Limerick 1-27
Galway 2-9

Revenge was sweet for Limerick as they made a highly-rated Galway team look decidedly ordinary at a showery Croke Park to cruise into next month's All-Ireland MHC final against Kilkenny.

Beaten after extra-time in the corresponding fixture l2 months ago after a Hawk-Eye malfunction had denied them a legitimate point in normal time, Brian Ryan's charges produced a devastating display to qualify for their first Irish Press Cup decider in nine years.

Man of the match Ronan Lynch, who posted 0-13, gave an exhibition in free-taking as they eased into a 1-17 to 2-5 half-time lead. And the result was never in doubt after that as the back-to-back Munster champions tagged on a further 10 points in the second half.

Galway's lack of competitive games showed as they struggled to come to terms with the high tempo set by their opponents who accounted for Tipperary, Cork and Waterford in a tough Munster campaign. On this evidence, Limerick will be more than a match for Kilkenny in the September 7 decider.

Tom Morrissey and Conor Shaughnessy traded early points before full forward Morrissey gave Limerick a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Peter Casey and Barry Nash quickly made it 0-4 to 0-1 before Ronan Lynch hit two points in a minute to put five between the sides.

Jack Grealish pulled a point back for the Tribesmen before they reduced the deficit to the minimum when Conor Whelan got on the end of a long ball and kicked the sliotar past Limerick 'keeper Eoghan McNamara for a ninth-minute goal.

At this juncture, a close contest looked to be on the cards, but Limerick underlined their superiority by outscoring the Westerners by 1-10 to 0-1 over the next 15 minutes.

Casey and Conor Fitzgerald replied to the Galway goal with quick-fire points before Ronan Lynch took centre stage with three-in-a-row, including two frees. The third point in the sequence came after Gearoid Loughnane had come to Galway's rescue with a great save from the marauding Morrissey.

Barry Nash added another point before Brian Burke registered Galway's first point since the goal from a 19th minute free.

But there was no respite for Mattie Murphy's side as Robbie Hanley, Lynch (free) and Morrissey raised further white flags before Nash soloed through to score a goal in the 24th minute after being set up by Morrissey.

When Seamus Flanagan added another point after leaving his marker for dead, the Treaty boys led by a whopping 13 points, 1-16 to 1-3. But Galway refused to give up the ghost and were handed a lifeline when Conor Whelan side-stepped his man and fired home his second goal from an acute angle.

Brian Burke followed up with a point, only for Ronan Lynch to reply with a point that clipped the inside of the post on its way over. Lynch then had a goal chance cleared off the line before Jack Grealish completed the first half scoring.

Daniel Nevin opened the second half scoring for the Tribesmen and was on target again after the unerring Lynch nailed another free. But Lynch continued to keep the scoreboard operator busy when he converted a '65'before Brian Burke replied from a free at the other end.

County U21 Cian Lynch, who showed some lovely touches throughout the game, became the last of Limerick's starting forwards to score in the 40th minute. But it was his namesake Ronan who remained the game's dominant figure.

The Na Piarsaigh clubman added two more frees, the second of which was a magnificent effort from long-range. With his side trailing by 12 points,2-8 to 1-23, Brian Burke was instructed to go for goal from a 25-metre free, but had to be content with a point.

Lynch increased his tally with two more frees before substitute Ronan Murphy got in on the scoring act. And there was still time for Barry Nash to add further gloss to the scoreline.

Limerick: E McNamara; S Finn, P O'Loughlin, L Lyons; C Ryan, A La Touche Cosgrove, C Byrnes; R Hanley (0-1), C Lynch (0-1); R Lynch (0-13, 8f, 1 65), B Nash (1-3), S Flanagan (0-2); P Casey (0-2), T Morrissey (0-3), C Fitzgerald (0-1). Subs: T Grimes for Flanagan (28-29, blood), T Grimes for Byrnes (48), B Murphy (0-1) for Fitzgerald (48), J Porter for Lyons (55), E Doyle for Casey (58), D Fanning for Ryan (60).

Galway: G Loughnane; D Cronin, O Coyle, S Roche; R Doyle, J Holland, R Bellew; D Nevin (0-2), K McHugo; D Mangan, B Burke (0-4, 3f), S Linnane; J Grealish (0-2), C Whelan (2-0), C Shaughnessy (0-1). Subs: C O'Reilly for Holland (27), S Loftus for Doyle (27), J McNamara for Bellew (h/t), J Mannion for McHugo (38), C Burke for Roche (44).

Referee: C Lyons (Cork). Tweet

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