Limerick repel late Galway rally to take the points

Limerick earned their second win in Allianz Hurling League Group A after seeing off Galway by five points at Pearse Stadium.

Tom Morrissey starred with 0-08 for the All-Ireland champions in an impressive display that also saw Cian Lynch and Kyle Hayes score three apiece.

John Kiely's men led by seven points at the break but Galway came back to within two points in the final stages.

Morrissey then came to the fore once again with two points and Donnacha O Dalaigh ensured the victory.

Limerick dominated the opening exchanges with Hayes landing two sumptuous scores, while Lynch, Morrissey, Peter Casey landed one each to see them 0-05 to 0-02 ahead.

Tom Monaghan and Conor Cooney responded for Galway but Limerick continued to excel with Lynch, Hayes and Shane O'Brien all getting points from play.

Galway did reduce the lead to just three points but the Treaty men finished the half with efforts from Micheal Houlihan, Casey and Morrissey helping them to a 0-14 to 0-07 half time advantage.

They maintained that leading margin throughout the second half but Galway came flying back into the game in the final quarter.

Seven points in a row got them right back into the contest. Cooney got five of them and that set up a grandstand finish but Limerick didn’t panic.

Morrissey hit a free and another from play to give Limerick breathing space and then Donnacha O' Dalaigh’s effort sealed the victory.

Galway: Darach Fahy; Jack Grealish, Gearoid McInerney, TJ Brennan,; Cathal Mannion, Tiernan Killeen, Joseph Cooney; Sean Linnane (0-01), Cianan Fahy (0-01); Ton Monaghan (0-03), Conor Cooney (0-12, 9 frees), Donal O’Shea; Jason Flynn, Kevin Cooney (0-02), Martin McManus.

Subs: Darren Morrossey for Grealish (h-t), Conor Whelan for O’Shea (h-t), Brian