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sport · Saturday 25 July 2026 · 3:30pm 
All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals at Croke Park
At Croke Park · Jones Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3
At Croke Park · Jones Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 3
Two counties go into Croke Park on each day of this weekend, and only one walks out with a place in the Liam MacCarthy final. The All-Ireland Hurling Semi-Finals are where the summer championship reaches its sharpest point - the teams left standing are serious contenders, the stakes are absolute, and the atmosphere inside GAA headquarters is something you carry with you for years. If you have never seen championship hurling live, this is the weekend to start.
Hurling at semi-final stage in Croke Park is a different proposition from a league game or a provincial opener. The pace is relentless - the ball moves faster than it looks possible, the physical contest is fierce, and the skill levels are extraordinary. Two full fixtures are scheduled across the weekend of 25 and 26 July, meaning four counties contest two places in the final. Croke Park holds over 82,000 people, and for games of this magnitude it fills well. Expect colour, flags, county jerseys, and real noise from the moment you come up the steps into the stands. The pre-match build-up is part of the occasion - arrive early to soak it in. Both Saturday and Sunday fixtures throw in at 3:30pm.
Croke Park sits on Jones Road at the southern edge of Drumcondra, a short distance from the city centre, and public transport is the practical choice on matchday. The Luas Red Line stops at Parnell, roughly a five-minute walk to the ground. Drumcondra rail station is on the Northern Commuter line and puts you about 15 minutes on foot from the turnstiles. Dublin Bus routes 3, 11, 13, 16, and 19 all pass through the area. If you are coming from the city centre by taxi, allow 10 to 20 minutes depending on traffic, and expect congestion on Jones Road once the crowds build. Parking in the surrounding residential streets is very limited and most of those roads are restricted on matchdays - the stadium is not designed for a car-based visit.
The neighbourhood along the Drumcondra Road has a good scattering of pubs and cafes well used to match-day crowds, and it is worth arriving with time to spare for a pre-match pint before the throw-in. There is more to see in Drumcondra and across Co. Dublin.
Heading to Croke Park in Drumcondra? Dublin has plenty more to see. Read the Drumcondra area guide, find what else is on, and explore the towns and villages nearby.