Cathal O'Neill masterclass propels Limerick into league final with win over Galway

LIMERICK booked their place in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A final after a 2-27 to 0-31 win over Galway at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Saturday night.

The success marked a fifth consecutive win for John Kiely’s side who will now meet Cork in the decider on Easter weekend.

The game will take place at the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Easter Sunday, April 5 with a 4pm throw-in time. 

It was - only at times - a vintage display from Limerick, scoring 1-12 in the 20 minutes leading up to half time to keep the winning run going. However, Kiely and his management team won’t be happy with the second half - especially with a clash against the ‘Rebels’ in the pipeline.

Despite an encouraging start, Galway were firmly second best in the opening 35 minutes. With the game a defacto league semi-final, the ‘Tribesmen’ challenge was overcome by the second quarter - Cathal O’Neill’s superb 25th minute goal putting Limerick in firm control.

The visitors, however, made a blistering start scoring five points in the first five minutes. But this was as bright as it got for Micheal Donoghue’s charges.

Galway had Jason Rabbitte, Aaron Niland, Cathal Mannion and Thomas Monaghan on the scoresheet early on before Limerick had got out of the starting blocks.

The ‘Treaty’ started to get to grips with the Galway puckout leading to scores from Cathal O’Neill and Gearoid Hegarty as Limerick settled into the contest.

A nice team move that involved Darragh Langan and Cian Lynch ended with Reidy’s second point, levelling the contest at 0-6 apiece after 12 breathless minutes in front of 12,108 people at the Ennis Road venue.

At this point, Limerick had weathered the early storm.

Further white flags from Aaron Gillane, a super score from a tight angle courtesy of Adam English and Aidan O’Connor pushed the home side into the lead. 

Limerick’s sharpness was a stand-out feature after the initial slow start. Cathal O’Neill was alert to intercept a Cianan Fahy sideline cut. After picking up the ball 65 yards out from goal, the Crecora-Manister player took the ball forward 50 yards before blasting past Darach Fahy for the opening goal.

From here, Limerick were on a roll. They added half a dozen points in the last 10 minutes of the half to take a commanding 1-16 to 0-9 lead into the interval.

It took just 41 seconds for Limerick to add to their lead O’Connor opening the second half scoring.

Subs Ethan Hurley and Donnacha O’Dalaigh were also on target early in the second period.

Galway’s play improved Rabbitte, Padraic Mannion and Niland responding for the Connacht side, who made three half-time changes in a bid to change their fortunes.

Despite the game appearing to be heading towards a comfortable Treaty win, Galway turned up the pressure.

Cathal Mannion and Rabbitte in particular stepped up. Galway went on a 0-8 to 0-1 scoring run to reduce the deficit to just two points.

With tension among the large attendance Limerick scored a second goal to retake control.

Adam English’s attempt for a point hit the post and Aaron Gillane reacted quickest to bat the ball home.

But Galway kept fighting and even had a last gasp Cathal Mannion free to win the game. But Limerick held firm to get over the line. Just about.

SCORERS:

Limerick: Cathal O’Neill 1-6; Aaron Gillane 1-4; Aidan O’Connor 0-5 (3f); Adam English 0-4; Gearoid Hegarty 0-3; David Reidy, Donnacha O’Dalaigh 0-2 each; Ethan Hurley 0-1.

Galway: Aaron Niland 0-10 (8f); Cathal Mannion, Jason Rabbitte 0-4 each; Darragh Neary 0-3; Thomas Monaghan, Colm Molloy, Conor Whelan 0-2 each; Padraic Mannion, Tiernan Killeen, Brian Concannon, Ronan Glennon 0-1 each.

TEAMS:

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid, Sean Finn, Darragh Langan, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, Will O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, David Reidy.

Subs: Donnacha O’Dalaigh for Shane O’Brien (ht); Ethan Hurley for Cian Lynch (temporary, 39-43 mins); Hugh Flanagan for Gearoid Hegarty (55 mins); Mike Casey for Barry Nash (61 mins); Paddy O’Donovan for Aidan O’Connor (64 mins); Colin Coughlin for Diarmaid Byrnes (68 mins).

GALWAY: Darragh Fahy; Joshua Ryan, Cillian Trayers, Darren Morrissey; Ronan Glennon, Padraic Mannion, Cianan Fahy; TJ Brennan, Cian Daniels; Thomas Monaghan, Cathal Mannion, Tiernan Killeen; Conor Whelan, Jason Rabbitt, Aaron Niland.

Subs: Shane Morgan for Darren Morrissey (ht); Darragh Neary for Cianan Fahy (ht); Colm Molloy for TJ Brennan (ht); Brian Concannon for Thomas Monaghan (47 mins); Sean Linnane for Ronan Glennon (65 mins)

Referee: Chris Mooney (Dublin).