Galway rout Limerick to end Oscar Traynor Cup title wait

Brendan O’Connor’s side had too much for the visitors. 

Darragh Rainsford of Limerick District League in action against Nathan Ward of Galway District League at Eamon Deacy Park in Galway. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Galway District League 5-0 Limerick District League 

Galway District League clinched a first Oscar Traynor Cup title since 1971, with a resounding victory over Limerick at Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday.

While the hosts hadn’t won this competition since a famous victory over Leinster Senior League 55 years ago, seven-time champions Limerick were beaten finalists last year with their most recent title coming in 2019.

Limerick kicked off and after some opening pressure on a wet surface it was Galway who took an early lead, a Marc Ludden cross falling at the feet of Padraic Cunningham who had time to compose himself before drilling a shot past Josh McCarthy in goal.

The officials were called into action when a clash between Browne and Walsh resulted in a fracas between the sides, both players eventually booked by referee Jason Ryan along with Limerick’s Leon Daly.

Limerick battled hard into a strengthening southerly breeze but it was Galway who finished the half strongest. As the fourth official raised the board to indicate three minutes added, a Ludden throw-in caused havoc in the Limerick box, with Cunningham forcing a goal-line parry from McCarthy at close range before Enda Curran headed in to double Galway’s lead at the break.

Both sides came out unchanged as Galway kicked off the second half, and while Limerick started brightest forcing an early corner, the home side added a third goal as Limerick failed to clear a Ludden free-kick and captain Calym Crowe prodded the ball home to make it 3-0 to Galway.

Conditions began to worsen as the hail pounded down once more, and despite Limerick manager Nigel Casey ringing the changes, Galway struck again as a Whelan pass found Curran who made no mistake to make it 4-0. With minutes remaining, the Tribesmen wrapped up proceedings as substitute Ben McDonnell went through on goal and finished to give Brendan O’Connor’s side their first Oscar Traynor Cup title since 1971.

Galway: Winn, Ward, Coyne, Crowe (c), Ludden, Whelan, Molloy, Browne, Murray, Curran, Cunningham.

Subs: Healy for Murray (71), O’Gorman for Browne (76), McNamara for Cunningham (81), Coyle for Curran (82), McDonnell for Curran (86) 

Goals: Cunningham (8), Curran (46, 82), Crowe (52), McDonnell (88) 

Limerick: McCarthy, O’Neill (c), Curran, Adams, Frawley, Daly, Walsh, Dillon, Rainsford, Coughlan, Ryan.

Subs: Joyce for Frawley (62), Kirrane for Adams (62), Murphy for Rainsford (73), Moriarty for Daly (73), O’Brien for Walsh (81) Player of the Match: Calum Browne 

Referee: Jason Ray