Galway ensured their presence in
the Division 1 semi-finals by overcoming
Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds this afternoon. Ger
Farragher hit 0-07 as Galway turned around with a
0-13 to 0-07 buffer. Limerick, already guaranteed a
quarter-final spot, took their time to get going.
However, a devastating seven-minute spell on the
resumption, when the Tribesmen outscored the hosts
by 1-06 to 0-01, decided the tie. Kerril Wade was
the goalscorer and Iarliath Tannian added a second
goal for Galway before Mike O'Brien grabbed
Limerick's consolation goal. In an opening first
half, played in cold and breezy conditions, neither
goalkeeper was tested but there were some fine
points from both sides. Galway lined out without
their captain Fergal Moore, who was sidelined with a
bout of 'flu, but they were 0-04 to 0-03 by the
ninth minute. Kevin Hynes, who shot over off his
left, and Ger Farragher did the early scoring for
the visitors, while Donal O'Grady and Pat Tobin were
quick off the mark for Limerick. Niall Healy looked
particularly sharp in the Galway attack and he was
fouled for a couple of frees which Farragher had no
problem in dispatching. The Limerick forwards were
struggling to get into the game, although points
from O'Grady, Pat Tobin and Kevin Tobin did boost
the home side's tally to 0-06. But with a free-taker
of the prowess of Farragher, and with Iarliath
Tannian also raising a late white flag, Galway
looked comfortable as they headed in for the break.
Whatever Galway boss Ger Loughnane said to his side
at half-time, it worked a treat as they blew the
Shannonsiders away during the opening stages of the
second half. Limerick struggled to cope with the
visitors' blinding pace and snappy hurling and
Farragher got them ticking away with a lovely point
from play. Kerril Wade, Farragher, Tannian and
Fergal Healy added further scores before Niall Moran
managed to reply for Limerick. Former Under-21
starlet Wade then rifled to the net with an
excellent angled shot and playing into the wind,
Galway were suddenly 1-19 to 0-08 ahead. Limerick
then enjoyed a productive period with a Barry Foley
point moving his side's tally on 0-13. But any hopes
Richie Bennis' charges had of a comeback were
quashed when Hynes laid off for Tannian to crack
home his goal. Mike O'Brien stopped the rot with a
late Limerick goal and the Shannonsiders had their
goalkeeper Dave Bulfin to thank for preventing
Fergal Healy from adding two more Galway goals. The
Tribesmen did end the match with 14 players as
substitute Sean Glynn was sent-off but the damage
was already done as Loughnane's men marched
confidently into the league's last four.
