Limerick Answer Galway’s Challenge In Epic Semi Final Battle.

Thomas Monaghan point opened proceedings for Galway before two of Limerick’s inside forward line in Aaron Gillane and Seamus Flanagan knocked over points after clever diagonal runs to collect possession.

A flutter of wides from both sides ensued before Flanagan added his second point of the game in the fifth minute. Gillane followed with a quick fire brace of points before Darragh O’Donovan worked a short sideline to Will O’Donoghue who pointed from under the Hogan stand.

Six minutes in and John Kiely would have been pretty happy with a 0-06 to 0-01 lead as Galway were slower to settle. A Conor Cooney point followed by another from Tom Monaghan helped that settling process for the tribesmen and more importantly reduced the arrears to just three points.

Hegarty responded with a point from play and three minutes later on the quarter hour mark Diarmaid Byrnes added his first long range free of the day to make it 8 points to 3.

Ronan Glennon and Kyle Hayes exchanged scores before two Conor Cooney points make Galway 0-6 Limerick 0-9.

Hayes extended Limerick’s lead to 4 once again but Galway kept responding and scores form Mannion and Monaghan cut the deficit to just two points.

In keeping with the see saw nature of the firs half Limerick’s repost came through a Gillane free and a superb long range point form Barry Nash to put Kiely’s side back into a 12-8 lead.

Mannion knocked over a long range free on 27 minutes but the imperious Gillane gained possession from a beautiful cross field ball to land another score. Galway then embarked on their best run of the half with three points in succession to reduce the gap to a point.

Limerick needed leaders and up stepped Gillane with a free before Hannon landed the last score of the half to see Limerick in with a 0-16 to 0-12 lead.

Cathal Mannion point in loads of space as Limerick hit by a revitalised Galway. First goal of the game came on 37 minutes when the flight of a long ball seemed to catch Mike Casey slightly out of position. Brian Concannon gathered and fired past Quaid to make t 1-13 to 0-16. Level game and all to play for.

Jospeh Cooney nudged Galway in front on 43 minutes but Byrnes landed two huge frees in quick succession to edge Limerick back in front. Cathal Mannion levelled within a minute. 1-15 to 0-18 and the game on a knife edge.

Tom Morrissey and Conor Whelan swapped points from tight angles as the teams refused to be separated 1-16 to 0-19.

Byrnes landed another free to give Limerick a one point lead on 55 minutes. Peter Casey drew a cheer from the crowd as he came in to replace Graeme Mulcahy. Two minutes later and Cian Lynch took the field in place of Tom Morrissey.

Glennon stepped up to to level for the tribesmen once again. 1-17 to 0-20 before Conor Cooney landed a free to edge them into a one point lead. Kiely’s men were straining under huge pressure from the Galway challenge but Byrnes knocked over another free to level proceedings once again.

Tom Monaghan who was superb through pointed to swing momentum back west of the Shannon once again. Gillane and Reidy wrestled it back to Kiely’s charges once again but Galway were not done. Burke land Kyle Hayes exchanged scores. Conor Whelan levelled on 67 minutes to make to 1-21 to 0-24.

A loose ball at just outside the attacking D was gathered by David Reidy and quickly snapped over the bar. Limerick into a one point lead. 5 minutes injury time up on the board. Sean Finn then won a high ball and was fouled. The quick free was worked to Reidy again who made no mistake with the shot. Limerick into a perilous two point lead.

A foul in the 74th minute gave Byrnes a chance to eat into the remaining minutes, not only did he do that but he also landed the free to make it a three point game. Injury time was up the Galway would launch one more attack.

A long ball back into the edge of Limerick was dropping dangerously but Kyle Hayes clutched possession from the air with the final whistle following soon after. 0-27 to 1-21. Limerick through to play Kilkenny.