Leinster Hurling final spot on the line for Galway against struggling Wexford
THIS SUNDAY, the Galway senior hurlers make the long trip down to Wexford in round five of the Leinster Senior Championship. The action gets underway at 2pm in Wexford Park and there will be no live coverage of the round five Leinster SHC fixture.
Dublin native Chris Mooney takes charge of the clash on the same day and at the same time as Kildare host Offaly and Dublin meet Kilkenny in the other two games in the final round of action.
Galway are already guaranteed a third-place finish in the Leinster SHC but a win will be enough for them to advance to the Leinster final.
Meanwhile, a draw would still be enough for them to reach the Leinster final as long as Dublin defeat Kilkenny. If Wexford overcome Galway and Dublin get the better of the Cats that would also be enough for the Tribesment o reach the provincial final.
However, if Kilkenny defeat Dublin and Wexford and Galway draw, that would leave Dublin, Kilkenny and Galway all level on seven points and scoring difference would come into the equation.
Remarkably, if Offaly get the better of Kildare and Dublin get the win against Kilkenny, the reigning Leinster champions will be out of the championship on Sunday evening.
For Micheál Donoghue, he will be hoping his side can bounce back after their defeat to Dublin last weekend. The Galway manager said after his side’s defeat that all the attention now must turn to their clash against Wexford.
“That is always the case. I said to the boys there, there is always going to be ups and downs in this championship. We just got to regroup and go again this weekend,” added Donoghue.
The Tribesmen's wayward shooting from last weekend is an area improvement that Donoghue and his management team will be going after heading to Wexford. Galway shot 17 wides against Dublin.
“It is no excuse, but our efficiency was poor. I would still say about the start of the game that we didn't hit the heights that we wanted to, but overall, I can't fault their effort or application. You just have to analyse it and push on.”
The Leinster final is scheduled for Saturday June 6, at 6pm in Croke Park. The loser of the Leinster final will play third place in Munster in the All-Ireland quarter-final, while third place in Leinster will play the Munster finalists in the other quarter-final. Both All-Ireland quarter-finals are scheduled for the weekend of June 20/21.
Aaron Niland and Rory Burke who have accounted for 4-29 between them for the men in maroon and white are now major injuries concerns.
Burke missed Saturday’s clash against Dublin with a hamstring injury, while Niland appeared in discomfort with his left ankle heavily strapped and the Clarinbridge man was forced off through injury in the second half against Dublin.
Opponents, Wexford they have struggled throughout the Leinster SHC and with just two points from four games the Slaneysiders are unable to progress into the knockout stages.
Keith Rossiter’s outfit have retained their Leinster SHC status for 2027 but Kildare are relegated back down to the Joe McDonagh Cup. At the start of 2026, Wexford lost Rory O’Connor who opted out of the panel and his loss has been felt. They have relied heavily on Lee Chin's scores throughout the campaign.