Dominant Limerick reclaim All-Ireland title with final victory over Galway

The experienced Treaty outfit kicked on against the youthful Tribesmen in the second-half at GAA HQ. 

Limerick captain Cian Lynch lifts the Liam MacCarthy Cup. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

LIMERICK 1-29 GALWAY 1-18 

Glory wears green.

For the first time in three years, Limerick are All-Ireland champions and they delivered it with all the aplomb of their four-in-a-row era.

This final was cooked long before Ronan Glennon’s red card for a high foul on Peter Casey in the 57th minute, never mind the final whistle.

Galway turned their faces into the wind in the second half 0-8 to 0-13 down and facing a gauntlet. Captain Cian Lynch had been commanding as Limerick made light of the elements and Galway’s defensive web.

In the second half, their dominant theme continued. Kyle Hayes took over where Lynch left off and the piece de resistance came when Cathal O’Neill drove in a goal in the 43rd minute, teed up by the revived Aaron Gillane.

Conor Cooney sent home a penalty goal in late additional time after John Fleming had been upended in a subdued conclusion.

This was no classic, which was in keeping with a middling season, but Limerick won’t care an iota. Their old bulls were far too cute, far too hungry for Galway’s young versions and they were so essential to the completion of this Division 1, Munster and All-Ireland triple crown.

Hurler of the year candidates will likely included two thirtysomethings, Gearóid Hegarty despite not scoring again, and Diarmaid Byrnes, and perhaps O’Neill who was in extraordinary scoring form.

LIKE MIKE Mike Casey of Limerick celebrates after the game. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Limerick had been in a spot of bother early doors. Mike Casey’s foul on Jason Rabbitte shortly into proceedings was a sign of things to come. By the 10th minute, all of Galway’s three points had come from Aaron Niland punishing Casey fouls on the Galway full-forward.

Casey was an early addition to Colm Lyons’ book but Limerick stemmed the tide when they assigned Seán Finn to Rabbitte and shuffled Casey over to Niland.

Limerick’s other concerns was their discipline. Although Pádraic Mannion picked up a yellow card with Adam English in the 14th minute, it was another first-half booking for the Doon man. Kyle Hayes was also issued a yellow.

Otherwise, it was a half that swimmingly well for Limerick. Sure, they should have stuck one of their three goal chances – two fell to Hegarty inside three minutes, the second of them a kick, and Darach Fahy was level to each. Cillian Trayers also blocked Peter Casey in the 29th minute.

They also smacked the post twice but so much was going right for them. Lynch was the orchestrator and Byrnes and Hegarty weren’t too far behind him in beating Galway for breaking ball.

Galway didn’t score from play until the 18th minute via Niland to reduce the difference to two points. They didn’t produce another and their last of the half until Rabbitte’s 30th minute effort.

Like Niland’s score, it brought Limerick to within two of them but Limerick fired over four of the five last minutes of the half. Casey, courtesy of Lynch, then Lynch himself scored either side of Niland’s sixth placed ball.

Aidan O’Connor’s first free and a third point from Aaron Gillane, making a mockery of his recent form, were justifying scores for a team who bossed the half as was the five-point margin at the interval.

It was going to be get a lot more one-sided.

Scorers for Limerick: C. O’Neill (1-4); A. O’Connor (0-5, 3 frees); P. Casey, A. Gillane, D. Byrnes (2 frees, 1 65) (0-4 each); A. English, K. Hayes, C. Lynch (0-2 each); B. Nash, D. Reidy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Galway: A. Niland (0-10, 8 frees, 1 65); C. Cooney (1-2, 1-0 pen, 0-1 free); T. Monaghan (0-2); J. Rabbitte, C. Mannion, D. Neary, C. Molloy (0-1 each).

LIMERICK: N. Quaid; S. Finn, M. Casey, B. Nash; D. Byrnes, W. O’Donoghue, K. Hayes; A. English, C. Lynch (c); G. Hegarty, A. O’Connor, C. O’Neill; A. Gillane, S. O’Brien, A. Niland.

Subs for Limerick: T. Morrissey for S. O’Brien (48); D. Morrissey for M. Casey (53); D. Reidy for P. Casey (temp, 57-60); D. O’Donovan for A. English (63); D. Reidy for A. O’Connor (69); C. Coughlan for S. Finn (70).

GALWAY: D. Fahy; J. Ryan, D. Burke, C. Trayers; P. Mannion, D. Morrissey (c), R. Glennon; C. Killeen, G. Lee; P. Mannion, T. Monaghan, D. Neary; A. Niland, J. Rabbitte, C. Whelan.

Subs for Galway: C. Cooney for G. Lee (47); C. Daniels for T. Monaghan (55); J. Fleming for C. Killeen, C. Molloy for A. Niland (both 60); S. Linnane for C. Mannion (70+1).

Red card: R. Glennon (straight, 57);

Referee: C. Lyons (Cork).