Excitement, broad smiles, overall good spirits and women with nails painted blue were the order of the afternoon yesterday, July 21st 2025, with at times cheering to be heard in Wales, when players and management eventually mounted the staged area in the Thurles “Field of Dreams”, as those assembled, welcomed home their heroes, the newly-crowned Tipperary All-Ireland hurling champions.
Following Sunday’s ardent and assertive destruction of Cork, both the players and management returned home to Thurles with the Liam MacCarthy Cup after an absence of 5 years. Waiting patiently were an estimated crowd of over 45,000 people, each determined to meet and greet their hero’s on the turf of Semple’s Field, (Semple Stadium).
Continuous rain shower gave those assembled some idea of what their heroes had experienced last winter as they trained.
On arrival Tipperary’s successful manager, Mr Liam Cahill, applauded the awaiting incredible scenes, rightly lauding their presence as “the stuff of dreams”.
On a sadder and subdued note, Mr Cahill paid tribute to the late Dillon Quirke, (who previously had played for Tipperary Senior Championship club Clonoulty–Rossmore), latter a most promising player who sadly passed away three years ago, on August 5th 2022, while playing a Tipperary SHC match for his home club, against Kilruane MacDonagh’s; in this same Semple Stadium venue. In his tribute Mr Cahill added “It’s so fitting to his memory, that we bring Liam MacCarthy out into Semple Stadium as he remains always with us and ever on our shoulders everywhere we go.”
The very talented Ms Una Healy.
Festivities which ran from 4:30pm on into the early hours, featured home-grown entertainment from Seskin Lane, Callini Lua, Acquiesce, with Una Healy(Former member of the five-piece girl group The Saturdays) and The 2 Johnnies topping the bill.
Master of ceremonies for the 5 hour event was Radio Tipp FM’s Mr Fran Curry.
As every Tipperary person is aware the Premier County beat Cork 3-27 to 1-18 in Croke Park on Sunday afternoon last, to rightly claim their 29th All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Sadly, it was a different story in Cork city, where no homecoming event took place for either players or supporters, with their skilled hurlers returning quietly by train into Kent Station.
Tipperary Rout Cork by 15-Points In All-Ireland Hurling Victory.
Tipperary defeats a 14-man Rebel County by 3-27 (37pts) to 1-18 (21pts), in masterclass hurling display at All-Ireland Hurling final.
“When can their glory fade? O the wild charge they made! All the world wondered.”
Excerpt from “The Charge of the Light Brigade” – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Underdogs Tipperary, this afternoon, are deservedly All-Ireland Senior Hurling Champions for the first time since 2019; following an unprecedented second-half win over the Rebel County, in their first All-Ireland final meeting, with their southern neighbours.
Tipperary Team Captain Ronan Maher receives ‘Liam MacCarthy Cup’ on behalf of his team mates. Pic: G. Willoughby.
“Liam MacCarthy is coming home”, words spoken by Tipperary Team Captain Ronan Maher, having been presented with the All-Ireland winning trophy this afternoon.
Cork were six points ahead; 1-16 (19pts) to 0-13 (13pts), at the end of the first half, but were utterly obliterated by a skilled and talented Premier County team, during in the second-half.
Whatever discussions took place at half-time, between Tipp Manager Liam Cahill and his team players in the dressing-room; the second-half saw Tipperary totally dominate possession, during what can only be called a ‘Masterclass in hurling skill’; the result demonstrated by their scoring 1-05 (8pts), before their rivals Cork even managed to acquire just one single point.
Tipperary would go on to score another 2-05 (11pts) before ‘The Rebels’ would managed to score their second single point, in the 66th minute.
During this display, John McGrath, took his total championship tally to 7-16, having rifled home 2-2 (8pts).
Cork’s Eoin Downey was sent off after a foul on John McGrath; same resulting in a penalty that Tipperary’s Darragh McCarthy didn’t fritter away, thus adding to Cork’s woes.
Tipperary now return home with their 29th All-Ireland title, leaving Cork to wait at least one other year to again triumphally raise the Liam MacCarthy Cup, having been utterly obliterated by this skilled and talented Premier County team, whose skills were clearly displayed during the second-half of this afternoons clash.
Tipperary Team: Rhys Shelly (0-01), Robert Doyle (0-01), Eoghan Connolly (0-01), Michael Breen, Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher (Captain), Bryan O’Mara, Willie Connors (0-01), Conor Stakelum (0-01); Jake Morris (0-01), Andrew Ormond (0-01), Sam O’Farrell, Darragh McCarthy (1-13,- 0-09 from frees), John McGrath (2-02), Jason Forde (0-02).
Substitutes: Seamus Kennedy [for Bryan O’Mara], Alan Tynan [for Craig Morgan], Noel McGrath [for Sam O’Farrell], Oisin O’Donoghue [for Andrew Ormond], Darragh Stakelum [for Conor Stakelum].
Both Cork and Tipperary have named unchanged sides when they meet in tomorrow’s All-Ireland hurling final.
Tipperary Manager Liam Cahill and Cork manager Pat Ryan have both retained faith in their 15 member squads that beat Kilkenny and Dublin, respectively, in both recent semi-final outings.
There’s is one addition to the Tipperary panel for this Croke Park showdown, with Under-20s forward Paddy McCormack, replacing Seán Kenneally, latter believed to have picked up an injury. McCormack, latter the younger brother of twice All-Ireland Dan McCormack, scored 2-01 in their U-20 triumph over Kilkenny, in June last. Meanwhile, Manager Pat Ryan has recalled Seamus Harnedy and Cormac O’Brien to his Cork panel. Harnedy had missed the semi-final with Dublin with a hamstring injury, while O’Brien had been ruled out with a quad muscle injury. Ethan Twomey and Jack O’Connor will now drop out of the squad.
Tipperary are hoping to take what would be their 29th Liam MacCarthy victory, while replicating their 2019 day of glory. Cork, on the other hand, will be anxious to take their 31st title, thus ending a 20-year-old drought, which will make them an extremley dangerous opponent.
Tipperary Team: Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher (Capt.), Bryan O’Mara; Willie Connors, Conor Stakelum; Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Sam O’Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath, Jason Forde. Substitutes: Barry Hogan, Joe Caesar, Seamus Kennedy, Paddy McCormack, Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath, Peter McGarry, Oisin O’Donoghue, Johnny Ryan, Darragh Stakelum, Alan Tynan.
Cork Team: Patrick Collins, Niall O’Leary, Eoin Downey, Sean O’Donoghue, Ciarán Joyce, Rob Downey (Capt.), Mark Coleman, Tim O’Mahony, Darragh Fitzgibbon, Diarmuid Healy, Shane Barrett, Declan Dalton, Patrick Horgan, Alan Connolly, Brian Hayes. Substitutes: Brion Saunderson, Damie Cahalane, Ger Millerick, Cormac O’Brien, Tommy O’Connell, Luke Meade, Brian Roche, Séamus Harnedy, Robbie O’Flynn, Conor Lehane, Shane Kingston.
This Cork vs Tipperary match will be broadcast live on RTE Two, with the throw-in time scheduled for 3:30pm. Ms Sarah Mulkerrins will present live coverage of the match on BBC Two and iPlayer. GAA fans in the USA can watch the match through the GAA+ stream or website.
Confusion reigned for a time over today’s final score following Tipperary’s All-Ireland semi-final victory over Kilkenny. The scoreboard in Croke Park together with the tally shown on RTÉ, showed Tipperary victorious by 4-21 to 0-30. However, that Tipperary tally appeared to include a late Noal McGrath point that was waved wide by the umpires. Happily, Noel McGrath’s late point has since been confirmed as a score to give that final result of Tipperary 4-21 (33 pts) Kilkenny 0-30 (30 pts).
Regardless, with a man short, Tipperary successfully edged from behind to take the lead ahead of their old rivals and neighbours Kilkenny, thus setting up an All-Ireland final meeting with Munster rivals Cork.
It was Oisín O’Donoghue (substitute) who scored that winning goal in the 69th minute, following the departure of Darragh McCarthy having been “Red Carded”.
It was another Tipperary hero, Robert Doyle, who succeeded in making that crucial goal-line save, thus confirming Tipperary’s first All-Ireland final, since beating Kilkenny in 2019; latter event which marked Tipperary’s most recent appearance at Croke Park, prior to today’s well deserved victory.
Kilkenny appeared to be fully on top, early on in today’s “clash of the ash”, scoring the first eight points in the game, however, Tipperary’s first goal would arrive courtesy of John McGrath, before being joined by his full-forward colleagues Darragh McCarthy and Jason Forde, latter who also found the netting, granting the Premier County a 3-11 (20 pts) to 0-16 (16 pts) lead, by half time.
The second half saw Kilkenny drew level by the 48th minute, thanks to the accuracy of TJ Reid greatly aided by Martin Keoghan.
Then, with just 12 minutes remaining Darragh McCarthy, following a loose slap on Eoin Murphy hand, left the field having been shown a Red Card (his second yellow card), with Tipperary then one point down. While Tipperary spectators hearts sank, 14 Tipperary stalwart players dug in deep to level again, with aforementioned O’Donoghue managing to once again rifle into Kilkenny’s net.
In two week’s time, Tipperary will return to Croke Park, (July 20th), to do battle against Munster champions Cork, for their chance to win their first All-Ireland title since 2019.
Eoin Cody, now recovered from injury, starts in the full-forward line for Sunday’s All-Ireland semi-final against an unchanged 15 Tipperary team selection. Shane Murphy has also been restored back to the Kilkenny line-up, due to face tomorrow’s All-Ireland Hurling semi-final at Croke Park.
Tipperary manager, Liam Cahill, has opted to stick with the same 15 winning formula that beat Galway in the quarter-finals, with tomorrow being Tipperary’s first appearance in an All-Ireland semi-final this decade and their first game at Croke Park, since they overcame Kilkenny in the 2019 All-Ireland final.
Tipperary Team:Rhys Shelly; Robert Doyle, Eoghan Connolly, Michael Breen; Craig Morgan, Ronan Maher, Bryan O’Mara; Willie Connors, Peter McGarry; Jake Morris, Andrew Ormond, Sam O’Farrell; Darragh McCarthy, John McGrath and Jason Forde.
Subs: Barry Hogan, Joe Caesar, Sean Kenneally, Seamus Kennedy, Brian McGrath, Noel McGrath, Oisin O’Donoghue, Johnny Ryan, Conor Stakelum, Darragh Stakelum, Alan Tynan.
Kilkenny Team:Eoin Murphy; Mikey Butler, Huw Lawlor, Shane Murphy; Michael Carey, Richie Reid, Paddy Deegan; Cian Kenny, Jordan Molloy; Adrian Mullen, John Donnelly, Billy Ryan; Mossy Keoghan, TJ Reid and the aforementioned Eoin Cody.
Subs: Aidan Tallis, David Blanchfield, Tommy Walsh, Pádraic Moylan, Killian Doyle, Zach Bay Hammond, Fionan Mackessy, Stephen Donnelly, Luke Hogan, Luke Connellan, Billy Drennan.
This game is set for a 4:00pm throw-in, with the match also being shown live on RTÉ 2 and the RTÉ Player. Supporters can also review highlights from the day’s action on The Sunday Game, on Sunday evening on RTÉ 2, starting from 9:30pm.
A large contingent of eager Tipperary supporters are expected to converge on Croke Park for this highly anticipated clash.
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