Tribe left reeling by Limerick’s late show
LIMERICK hit four late points to shake off Galway at Semple Stadium as they remain on course for a second title in three years. Goals from Peter Casey and Barry Murphy either side of the break gave the Treaty men a lift at vital moments, although Galway looked in good shape when Conor Whelan netted to put them two points ahead with 13 minutes remaining.
But Limerick’s finish was impressive as Aaron Gillane, Thomas Grimes and Robbie Hanley put the final touches on a gritty performance from the Munster champions.
Spectators among the 6,524 crowd had eyes on Whelan ahead of the All-Ireland senior final in a fortnight’s time, but the Kinvara man had a frustrating opening half. Inside the opening 11 minutes he fired two wides and also rattled the post before hitting his opening point on the half-hour mark.
Around him, however, Galway looked sharp. Fellow senior panellist Tom Monaghan accounted for three of their points before the break, while Kevin McHugo, Dan Nevin, Brian Concannon, Sean Linnane and Jack Coyne all found the target from open play.
But at the other end Limerick had Peter Casey as the pick of their attackers. He struck their first two points from play to level the game at 0-2 each after eight minutes, while he was also on hand to bundle Tom Morrissey’s rebounded shot over the line for a 1-2 to 0-3 lead in the 10th minute.
The Connacht men finished the half on the up and two points from Whelan as well as a superb longrange Nevin free secured parity, 012 to 1-9, at the break.
Limerick moved both Gillane and Barry Murphy into the full-forward line immediately after the start of the second half and it had a telling effect. Gillane fired a goal chance over the bar after 20 seconds, added a 65 three minutes later while Murphy was on hand to scramble a second Limerick goal on 35 minutes. Points from Nash and Murphy gave the Treaty a 2-13 to 014 advantage.
Galway were in real trouble at that point, but a Jack Coyne goal helped them get back on level terms with 15 minutes remaining.
When Evan Niland set up Whelan for a goal, the Westerners appeared to be in the driving seat. However, Limerick showed character to pull ahead again when Conor Boylan, Kyle Hayes and Andrew La Touche Cosgrave hit three in a row.
Concannon pulled Galway level again with seven minutes to go, but Limerick powered to victory with their late flurry of scores.
Galway: D Gilligan; D Cronin, C Cosgrove, I Fox; J Grealish (0-1), J Mooney, S Loftus (0-1, 1f); K McHugo (0-1), D Nevin (0-2, 1f); B Concannon (0-4), S Linnane (0-1), T Monaghan (0-4); C Whelan (1-3, 1f), C Burke, J Coyne (1-1).
SubS: C O’Connor for Fox 21, E Niland (0-1, 1f) for Burke 37, G Loughnane for Concannon 42-43 (blood) & for Coyne 57, F Burke for Mooney 52, R Elwood for McHugo 58.
limerick: E McNamara; S Finn, D Fanning, D Joy; R Lynch, K Hayes (0-1), T Grimes (0-2); C Ryan, R Hanley (0-1); A Gillane (0-8, 4f, 2 ‘65), B Murphy (1-2), C Lynch (0-1); P Casey (1-2), T Morrissey, B Nash (0-4).
SubS: A La Touche Cosgrave (0-1) for C Lynch 30-31 (blood) & for Morrissey 44, C Boylan (0-1) for Ryan 44, J O’Grady for Finn 52, S Flanagan for Murphy 59, M Mackey for Nash 65.
referee: John Keenan (Wicklow).