GAA
Having met in two of the last three semi-finals, and the decider in 2018, you have to go back as far as 2005 for the previous championship meeting before that.
Limerick clash with Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final on Saturday at 6pm in Croke Park, in a repeat of last year’s semi-final. The counties faced off behind closed doors at the same stage in 2020 having met in the 2018 decider where Limerick bridged a 45-year gap.
Prior to that, you have to go back as far as 2005 for their previous championship meeting before that with clashes between the two counties few and far between.
As the highly anticipated 2023 encounter creeps closer, we take a look back at the last five times these two sides have locked horns.
Galway 4-16 : 2-17 Limerick (All-Ireland Hurling semi-final replay)
16 August 1981 in Croke Park
As they did in the final in 1980, Galway would prevail over Limerick in Croke Park to book an All-Ireland final berth against Offaly, in a game that contrasted the tense affair from the first day, both sides took the shackles off in the replay with 39 scores compared to just 19 in the original fixture.
As he did in the final in 1980, PJ Molloy would raise a green flag for Galway, followed later by a John Connolly goal.
However the day would belong to Joe Connolly, whose tally of 2-7 matched Eamonn Cregan’s from the final of ’80 and helped his side over the line.
Cregan would finish as the Shannonsiders’ leading marksman with 1-5 in the loss.
Galway would go on to lose out to Offaly in the final as the Faithful County claimed Liam MacCarthy for the very first time, while Limerick would have to wait a further 13 years to return to the last four of the All-Ireland series.
Galway 1-18 : 2-14 Limerick (All-Ireland qualifier)
9 July 2005 in the Gaelic Grounds
Galway made it three on the bounce over the Shannonsiders, as both sides advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2005 All-Ireland championship, with Limerick made to rue inaccuracy over deadballs, as they fell to a one-point loss to Galway in the final round of the qualifiers.
In their first championship clash in 24 years, both sides came into the game knowing they were through to the last eight regardless of the result. Nonetheless, Galway started much brighter and were 1-6 to 0-2 to the good after 15 minutes, and this was out to 1-9 to 0-6 at the half time whistle.
Second half goals from Ryan brother’s, TJ and Donie, had it level approaching the final 10 minutes, but missed frees would prove costly as Ger Farragher had the last say on Ennis Road.
The sides would not meet in the championship for another 13 years.
Limerick 3-16 : 2-18 Galway (All-Ireland Hurling Final)
19 August 2018 in Croke Park
Limerick’s 45-year wait for All-Ireland glory finally came to an end as they held on from a late Galway fightback to secure the Liam MacCarthy cup.
John Kiely’s youthful side held an eight point lead heading into as many minutes of additional time before the Galway onslaught.
Graeme Mulcahy’s goal middway through the half helped Limerick into a 1-10 to 0-9 lead at the break which should have been more given Limerick’s dominance.
A trio of scores from Kyle Hayes coupled with goals from Tom Morrissey and Shane Dowling looked to have given the Shannonsiders an unassailable lead approaching added time.
Quickfire goals from Conor Whelan and Joe Canning gave the defending champions hope as they reduced the lead to a point.
Mulcahy would grab Limerick’s final score of the year, which was cancelled out by a Canning ’65.
The Galway man would have a chance with a long range free with the final puck off the ball, but it dropped short as Tom Condon raced clear with sliotar in hand.
The referee blew his full-time whistle as Croke Park and Limerick as a whole erupted in historic scenes.
Limerick 0-27 : 0-24 Galway (All-Ireland Semi-Final)
29 November 2020 in Croke Park
Limerick got over the line in Croke Park to reach a second All-Ireland final in three years, despite Galway giving them a hard challenge.
A dominant Galway start built up a 0-7 to 0-2 lead, although Limerick wouldn’t let up and eventually found their feet, even scoring five unanswered points. Despite the best efforts of the Tribesmen, it was John Kiely’s men who held a two point advantage heading into the interval.
Despite a bright Galway start to the second half, Limerick continued to assert their dominance with a number of unanswered scores driving them ahead.
Galway continued to battle gallantly, and with nine minutes of injury time to be played, they had managed to get the scores level, but Tom Morrissey in particular stepped up for Limerick, as they fought to a 0-27 to 0-24 win, and earned a spot in the All-Ireland final.
Limerick 0-27 : 1-21 Galway (All-Ireland semi-final)
3 July in 2022 Croke Park
Two years later and the sides would once again meet at the semi-final stage in Croke Park, as Limerick managed to get over the line following a battle with a dogged Galway.
Kiely’s men exploded out of the traps and built up a commanding lead early on, and it looked as though Galway may be in for a long afternoon. A defiant Tribesmen performance comprised a number of well crafted score to get the gap back to just a point at one stage, but the Shannonsiders would power into the break courtesy of some Aaron Gillane scores, leading four points at the interval.
A blistering Galway second half start featured a Brian Concannon goal, as well as a score from Joseph Cooney, and suddenly Galway were in the ascendency.
Limerick fought back, with Diarmaid Byrnes nailing a number of long range frees, while Gillane was instrumental in regaining the lead. David Reidy stepped popped up with two vital scores, before Byrnes put the nail in the coffin with a last second free.
Limerick had defeated Galway in the semi-final yet again, and would go on to face Kilkenny in the final.
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