Limerick cruise past Galway in Allianz Hurling League

LIMERICK recorded a comprehensive 1-27 to 0-18 victory over Galway on Saturday night at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in round six of the Allianz Hurling League. 

The Shannonsiders never looked like losing this Division 1A contest at any stage and manager John Kiely will be delighted with the way his side fought back after last week's defeat to Clare. Sean Finn, William O'Donoghue and Kyle Hayes made their respective returns from injuries in the game. 

Na Piarsaigh's Shane Dowling made his second start in goals. Meanwhile, Tom Morrissey and Aidan O'Connor earned starts after impressing last week off the bench. 

Galway had been in impressive form and the Tribesmen sat joint top of Division 1A alongside Tipperary on six points coming into Saturday evening's clash. 

Two minutes into the contest, Limerick midfielder Adam English made a surging run down through the centre of the Galway defence only for his shot to be saved by Darach Fahy. 

Adam English then pounced on a misplaced pass from Galway's Cianan Fahy and English got the scoring underway. Limerick full forward Shane O'Brien then pushed the home side 0-2 clear on four minutes. 

Galway's Conor Cooney landed a placed ball from distance to open the scoring for the the visitors. Aidan O'Connor who earned a start after impressing off the bench last weekend restored Limerick's two point lead on five minutes. 

Conor Cooney responded with his second point of the evening. Referee James Owens then awarded Conor Cooney with a yellow card for a high shoulder challenge on Mike Casey. Casey was then forced off the pitch with a head injury. 

Limerick began to take control in a four minute spell with Aaron Gillane, Cathal O'Neill and Shane O'Brien all firing over efforts. Cooney's accuracy was proving crucial to Galway and he made it 0-6 to 0-3 on 17 minutes. 

UL Fitzgibbon Cup winning captain Colin Coughlan played an excellent diagonal pass inside to Shane O'Brien and O'Brien took on the Galway defence and extended his side's lead. 

On 19 minutes, Shane O'Brien took on Galway full back Fintan Burke and the Kilmallock clubman batted the sliotar into the back of the net as the hosts were 1-7 - 0-3 ahead. 

The sides began to trade scores when Kyle Hayes and Aidan O'Connor were able to keep the scoreboard ticking for the Munster champions. Gavin Lee and Tiernan Killeen pointed from difficult angles to keep Galway within touch. 

Two more placed balls from Conor Cooney and an effort from Tom Monaghan brought them back into the contest as Donoghue's side trailed 1-9 to 0-8 on 32 minutes. 

Limerick's half back line was starting to dominate proceedings when Colin Coughlan and Barry Nash got their name on the scoresheet on the stroke of half time. Corner forward Aidan O'Connor followed that up with his second point of the evening as Limerick led 1-12 to 0-8 at the interval. 

Limerick captain Cian Lynch scored straight away directly from the throw-in in the second half. On 41 minutes, Brian Concannon's shot was saved by Shane Dowling which resulted in a point for the Tribesmen

On 42 minutes, Galway full forward Conor Cooney was dismissed on a second yellow card for a shoulder challenge on Barry Murphy. 

The victors took complete of the contest outscoring their opponents 0-7 to 0-1 with Cathal O'Neill, Aidan O'Connor, Aaron Gillane, Peter Casey, Tom Morrissey and David Reidy all on target to put their side 1-21 to 0-11 clear after 52 minutes. 

Galway fought back hitting the next four points through Sean Linnane and three points from substitute Cathal Mannion. Gillane and Mannion swapped 0-2 frees each after that. 

Cathal O'Neill, Tom Morrissey and Barry Nash all added further scores in the closing stages as Limerick recoreded a comfortable 12 point over Galway. 

Limerick will now switch their focus to their rescheduled clash against Kilkenny next Saturday March 15 at 3:30pm in UPMC Nowlan Park. 

Scorers:

Limerick: Shane O’Brien 1-3, Aaron Gillane 0-6 (0-4 frees), Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill 0-4 each, Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash 0-2 each; Adam English, Kyle Hayes, Colin Coughlan, Cian Lynch, Peter Casey, David Reidy 0-1 each

Galway: Conor Cooney 0-6 (0-3 frees, 0-1 65) Cathal Mannion 0-7 (0-6 frees), Tiernan Killeen, Gavin Lee, Tom Monaghan, Brian Concannon and Sean Linnane 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Shane Dowling (Na Piarsaigh); Sean Finn (Bruff), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Barry Murphy (Doon); Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Barry Nash (South Liberties); Adam English (Doon), William O'Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh); Cathal O'Neill (Crecora Manister), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Tom Morrissey (Ahane); Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown)

SUBS: Vince Harrington (Na Piarsaigh) for Casey (injury, 8 minutes), Peter Casey for Lynch (48 minutes), Ethan Hurley for Hayes (50 minutes), David Reidy for O'Donoghue (53 minutes), Gearoid Hegarty (St Patrick's) for O'Connor (56 minutes), Eddie Stokes (Doon) for English (66 minutes).

GALWAY: Darach Fahy; Shane Morgan, Fintan Burke, Darren Morrissey; Padraic Mannion, Gavin Lee, Michael Garvey; Cianan Fahy, Tom Monagahan; Kevin Cooney, Tiernan Killeen, David Burke, Conor Whelan, Conor Cooney, Anthony Burns. 

SUBS: Brian Concannon for Burns (Half-Time), Cathal Mannion for David Burke (42 minutes), John Cooney for Kevin Cooney (48 minutes), TJ Brennan for Morgan (66 minutes). 

REFEREE: James Owens (Wexford)