Limerick ease past Galway to book All-Ireland final bout with Tipperary

Shane Waters celebrates with teammates after an emphatic win. Pic: Tom Beary/Sportsfile

All-Ireland MHC semi-final: Limerick 1-26 Galway 1-15 

Limerick have booked their place into the All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship final for the first time since 2016 after a dominant eleven point victory over Galway in Saturday evening’s semi-final in Ennis.

Diarmuid Mullins’ side were in control for much of the contest and fully deserved their win, consistently keeping the Leinster champions at arm’s length. Shane Waters, Rian Horgan and Xavier Nelligan played leading roles in their side’s success, combining for an impressive 1-16.

Galway arrived in Ennis on the back of their dramatic Leinster Championship triumph, having recovered from 12 points down to defeat Kilkenny in a memorable final. That victory secured a direct passage to the All-Ireland semi-final, but the four-week layoff appeared to leave Kenneth Burke’s side lacking the sharpness shown by their opponents.

Limerick, meanwhile, entered the game with valuable championship momentum. After losing to Tipperary in the Munster final, they bounced back impressively with a quarter-final win over Clare and carried that form into this encounter.

The Shannonsiders made an excellent start, racing into a 1-6 to 0-3 lead by the end of the opening quarter. Galway’s Anthony Poinard opened the scoring, but Limerick quickly took charge through points from Shane Waters and Eamon O’Sullivan.

The game’s first goal arrived when Galway goalkeeper Mark Walsh’s puckout was intercepted by Xavier Nelligan. The Limerick midfielder drove through the centre of the Galway defence and finished clinically to the net, giving his side a 1-2 to 0-1 advantage.

Galway responded through Eoghan McLearn and Michael Coen, but Waters continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over, adding three more points to push Limerick six points clear. Although McLearn and Poinard helped narrow the gap, Limerick finished the half strongly.

Scores from Nelligan, O’Sullivan, Zach Bennis, Rian Horgan and Ryan Foley helped Mullins’ side outscore Galway 0-6 to 0-4 during the closing stages of the half and establish a commanding 1-12 to 0-9 advantage at the interval.

John O’Riordan extended the lead after the restart, while two Michael Coen frees offered Galway some hope. However, with Limerick leading 1-14 to 0-11, they quickly regained complete control.

Bennis, Waters and Nelligan all added white flags to stretch the advantage to eight points, effectively ending Galway’s challenge. Limerick continued to dominate the closing stages, with Waters, Foley, O’Sullivan, Horgan, Diarmuid Crowe and Josh Ross O’Reilly all getting on the scoresheet.

A late goal from Gus Lohan provided Galway with consolation, but it did little to alter the outcome. Limerick’s superior intensity, accuracy and work rate ultimately proved decisive as they secured a deserved victory and set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Tipperary in a repeat of the Munster decider.

Scorers for Galway: M Coen (0-5, 0-4 frees), G Lohan 1-1, A Poinard and T Mac Cárthaigh 0-3 each, E McLearn and 0-2, K Boyle 0-1. 

Scorers for Limerick: S Waters (0-9, 0-6 frees),R Horgan 0-5, X Nelligan 1-2, E O’Sullivan 0-3, R Foley and Z Bennis 0-2 each, J O’Riordan, D Crowe and JR O’Reilly 0-1 each.

GALWAY: M Walsh (Carnmore); J Cahill (Craughwell), D O’Shaughnessy (Turloughmore), E Whyte (Craughwell); C Donoghue (Clarinbridge), C Lynskey (Liam Mellows), U Leen (Craughwell); E McLearn (Loughrea), J Egan (Oranmore Maree); E Huban (Kinvara), G Lohan (Captain, Oranmore Maree) T McAdam (Carnmore); M Coen (Clarinbridge), T Mac Cárthaigh (Sarsfields), A Poinard (Athenry).

Subs: C O’Neill for Lynskey (24), C Power (Tommy Larkins) for Huban (37), D Dillon (Kilnadeema Leitrim) for Egan (42), C Larkin (Killimor) for Coen (47), J McMahon for Leen (55), K Boyle for McAdam (55).

LIMERICK: S Collins (Crecora-Manister); R Collins (Adare), W Ryan (Murroe Boher), S Mitchell (Knockainey); J O’Riordan (Bruff), C Ryan (Monaleen), E Hennessy (Patrickswell); X Nelligan (Kilmallock), J Roche (Blackrock); D Crowe (Doon), R Foley (Patrickswell), S Waters (Na Piarsaigh); E O’Sullivan (Adare), Z Bennis (Kildimo Pallaskenry), R Horgan (Murroe Boher).

Subs: P Collins (Tournafulla) for Roche (45), G O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Bennis (56), D Horgan (Murroe Boher) for Ryan (56), JR O’Reilly (Ballybrown) for Foley (56), C Hickey (Crecora Manister) for Nelligan (57).

Referee: Peter Owens (Down).