'A sheer refusal to be beaten': John Kiely on what got Limerick over the line

'It was a really tough battle, very physical. We mightn't have got off to a very fluid start, but we still created a few chances. We were just a bit nervy'

Seamus Flanagan of Limerick is tackled by Padraic Mannion of Galway. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

A “sheer refusal to be beaten” is what pulled Limerick across the line and into a second All-Ireland final in three years, according to manager John Kiely.

Limerick led this semi-final contest from the half-hour mark onward, their advantage swelling to five points on 53 minutes, but Galway were back level in the 70th minute and Limerick had to dig particularly deep thereafter to ensure they were not caught at the penultimate hurdle for the second year running.