Hawk-Eye stood down after controversy in Galway Minors win

Galway 0-23 Limerick 0-20

Galway Minor hurlers booked their place in a second All-Ireland final in the space of three years after a hard-earned three-point win after extra-time in Croke Park.

The sides were tied at 0-16 apiece at the end of normal time, but controversy reigned after Hawk-Eye showed an early Barry Nash effort went over the cross-bar for Limerick, but the graphic indicated that it was a miss.

Referee Fergal Horgan didn't allow the score, with the GAA confirming later that the score-detection system would be stood down for the remainder of the afternoon.

On the pitch a cracking encounter was produced, with the sides tied at 0-08 apiece at half-time of normal time, with Barry Nash and Brian Molloy contributing 0-03 each for their respective sides at this stage.

The sides were tied at 0-15 apiece with a minute of normal time remaining, but Galway looked to take victory with a late point, however Ronan Lynch's second point of the day forced extra-time.

Galway were strongest in extra-time and led by 0-19 to 0-18 at half-time, but kicked on, on the restart with scores from Conor Whelan, Ronan O'Meara and Eanna Burke ensuring victory.

Limerick manager Brian Ryan made the tough decision of dropping two of his players from the starting 15 from the Munster Final replay win, but it mattered little early on as this game began at a frantic pace.

Barry Nash fired an early effort after 18 seconds, but his effort was ruled out thanks to a Hawk-Eye technicality and Limerick once again had to start afresh.

This they did with scores from Cian Lynch and Dean Coleman to ensure a 0-02 to 0-00 lead after just two minutes.

Galway settled thanks to a Conor Shaughnessy point almost two minutes later, while Limerick looked most impressive in the opening minutes.

Limerick moved 0-03 to 0-01 ahead after four and a half minutes thanks to a second Lynch point.

Galway responded well, and began to exert dominance at midfield, quickly feeding their attack as they raced 0-05 to 0-03 ahead after 12 minutes.

Brian Burke, Brian Molloy and Adrian Morrissey were on target to help Mattie Murphy's side take a two-point advantage.

Darragh Kennedy bagged Limerick's first score in nine and a half minutes, with a well-struck effort from over 65 metres out to cut the gap to the minimum.

The Shannonsiders rued some goal misses at this stage, including a Dean Coleman effort, but the Doon clubman won a free, as he was fouled by Galway defender Maidhc Ó Conghaile, with Barry Nash slotting over the resulting placed ball effort.

This put Limerick 0-07 to 0-06 ahead after 21 and a half minutes, but Galway quickly equalised thanks to Conor Whelan's first score of the afternoon.

Nash put Limerick back in front, but a 65 metre free from Barry Molloy tied the game at 0-08 apiece with as many minutes to go before the break.

Limerick had a chance to take the lead at the break, but Ronan Lynch sent an effort wide of the posts, so the sides entered the dressing rooms tied at 0-08 apiece.

Again little separated the sides in the second half, with Molloy and David Dempsey swapping points inside four minutes of the restart.

Molloy pushed Galway ahead again, but once more Limerick drew level thanks to a 42nd minute pointed free from Nash.

Indeed Limerick could have been further ahead at this stage, with Hawk-Eye ruling a Barry Nash shot wide, after it had been initially flagged as a point.

This would be the last time that Hawk-Eye would be used this afternoon, after the GAA decided to decommission it for the remainder of the day.

The sides were tied on three further occasions, including at 0-13 apiece with five minutes left on the clock.

Darragh O'Donovan edged Limerick ahead, but Shaughnessy levelled matters for Galway entering the final three minutes.

O'Donovan delivered yet again for the Shannonsiders with a superb score close to the sideline, but Molloy again tied matters late on.

It looked like Galway would take victory with a point at the death, but Ronan Lynch was composed as the teenager stood over a free to tie the match at 0-16 apiece at the end of full-time.

Limerick edged ahead on the resumption thanks to a Dempsey score, but Galway were far more impressive in extra-time and weren't long in arrears.

Whelan drew level with his second point, with scores from Brian Molloy and substitute Eamonn Brannigan pushing Galway 0-19 to 0-17 ahead in the 66th minute.

Limerick edged back thanks to a Ronan Lynch score, but Galway led by 0-19 to 0-18 at the break in extra-time.

Dempsey levelled matters once again inside 80 seconds of the restart, but Galway stormed to a lead they wouldn't relinquish thanks to superb scores from Conor Whelan, Ronan O'Meara and Eanna Burke to finish with three points to spare.

Galway now face Waterford in the All-Ireland final, with the Munster outfit appearing in their first All-Ireland final since 1992.

Scorers for Galway: B Molloy (4f, 2 65') 0-8; C Whelan 0-4; C Shaughnessy, B Burke, A Morrissey; D Dolan, E Brannigan, R O'Meara, E Burke 0-1 each.

Scorers for Limerick: B Nash (5f) 0-7; R Lynch (1 '65, 2f), D Dempsey 0-3 each; C Lynch, D O'Donovan 0-2 each; D Coleman, D Kennedy, E Doyle 0-1 each.

GALWAY: C Tuohy; M Ó Conghaile, D O'Donoghue, M Conneely; S Linnane, S Cooney, R Doyle; E Burke, D Dolan; C Whelan, R O'Meara, A Morrissey; B Molloy, B Burke, C Shaughnessy. Subs: J Hastings for R O'Meara (37), V Doyle for R Doyle (52), E Brannigan for D Dolan (56), R O'Meara for B Burke (70), R Bellew for M Conneely (72), D Dolan for A Morrissey (78).

LIMERICK: C Ryan; S Finn, R English, M Casey; A La Touche Cosgrave, R Lynch, S Flanagan; D O'Donovan, D Kennedy; C Lynch, B Nash, D Dempsey; D Coleman, T Morrissey, P Ryan. Subs: S Flanagan for T Morrissey (HT), J Porter for M Casey (46), E Doyle for D Kennedy (53), T Morrissey for P Ryan (56), J Butler for T Morrissey (68), E Doyle for D Coleman (70), S Ryan for A La Touche Cosgrave (81).

REFEREE: Fergal Horgan