17 Damien Cahalane  56' 18 Ger Millerick 19 Cormac O'Brien 20 Tommy O'Connell  67' 21 Luke Meade 22 Brian Roche 23 Séamus Harnedy  44' 24 Robbie O'Flynn 25 Conor Lehane  58' 26 Shane Kingston  64' Manager: Pat Ryan

GK 1 Rhys Shelly FB 2 Robert Doyle  47' FB 3 Eoghan Connolly FB 4 Michael Breen HB 5 Craig Morgan  56' HB 6 Ronan Maher (c) HB 7 Bryan O'Mara  50' MF 8 Willie Connors  45' MF 9 Conor Stakelum  65' HF 10 Jake Morris  66' HF 11 Andrew Ormond HF 12 Sam O'Farrell  59' FF 13 Darragh McCarthy FF 14 John McGrath FF 15 Jason Forde Substitutes: 16 Barry Hogan 17 Joe Caesar 18 Séamus Kennedy  50' 19 Paddy McCormack 20 Brian McGrath 21 Noel McGrath  59' 22 Peter McGarry 23 Oisín O'Donoghue  66' 24 Johnny Ryan 25 Darragh Stakelum  65' 26 Alan Tynan  56' Manager: Liam Cahill

Trophy presentation

Tipperay captain Ronan Maher accepted the Liam MacCarthy Cup from GAA president Jarlath Burns in the Hogan Stand and the team then did a victory lap around Croke Park with the trophy. ^[52] In his speech, Maher paid tribute to former team mate Dillon Quirke who passed away in 2022. ^[53]

Reaction

Tipperary manager Liam Cahill never doubted his players saying "The honesty of that group of players – I never doubted them. I know we were all a little bit sensitive after last year with what happened, and some of the criticism was probably deserved at times, but I knew the quality of these men". ^{[54] [55]} Cork manager Pat Ryan speaking after the game felt that Tipperary deserved the win saying "Look, credit to Tipperary. They came out and worked really, really hard. We were in a good position at half-time, but we got blown away in the second half.” ^{[56] [57]}

Highlights of the final were shown on The Sunday Game programme which aired at 9:30pm that night on RTÉ2 and was presented by Jacqui Hurley with match analysis from Jackie Tyrrell, Brendan Cummins, Dónal Óg Cusack, Joe Canning, Henry Shefflin, and Ursula Jacob. On the man of the match award shortlist were captain Ronan Maher, John McGrath and Darragh McCarthy with Ronan Maher winning the award which was presented by GAA president Jarlath Burns at the post match Tipperary function at the Grand Hotel in Malahide in Dublin. ^[1]

Homecoming

Members of the Tipperary team and management visited Crumlin Children's Hospital on the morning after the game and also stopped off at the Palace Bar in Dublin before arriving back in Thurles at a reception at Semple Stadium. ^{[58] [59]} A temporary stage was set up along the side-line of the new stand for the event with the crowd on the pitch. The team arrived at 8:15pm with approximately 45,000 in attendance to greet them on stage in Thurles. The Tipperary senior back-room team were introduced before all the players and captain Ronan Maher and manager Liam Cahill. Entertainement was provided by Seskin Lane, Callini Lua, Acquiesce, Una Healy, and The 2 Johnnies. In Cork it was agreed by the team and management that there would be no homecoming event held. ^{[60] [61] [62] [63] [64]}

Miscellaneous

Darragh McCarthy scoring 1-13(1 pen, 9f 4pts) 93.33% efficency, was the 4th top scorer in an All Ireland final history. Behind Mick 'Gah' Ahern, Nicky English & Eddie Keher. The 20 year old registered 1 wide from 15 shots taken at goal. ^[65]

Noel McGrath pocketed his fourth all Ireland medal, first Tipp hurler to do so in 54 years.

Jason Forde had a contentious goal ruled out for a square just before half time, as he beat Patrick Collins to a long range delivery before half time, flicking the ball to the net.

Eoin Downey became at the least the 9th player to be red carded in an All Ireland Senior hurling final, after he received second yellow for fouling John McGrath in the penalty box, in the 53rd minute.

References

1. Duffy, Emma (20 July 2025). "Ronan Maher lands All-Ireland hurling final man of the match award". www.the42.ie. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
2. "Liam Gordon appointed as All-Ireland hurling final ref". RTÉ Sport. 8 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
3. "Weather in Dublin, 20 July 2025". World Weather Info. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
4. Radio, Tipp Mid West (27 March 2025). "2025 County Club Championships To Be Drawn This Evening".
5. Kinsella, Colm (5 December 2024). "Limerick's 2025 Allianz Hurling and Football League fixture details revealed". www.limerickleader.ie.
6. "Duignan commentates on his 25th All-Ireland hurling final". Hogan Stand. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
7. "Who will be on RTE commentary duty for Sunday's Cork-Tipperary All-Ireland hurling final?". Irish Mirror. 16 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
8. "Tipperary All-Ireland triumph over Cork breaks RTE online record and reaches huge TV audience". Irish Mirror. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
9. "Tipperary's stunning All-Ireland Final display was viewed by over one million people". Irish Independent. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
10. "Transformed Tipperary crowned All-Ireland champions after stunning second-half comeback against Cork". www.independent.ie. 20 July 2025.
11. "All-Ireland SHC Final: Glory for Tipperary". www.gaa.ie. 20 July 2025.
12. "The anatomy of a collapse – how Cork managed to lose the second half by 3-14 to 0-2". The Irish Times.
13. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/soccer/cork-v-dublin-live-updates-from-croke-park-as-rebels-fight-dubs-for-a-place-in-the-all-ireland-senior-hurling-championship-final/
14. "Preview: Cork can shoulder great expectations in novel All-Ireland hurling final against Tipperary". RTE Sport. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
15. "Tipperary manager Liam Cahill has 'no complaints at all' with red card during epic Croke Park battle with Kilkenny".
16. "Super sub Oisin O'Donoghue fires 14-man Tipperary past Kilkenny and into All-Ireland final". RTÉ Sport. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
17. "All-Ireland hurling final: All you need to know". RTE Sport. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
18. Fogarty, John (20 April 2025). "Clare's stunning second half comeback denies 14-man Cork in pulsating draw". Irish Examiner.
19. "2025 Munster Senior Hurling Championship – Cork 4–27 Tipperary 0–24 - Munster GAA". 14 February 2025.
20. Fogarty, John (19 May 2025). "Fuelled on fury, Limerick's green machine rolls over Rebels". Irish Examiner.
21. McCarthy, Ger (25 May 2025). "Cork hold off Déise to set up Limerick rematch" – via www.rte.ie.
22. "2025 Munster Senior Hurling Championship Final – Cork 1–30 Limerick 2–27 (Cork won 3-2 on penalties) - Munster GAA". 14 February 2025.
23. "Nicky English: Cork outclassed Dublin to show favourites tag is well deserved". The Irish Times.
24. Barry, Stephen (20 April 2025). "Spoils shared in Semple after a Tipp-Limerick cracker" – via www.rte.ie.
25. "All-Ireland champions Clare facing elimination as comeback against Tipperary comes up short". www.independent.ie. 10 May 2025.
26. Cormican, Eoghan (18 May 2025). "Tipperary weather Waterford storm and seal progress with emphatic win". Irish Examiner.
27. Hartnett, Alan (14 June 2025). "Tipp cruise past Laois and book date with Galway" – via www.rte.ie.
28. Barry, Stephen (21 June 2025). "Tipp overcome Galway to end wait for Croke Park return" – via www.rte.ie.
29. "Kilkenny 0–30 Tipperary 4–20 FT: Superb Oisín O'Donoghue goal wins it for Tipp – As it happened". The Irish Times.
30. "Cork and Limerick trains sold out for All-Ireland final day". Hogan Stand. 10 June 2025.
31. English, Eoin (8 July 2025). "Motorway toll barriers will not be lifted for fans driving to All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Examiner.
32. "How do you get your hands on All Ireland final tickets?". RTE Sport. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
33. "Brian Cody set to miss jubilee celebration of his first All-Ireland win as manager". Irish Examiner. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
34. "Disgraced hurler DJ Carey absent as Kilkenny's Jubilee team are honoured on All-Ireland final day". Irish Independent. 20 July 2025.
35. Association, Press (20 July 2025). "DJ Carey conspicuously absent from Kilkenny jubilee celebration". TheJournal.ie.
36. Sherlock, Cillian (20 July 2025). "DJ Carey misses Kilkenny jubilee team celebration at Croke Park". Irish Examiner.
37. "Seamus Harnedy returns to squad as Cork name unchanged team". RTE Sport. 17 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
38. "Tipperary named unchanged team for All-Ireland final against Cork". RTE Sport. 18 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
39. "Tipperary Sweeper Admits Team Were Baffled By Cahill's Tactical Switch". Balls.ie. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
40. "From day one this season, Bevans saw something 'different' about Tipperary". Irish Examiner. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
41. "All-Ireland SHC Final: Glory for Tipperary". GAA.ie. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
42. "A second half for the ages as Tipperary blow Cork away to secure 29th All-Ireland hurling title". Irish Examiner. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
43. "Cork v Tipperary score recap and result from the All-Ireland hurling final at Croke Park". Irish Mirror. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
44. "Tipperary 'Keeper And Andrea Pirlo Had Same Preparation For Match Of Their Lives". Ball.ie. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
45. "Noel McGrath loving life and hurling". GAA.ie. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
46. "All-Ireland SHC final: Tipperary take the title as Cork flounder in second half". Echo Live. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 23 July 2025.
47. "It's Official - Tipp are Back". Nenagh Guardian. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
48. "A plan comes together". Nenagh Guardian. 25 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
49. Ryan, Seán (8 July 2025). "REVEALED: Match, ticket and broadcast details announced ahead of All-Ireland Hurling Final". Tipperary Live. The game will be shown live on RTÉ 2 and streamed live online on RTÉ Player. Live radio coverage for the match will also be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1.
50. "Cork v Tipperary 2025: All-Ireland Hurling Championship". BBC. 20 July 2025.
51. "Liam Gordon to referee 2025 All-Ireland SHC final". gaacork.ie. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
52. "Ronan Maher pays hearfelt tribute to Dillon Quirke". Hogan Stand. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
53. "Emotional scenes as Tipperary captain pays tribute to the late Dillon Quirke after All-Ireland win". Irish Mirror. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
54. "Cahill always believed in Tipp players". Hogan Stand. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
55. "'I never doubted them' - Liam Cahill praises the honesty and character of All-Ireland-winning Tipperary team". RTE Sport. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
56. "Our energy was terrible in the second half'". Hogan Stand. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
57. "Cork energy and effort lacking in second half - Pat Ryan". RTE Sport. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
58. "IN PICTURES: See the Tipperary hurlers bring smiles to kids in Crumlin Children's Hospital!". Tipperary Live. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
59. "Tipperary's hurling heroes arrive back in Semple Stadium on Monday". Tipperary Live. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
60. "Cork opt against homecoming after All-Ireland final loss". RTE Sport. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
61. "Tipperary homecoming details as Liam Cahill's men set to return to Premier County". Irish Mirror. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
62. "Tipperary Senior All Ireland Hurling Winning Team Homecoming". Tipperary GAA. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
63. "REVEALED: Everything you need to know about Tipp Homecoming in Thurles tonight". Tipperary Live. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
64. "'Stuff of dreams' as Tipp squad greeted by 45,000 fans in Thurles". RTE Sport. 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
65. O'Riordan, Ian (20 July 2025). "Tipperary player ratings Darragh McCarthy shines on famous day at croke park". Irish Times. Retrieved 23 July 2025.