2025 All Ireland Hurling Season Review
The 2025 All-Ireland Hurling Championship season is now in the books, with Tipperary defeating Cork in the final last Sunday. This closes the chapter on yet another excellent hurling campaign, full of epic moments and brilliant matches.
The Munster Championship was once again a standout, with Cork defeating Limerick in the final and Tipperary finishing third in the group. Clare and Waterford were the unlucky teams that failed to progress to the All-Ireland knockout stages.
In the Leinster Championship, Kilkenny defeated Galway in the final, with Dublin coming in third. Wexford and Offaly, in fourth and fifth respectively, also missed out on knockout qualification, while Antrim, who finished sixth, were relegated to the Joe McDonagh Cup for 2026.
Let’s look back at the 2025 season and revisit its key moments and matches.
Key Moments
There were many pivotal and memorable moments in this year's championship. Here are some that stood out and why they were so significant:
Historic Munster Final Decided by Penalties
In a dramatic showdown at the Gaelic Grounds on the 7th of June, Cork edged past Limerick after a 2‑27 to 1‑30 stalemate in what was an unforgettable hurling classic. It made history as the first Munster senior final ever to be decided by a penalty shootout, with Cork prevailing 3-2 after an epic extra‑time battle.
It was a heartbreaking way for Limerick to lose the Munster title, but the game marked a new chapter in hurling history. Some critics argued that penalties shouldn't decide such important matches, suggesting a replay would have been more fitting, as was tradition in years gone by.
Tipperary’s Epic Half‑Time Comeback in the Final
At Croke Park on the 20th of July, Cork led Tipperary by six points at half-time after a goal just before the break. But in the second half, Tipperary under manager Liam Cahill, produced a stunning turnaround, outscoring Cork 3‑14 to 0‑2 to win 3‑27 to 1‑18 and reclaim the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2019.
Scoreboard Chaos in the Tipperary vs Kilkenny Semi-Final
The semi-final on the 6th of July saw confusion when a scoreboard malfunction misled players and fans alike at a crucial stage. Tipperary were leading by two points, but the scoreboard incorrectly showed a three-point lead.
Believing they needed a goal to win, Kilkenny launched a desperate final attack. Had the scoreboard displayed the correct score, they might have gone for points instead. Tipperary held on with resolute defending, but the incident sparked a GAA investigation and highlighted how technology is increasingly shaping the modern game.
It was a heartbreaking way for Limerick to lose the Munster title, but the game marked a new chapter in hurling history.
Best Matches
Let’s now take a look at some of the most memorable matches from the 2025 season:
Dublin vs Limerick
On June 21st, in a result that stunned the hurling world, Dublin overcame reigning champions Limerick 2‑24 to 0‑28 at Croke Park even after being reduced to 14 men when Chris Crummey received a red card in the 15th minute. Two quickfire goals from substitutes John Hetherton and Cian O’Sullivan, along with a nine-point haul from Sean Currie, powered the upset. It was widely hailed as one of the biggest shocks in modern championship history.
Cork vs Clare
Cork and Clare served up a thriller in Round 1 of the Munster round-robin phase. The 2024 All-Ireland champions Clare mounted a superb second-half comeback after trailing 2-15 to 0-9 at half-time—a 12-point deficit. Clare were still seven points down in the 68th minute before Peter Duggan found the back of the net. They then added five unanswered points to take the lead in the 76th minute. But the drama didn’t end there—Cork scored a last-gasp point in the 77th minute to salvage a dramatic draw.
Cork vs Limerick
In the Munster final, after a 1‑30 to 2‑27 draw following extra time, Cork again edged Limerick 3‑2 on penalties—the first-ever shootout in Munster SHC final history. The high stakes and sheer tension made this not just a standout game in 2025, but one of the most iconic Munster finals of all time.
Conclusion
The 2025 All-Ireland hurling campaign proved once again to be thrilling and full of drama, with plenty of unforgettable moments and classic encounters. Tipperary emerged as deserving champions, but the overall quality and competitiveness of this year’s championship already has fans eagerly anticipating what 2026 will bring.
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Jack Guing
Jack hails from County Offaly in Ireland and joins the team as a Content Writer and Performance Analyst. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and History from Maynooth University and a master’s degree in Sports Performance from the University of Limerick. Jack is a keen sports fan with a love for performance analysis and wishes to use this data-driven style that is seen in performance analysis in his writing to deliver informative predictions.