From RTE.ie

Galway's man of the match Jason Rabbitte put their stunning slaying of Cork in Saturday's All-Ireland SHC semi-final down to sheer graft and a burning desire to prove they can do it on the biggest days.

Micheál Donoghue's Leinster champions were outsiders coming into this face-off against the Rebels, but they produced a brilliant second-half display to burn off their opponents and set up a final showdown with either Clare or Limerick, who meet tomorrow.

Rabbitte - magnificent throughout - said Galway came to Croke Park full of belief, and fizzing with the energy to execute a smart game plan.

"I think simply it just comes down to work rate," he told RTÉ Sport.

"We haven't been so successful here the last few years but you know it's two out of two now this year and hopefully we can make it a third.

"The Leinster final (against Dublin), it was really a perfect experience for myself and the young lads. We got used to successful days here and they've continued.

"I suppose the message was, (Cork have) been here a few years and fallen short, so you know, we're coming.

"We knew what we had in our minds at the start of the year. The older lads, like you saw Daithí (Burke) there going around with half a leg and the rest of them, they're absolutely unreal, heroes. They make our life easy."


Galway manager Donoghue praised his players' attitude both on the day and in the build-up, highlighting the strong block of preparation they enjoyed over the last few weeks.

"In fairness I said before the game we had a good month," said Donoghue.

"One of the greatest traits of the group is their humility. They just come to train and come to work and be the best version of themselves after every training session and try and get better.

"That's the standard we set that every session we've got to go to another level. The last four weeks have been really good and I have to say the whole management team and medical team the S&C side, everyone just put their shoulders to the wheel and just did their job and did a good one.

"The lads have to understand the accountability and responsibility that goes with wearing that jersey and we don't take it lightly. I said the number one thing is, you've got to work when you're in it."

Galway will quickly refocus to prepare for the big one, with Donoghue adding: "We just kept the head down like we normally do and stayed working. Like I said to you there, we've got to focus on recovery and work next week on just getting better.

"There's great experience in the management team, but obviously we're delighted to be there now and just get everyone home and start focusing on recovery."

Donoghue's opposite number, Cork manager Ben O'Connor, admitted his side were "outworked and out-hurled" at Croke Park.

"We were outworked and we were out-hurled. That's what it's down to," O'Connor told RTÉ Sport.

"At this level, all teams are fairly close, it's whoever work hardest on the day, and they outworked us. We gave away a few handy scores before half-time, and that was probably the difference.

"The sending off, when they got ahead, they were able to use the space better and we couldn't cover spaces. So look, better team won on the day.


As regards the Fitzgibbon red card, O'Connor suggested his player should have stayed on the pitch.

"The second one was a fella going in for a hook," O'Connor said. "Did it even hit him in the head? Maybe it did, but if that's a sending off, I don't know where we're going.

"There'll be people all on about this again, but I don't think that's a sending off. I've been mentoring him since last November, and he gets sent off for that."

As his side's promising summer peters out with a whimper, O'Connor remained bullish about the prospects of this Rebel side that often promises so much but has a habit of falling short on the biggest days.

"We'll have to dust ourselves down for the next few days. It'll be hard to take," he said. "There'll be people out to get some of the lads, out to get me, some of the backroom. There'll be a lot of talking going on in the backroom.

"But since I got involved with these lads, they've given us everything. I don't think they owe anything to anyone bar themselves.

"They are more disappointed than anyone that has travelled up the road today to go home after that kind of a performance.

"It is what it is. It's done and dusted. That's 2026 over for us, and, uh, we're only looking forward again."