Lively Limerick hit Galway for six

Limerick 6-11 Galway 2-14

It was an excellent team performance from the home side who looked to be suffering from a hangover after their mid-week crisis when Eugene Cloonan beat debutante goalkeeper John Cahill inside 90 seconds, having already put a point on the board.

However, Limerick steadied themselves and, with newcomers Pat Conway and Donal O’Grady tightening up in defence, put their visitors back in their place.

Galway, with Cloonan and Aidan Cullinane on target, were still ahead 1-4 to 0-3 after 15 minutes, but once James Butler fired past Liam O’Donoghue Limerick were on a roll, interrupted only when Cloonan banged in a second goal.

John Meskell edged them closer with a green flag and just on half time Andrew O’Shaughnessy provided the lead for the first time with a powerful 21-yard free.

Ciaran Carey and Ollie Moran ensured that Limerick stayed ahead with some fine midfield play and the defence, bolstered by substitute Clem Smith, gave little away.

In the 43rd minute, James Butler sent O’Shaughnessy away for goal number four and almost immediately, another former under-21 star, Pat Tobin, bulged the Galway net again.

Galway’s fate was sealed when Donie Ryan completed a handsome goals haul.

lA Limerick selection took on Cork champions Newtownshandrum yesterday and lost 0-15 to 0-9.

Scorers for Limerick: A. O’Shaughnessy 2-2, J. Meskell 1-2, P. Tobin, J. Butler, D. Ryan 1-1 each, JP Sheehan 0-2, O. Moran, C. Carey, 0-1 each.

Galway: E. Cloonan 2-6, A. Cullinane 0-2, D. Tierney, J. Conroy, M. Kearns, D. Forde, J. O’Loughlin, O. Fahy 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: J. Cahill; S. McDonogh, P. Conway, B. Mulcahy, D. O’Grady, TJ Ryan, M. Foley; O. Moran, C. Carey;D. Ryan, JP Sheehan, J. Meskell, A. O’Shaughnessy, P. Tobin, J. Butler.

GALWAY: L. O’Donoghue; D. Joyce, D. Cloonan, D. Collins, P. Healy, D. Hardiman, F. Moore; D. Tierney, J. Conroy; M. Kearns, D. Forde, A. Cullinane, J. O’Loughlin, E. Cloonan, O. Fahy.