A classic rivalry returns to Croke Park this weekend as Leinster champions Kilkenny face off against a rejuvenated Tipperary side in the second All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final. With 68 titles between them and a legacy of epic battles, Saturday’s showdown is set to deliver another chapter of high drama.

Kilkenny, last crowned champions in 2015, are chasing a return to the final after losing to Limerick last year. Tipperary, All-Ireland winners in 2019, have built momentum through the qualifiers and look like a team peaking at the right time.

Path to the Semi-Final

Kilkenny – P6 W5 L1 (Leinster Champions)

• Kilkenny 3-24 Galway 0-21
• Kilkenny 2-30 Antrim 2-12
• Kilkenny 4-25 Offaly 2-16
• Kilkenny 5-19 Dublin 3-21
• Wexford 2-19 Kilkenny 1-15
• Kilkenny 3-22 Galway 1-20 (Leinster Final)

Tipperary – P6 W4 D1 L1

• Tipperary 2-23 Limerick 2-23
• Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24
• Tipperary 4-18 Clare 2-21
• Tipperary 1-30 Waterford 1-21
• Tipperary 3-32 Laois 0-18 (Prelim QF)
• Tipperary 1-28 Galway 2-17 (Quarter-Final)

Top Scorers – Championship 2025

Kilkenny

• TJ Reid – 5-26 (0-22 frees, 0-2 ‘65s’)
• Martin Keoghan – 6-8
• Eoin Cody – 2-18 (1-11 frees)
• Billy Ryan – 2-13
• Adrian Mullen – 3-6

Tipperary

• Jason Forde – 2-38 (0-21 frees, 0-4 s/l, 0-1 ‘65’)
• Darragh McCarthy – 0-31 (0-25 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)
• John McGrath – 4-12
• Andrew Ormond – 2-13
• Jake Morris – 0-18

Championship Head-to-Head – Last Five Meetings

• 2019: Tipperary 3-25 Kilkenny 0-20 (All-Ireland Final)
• 2016: Tipperary 2-29 Kilkenny 2-20 (All-Ireland Final)
• 2014: Kilkenny 2-17 Tipperary 2-14 (Final Replay)
• 2014: Kilkenny 3-22 Tipperary 1-28 (Final – Draw)
• 2013: Kilkenny 0-20 Tipperary 1-14 (Qualifiers)

Recent edge: Tipperary have won 2 of the last 3 championship meetings, including the 2019 final.

Semi-Final Pedigree – Last Five Appearances

Kilkenny

• 2024: Lost to Clare
• 2023: Beat Clare
• 2022: Beat Clare
• 2021: Lost to Cork (AET)
• 2020: Lost to Waterford

Tipperary

• 2019: Beat Wexford
• 2017: Lost to Galway
• 2016: Beat Galway
• 2015: Lost to Galway
• 2014: Beat Cork

Note: Kilkenny are in their 7th successive semi-final. Tipp are back at this stage for the first time since 2019.

Other Notables

• Tipperary beat Kilkenny by 2-25 to 1-19 in the 2025 Allianz League
• Kilkenny finished with 12 players, Tipp with 14
• Kilkenny manager Derek Lyng faced Tipp 4 times as a player, winning 3

Verdict

Kilkenny come in as the more consistent outfit with a Leinster title under their belt, while Tipperary look dangerous and free-scoring since the Munster championship ended. This will come down to discipline and midfield control — and if Tipperary continue their upward trend, they could take a huge scalp.

Prediction: Tipperary to win by 2–4 points in a high-scoring thriller.

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One step from Croke Park glory — but history, momentum and injury lists all weigh into a fascinating All-Ireland semi-final as Munster champions Cork face off with a resurgent Dublin side this Saturday.

Cork are bidding to reach the All-Ireland final for a second year in a row, as they continue their hunt for a first Liam MacCarthy triumph since 2005. Dublin, on the other hand, are seeking their first final appearance since 1961 — and their first All-Ireland title in 87 years.

Cork Team News – Three Changes for the Rebels

Pat Ryan’s Cork side shows three changes from the team that edged past Limerick in a dramatic Munster Final penalty shootout.

• IN: Niall O’Leary, Rob Downey (capt), Declan Dalton
• OUT: Damien Cahalane (bench), Cormac O’Brien (injured), Séamus Harnedy (injured)

Ger Millerick also returns to the match-day panel following injury.

Cork Starting XV

CORK (v Dublin):
1. Patrick Collins
2. Niall O’Leary
3. Eoin Downey
4. Seán O’Donoghue
5. Ciarán Joyce
6. Rob Downey (Captain)
7. Mark Coleman
8. Tommy O’Mahony
9. Darragh Fitzgibbon
10. Daire Healy
11. Shane Barrett
12. Declan Dalton
13. Patrick Horgan
14. Alan Connolly
15. Brian Hayes

Subs: B Saunderson, D Cahalane, G Millerick, T O’Connell, E Twomey, L Meade, B Roche, J O’Connor, S Kingston, R O’Flynn, C Lehane

Dublin’s Road to the Semis

Dublin have put together an impressive championship run under manager Micheál Donoghue. After finishing third in Leinster, the Dubs hammered Kildare in the All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Final and stunned reigning champions Limerick in the Quarter-Final, scoring a massive 2-24 to 0-28 victory.

Sean Currie has led the scoring charge, while Cian O’Sullivan and Ronan Hayes have provided crucial attacking support.

Championship Form Guide

CORK – P5 W3 D1 L1 (Munster Champions)

• Clare 3-21 Cork 2-24
• Cork 4-27 Tipperary 0-24
• Limerick 3-26 Cork 1-16
• Cork 2-25 Waterford 1-22
• Cork 1-30 Limerick 2-27 AET (Won 3-2 on penalties – Munster Final)

DUBLIN – P7 W5 L2

• Dublin 1-25 Offaly 2-19
• Dublin 3-26 Wexford 4-19
• Dublin 3-25 Antrim 0-19
• Kilkenny 5-19 Dublin 3-21
• Galway 0-29 Dublin 3-15
• Dublin 3-25 Kildare 0-13
• Dublin 2-24 Limerick 0-28

Top Scorers

Cork

• Patrick Horgan – 3-42 (1-32 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)
• Brian Hayes – 3-7
• Séamus Harnedy – 0-13
• Shane Barrett – 1-9
• Darragh Fitzgibbon – 0-11 (0-2 frees, 0-1 ‘65’)

Dublin

• Sean Currie – 5-61 (0-39 frees, 2-0 pens, 0-4 ‘65s’)
• Cian O’Sullivan – 3-17
• Ronan Hayes – 3-6
• John Hetherton – 3-5
• Conor Donohue – 0-9

Head-to-Head History

This will be the 20th championship meeting between Cork and Dublin. The Rebels dominate the record with 16 wins to Dublin’s 2, and 1 draw.

• Most recent: 2024 – Cork 0-26 Dublin 0-21 (All-Ireland QF)
• Other recent wins: 2021, 2020, 2016, 2013, 2008, 2007
• Last Dublin win: 1927 All-Ireland Final (Dublin 4-8 Cork 1-3)

Semi-Final Pedigree – Last Five Appearances

Cork

• 2024: Cork 1-28 Limerick 0-29
• 2021: Cork 1-37 Kilkenny 1-32 AET
• 2018: Limerick 3-32 Cork 2-31 AET
• 2017: Waterford 4-19 Cork 0-20
• 2014: Tipperary 2-18 Cork 1-11

Dublin

• 2013: Cork 1-24 Dublin 1-19
• 2011: Tipperary 1-19 Dublin 0-18
• 1948: Dublin 8-13 Antrim 2-6
• 1944: Dublin 6-12 Antrim 3-1
• 1941: Dublin 2-4 Galway 2-2

Verdict

Cork come in as favourites, battle-hardened from a brutal Munster campaign and boasting big-game experience. Dublin have the firepower and belief to cause problems, especially after their upset of Limerick — but history and depth favour the Rebels.

Prediction: Cork by 4-6 points in a fast-paced contest.

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Liam MacCarthy favourites Cork have made three changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi-final clash with Dublin.

Returning to the starting team are Niall O’Leary at corner-back, Rob Downey at centre-back, and Declan Dalton at wing-forward. Dropping out of the side are Damien Cahalane, Cormac O’Brien, and Séamus Harnedy.

Injury Shuffle Continues

The changes come as little surprise given the ongoing injury management challenges faced by Pat Ryan’s squad. Both O’Leary and team captain Rob Downey had only recently returned from injury when introduced during the thrilling Munster final victory over Limerick — a classic encounter ultimately decided by penalties.

Dalton, who was absent from the match-day squad for that final, is now fully fit and ready to start.

Harnedy & O’Brien Miss Out

During the week, Ryan confirmed that Séamus Harnedy would be ruled out with a hamstring injury, while Cormac O’Brien remained doubtful due to a quad issue. Neither makes the match-day 26, but Damien Cahalane is named among the substitutes.

Bench Boost – Millerick Returns

In better news for Cork fans, Ger Millerick returns to the panel after recovering from a broken finger and is named on the bench.

CORK Team to Face Dublin (SHC Semi-Final)

Cork Starting XV:
P Collins; N O’Leary, E Downey, S O’Donoghue; C Joyce, R Downey, M Coleman; T O’Mahony, D Fitzgibbon; D Healy, S Barrett, D Dalton; P Horgan, A Connolly, B Hayes.

Subs:
B Saunderson, D Cahalane, G Millerick, T O’Connell, E Twomey, L Meade, B Roche, J O’Connor, S Kingston, R O’Flynn, C Lehane.

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