On This Day | Tom Morrissey comes up trumps as Limerick see off stubborn Galway for 2020 All-Ireland final berth

In a repeat of the All-Ireland final from two years previously, Galway made Limerick work all the way for their final berth.

In the second ever All-Ireland senior hurling championship semi-final to be played behind closed doors following Waterford’s win over Kilkenny the previous day, Limerick and Galway met in an absorbing contest on this day two years ago.

Pushing the eventual champions all the way, Galway gave as good as any in 2020 but ultimately came up short against John Kiely’s juggernaut, as they outlasted the Tribesmen for a 0-27 to 0-24 victory.

With the sides level at 0-23 apiece into injury time, Tom Morrissey took over as Limerick hit three of the final four to return to the All-Ireland final and set up a Munster final rematch with Waterford.

Galway laid out their intentions early, Joe Canning sending over a sideline for the first score of the evening. Incredibly he would add three more from the sideline with Fintan Burke also adding one. Galway were three to the good when Tom Morrissey had the Shannonsiders opener.

But Galway were impressive with scores from Brian Concannon and Conor Whelan helping them into a 0-7 to 0-2 advantage. Two scores eased the deficit heading into the first waterbreak with Conconnan notching immediately afterward.

Five on the trot was Limerick’s response and crucially, Kiely’s men wouldn’t trail again in the contest. Gearoid Hegarty bagged a couple in that period as he showcased his Hurler of the Year form.

Morrissey and Diarmuid Byrnes added further scores but Canning’s sidelines kept the Tribesmen in touch as three first half efforts from the floor had it 0-15 to 0-13 in Limerick’s favour at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Limerick with Cian Lynch starting to flourish at centre forward, hitting a couple with Graeme Mulcahy’s effort leaving six between the sides with 50 on the clock.

But Galway battled hard and eventually clawed themselves level through Conor Whelan and substitute Evan Niland who replaced the injured Canning.

Niland made it 0-23 each in the 75th minute with four more of injury time to be played. Morrissey scored from the resultant puckout with Adrian Breen making a two-point game. Burke then landed their fifth sideline of the game to reduce the margin to one.

However, Morrissey popped up with another pair to seal the result and send Limerick back to All-Ireland final day.

There they would put in their best performance of the year to reclaim the Liam MacCarthy and usher in a new era that has seen them claim a three-in-a-row in the meantime.

Scorers for Limerick: Tom Morrissey (0-6, 1 free), Aaron Gillane (0-6, 5 frees), Gearoid Hegarty (0-4), Diarmaid Byrnes (0-3, 2 frees), Cian Lynch, Peter Casey, and Seamus Flanagan (all 0-2), Declan Hannon and Adrian Breen (both 0-1).

Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning (0-12, 8 frees, 4 sidelines), Brian Concannon, Conor Whelan (both 0-3), Evan Niland (0-2, free), Joseph Cooney, Cathal Mannion, Adrian Tuohey, Fintan Burke (sideline) (all 0-1).

Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes; Darragh O’Donovan, William O’Donoghue; Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Graeme Mulcahy.
Subs: Peter Casey for Mulcahy (40), David Reidy for O’Donovan (52), Adrian Breen for Flanagan (62), Paddy O’Loughlin for Hannon (70+4), Pat Ryan for Gillane (70+6).

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