Galway are back on the biggest stage, and that brings one obvious question for followers of sports ireland and Galway GAA alike: what became of the team that started the 2018 All-Ireland hurling final? With Galway preparing to face Limerick again, that last final meeting has come sharply back into focus across ireland sports news and gaa ireland.
That 2018 decider was a painful one for the Tribesmen. Limerick ended a long wait for Liam MacCarthy, while Galway were left wondering what might have been after entering the game as defending champions. Eight years on, some of that Galway side are still central to the county gaa setup, others have moved into coaching, punditry, business, and community sport.
Sports Ireland spotlight: The Galway 2018 team today
The men still driving Galway forward
Several names from that day remain hugely relevant in ireland gaa news today. Daithí Burke is still a key figure and has successfully shifted into the half-back line, where his experience remains vital. Pádraic Mannion is also still starting, while Conor Whelan has grown into one of the defining forwards in modern irish sports. Cathal Mannion now plays deeper than he did in 2018, giving Galway craft and control from centre-forward.
Conor Cooney is still involved too, even if his impact now often comes from the bench. His ability to change a game in seconds makes him one of the more important options in current gaa news ahead of another huge final.
Retirements, coaching, and new roles
Others from that 2018 side have stayed close to hurling in different ways. James Skehill has stepped away from playing and is now a familiar voice in media coverage. Adrian Tuohey retired from inter-county duty but continues with club hurling and underage coaching, a strong example of how ireland community sports and ireland youth sports depend on former county players giving back.
Gearóid McInerney remains active at club level, while Aidan Harte has returned to the Galway senior setup in a selector role. David Burke, captain of the 2017 All-Ireland-winning side and 2018 finalists, has also moved into punditry after a long service to county gaa.
Galway GAA, hurling and life beyond the county jersey
One of the most interesting parts of revisiting this team is seeing how broad their post-county careers have become. John Hanbury is now based in the Netherlands working in tech, while Johnny Coen remains deeply rooted in club and school life as a teacher in Loughrea. Joseph Cooney continues to contribute at Sarsfields, showing how ireland gaa clubs remain the backbone of the game.
Joe Canning, naturally, remains the standout figure. Still one of the most discussed names in ireland hurling news, he has gone from superstar player to pundit, columnist and coach. His influence on Galway hurling has not faded; it has simply changed shape.
Jonathan Glynn has taken a very different route, building a life in New York while continuing his GAA journey overseas. His story is a reminder that gaa ireland now stretches far beyond the island, with Irish players carrying their counties and clubs into global communities.
Why this 2018 team still matters in 2026
- Five members of that starting side are still directly involved with the current senior panel or management.
- Several former players are shaping underage coaching and grassroots development.
- The team links Galway’s last great hurling peak to the present All-Ireland challenge.
For anyone following sports ireland, this is more than a nostalgia piece. It is a snapshot of how a county team evolves, how careers branch out, and how hurling lives on through schools, clubs, media and coaching. As Galway head back into an All-Ireland final against familiar opposition, the lasting thread from 2018 is clear: this group still shapes the story. The next thing to watch is whether the survivors from that day can turn hard lessons into a new chapter for Galway GAA and sports ireland.
Article/Image Courtesy: Balls.ie
