Galway goals undo Limerick

Galway 3-13 Limerick 0-17

Galway retained their All-Ireland minor title – the county’s seventh in all – with a well-judged 3-13 to 0-17 final triumph over Limerick in today's Croke Park curtain-raiser.

Mattie Murphy's side needed a replay to see off Kilkenny 12 months ago, but they were just too good for beaten Munster finalists Limerick this afternoon in a lively encounter.

Goals from Joe Canning and Conor Kavanagh, who mustered 2-05 of Galway's tally between them, and sub Thomas Flannery saw the Irish Press Cup remain out west.

Kavanagh's blistering 19th-minute goal, in which he soloed through on a 20-metre run before flashing a rising shot beyond keeper Ger Flynn, helped Galway to an early lead.

Limerick, conquerors of Leinster champions Dublin in the semi-finals, steadied and launched themselves right back in the first half's closing stages.

Kavanagh's major had pushed the champions 1-05 to 0-05 in front, but five late points - including a hat-trick from the impressive Eoin Ryan and a brace from free-taker John Kelly - saw the Shannonsiders level at 1-07 to 0-10 at half-time.

This good work was undone in the second half.

Portumna sharpshooter Canning, a brother of Galway senior star Ollie, out-foxed the Limerick defence to score a goal only seconds into the second half and, although Brian O'Sullivan levelled matters for the sixth time on 41 minutes, Flannery netted after two brilliant blocks by Flynn, 10 minutes later, for a 3-10 to 0-14 lead.

We must give full credit to Tim O'Connor's Limerick. They grabbed three of the game's final four points, but there was no denying Galway their sixth minor success since 1992.

Wing-back Keith Kilkenny flashed over the final point in the second minute of injury-time.

GALWAY: J Skehell; A Leech, P Loughnane, P Callaghan; J Hughes, C O'Donovan, K Kilkenny; A Keary (Capt), K Coen; S Glynn, J Greene, A Callanan; C Kavanagh, J Canning, B Murphy. Subs used: F Kerrigan for Coen (41 mins), S Howley for O’Donovan (46), T Flannery for Callanan (48), J Gilsen for Murphy (52), B Kenny for Leech (63).

LIMERICK: G Flynn; S Browne, L Hurley, T Condon; J Kelly, D Moloney, G O'Mahony (Capt); D Moore, S Hickey; D Hanley, J Ryan, B O'Sullivan; M Ryan, E Ryan, D O'Sullivan. Subs used: G Alliss for D O’Sullivan (24 mins), R McCarthy for O’Mahony (36-38), G Collins for Moore (51), D O’Connor for Alliss (60).

Scorers: Galway: J Canning 1-03 (1f), C Kavanagh 1-02, T Flannery 1-00, S Glynn, F Kerrigan 0-02 each, J Greene, K Coen, J Hughes (1f), K Kilkenny 0-01 each.

Limerick: E Ryan 0-06 (1f), B O’Sullivan 0-04, J Kelly (2f, 1 '45) 0-03, S Hickey 0-02, G O’Mahony, D Hanley 0-01 each.

Booked: Galway: A Keary (10 mins); Limerick: D Hanley (54)

Referee: Eamonn Morris (Dublin).