PREVIEW: Leinster Senior Hurling Final- Dublin v Galway

Dublin will look to secure their first provincial title in thirteen years, when they meet Galway in Saturday’s Leinster Senior Hurling Final at Croke Park (6.00).

Both counties have suffered final heartache in recent times, with Galway losing four finals to Kilkenny since 2020 and Dublin losing to the Cats in the 2021 and 2024 deciders.

As a result, there will be no shortage of motivation for either side, with the Bob O’Keeffe Cup the main prize on offer.

An All-Ireland semi-final berth is another incentive that makes Saturday’s clash so appealing.

Of course, the counties met as recently as mid-May, with Dublin finishing strongly to overcome Galway by 3-15 to 0-21 on an extremely blustery day in Salthill.

Hopefully, the weather is more clement for the large crowd expected to descend on headquarters and they can expect another tight contest that goes right down to the wire.

Dublin’s ability to find the net in Pearse Stadium while preventing their opponents from raising a solitary green flag was central to that victory, with the Dubs also keeping clean sheets in their victories against Wexford and Kilkenny.

Paddy Smyth has been pivotal to that solidity but he may find his hands full dealing with the twin threat of Aaron Niland and Jason Rabbitte, who will hope to bounce back from the disappointment of Galway’s Under 20 final defeat to Clare last Sunday.

Dublin will hope that their defensive options are enhanced with the availability of Liam Rushe, who was a late withdrawal against Kilkenny last time out.

Dublin will pose their own problems for Galway’s defence, with John Hetherton and Ronan Hayes beginning to consistently deliver on their undoubted talents and the long ball remains a viable alternative from their strong-running game.

The pace of Brian Hayes is another factor that could swing the tie in Dublin’s favour and Micheál Donoghue will be working hard to ensure Hayes’ influence is kept to a minimum.

The former Dublin manager has steadied the Galway ship since his appointment, while Niall Ó Ceallacháin has instilled a greater consistency and confidence in the Dublin panel as reflected in last year’s run to the last four.

A healthy rivalry has developed between the two counties in recent years and it is likely that there will be very little to separate the teams by the final whistle.

If you are unable to make Croke Park on Saturday, the match will be shown live on RTE2 with the Joe McDonagh Cup final between Laois and Carlow acting as curtain-raiser with throw-in at 3.45pm.