Kilkenny won the replay, with Henry Shefflin becoming the first Gaelic athlete to win nine All-Ireland Senior Championship medals on the field of play.

[8][9] However, Galway unexpectedly beat Kilkenny in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Final on 8 July 2012, the shock of the year.

On 20 August 2012, the GAA announced that Barry Kelly from Westmeath would referee the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final.

[3] Team GB's Olympic boxer Natasha Jonas was invited to attend the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final.

Joe Canning then hit a 73rd-minute equaliser from the 45-metre line close to the Hogan Stand side of the field to make the scores level and take the game to a replay three weeks later.

Following some pushing and shoving, David Burke gets the ball into the back of the Kilkenny net for a third time but the referee blew his whistle and awarded a free to Galway instead, which Joe Canning scored.

In the 49th minute, Galway's Cyril Donnellan was shown the red card and sent off after swinging his hurley at opponent J. J. Delaney and hitting him upon the head.

Kilkenny captain Eoin Larkin sang his own version of "Cody's Winning Matches"—referring to manager Brian Cody—, prompting dismay from supporters of the Donegal senior football team.

[24] Fine Gael Environment Minister Phil Hogan attended the team homecoming at Nowlan Park, which is located in his own constituency.