Niall Healy made a triumphant return to the Galway fold on Saturday.

Healy, who missed last year's championship campaign after suffering a cruciate ligament injury whilst playing for his club Craughwell, scored 0-8 (0-4 from frees) as the Tribesmen defeated Limerick by 2-29 to 1-29 in Athenry.

Jason Flynn top-scored for the hosts with 1-5 (0-3 from frees), while Declan Hannon was Limerick's chief marksman with 0-12 (0-7 from frees).

The sides were level on 1-12 to 0-15 at half-time, with Cathal Mannion netting for Galway. Anthony Cunningham's charges had extended their lead to 2-28 to 0-24 by the 65th minute before substitute Sean Tobin's late goal reduced the deficit.

Scorers - Galway: J Flynn 1-5 (0-3frees), N Healy 0-8 (0-4frees); C Mannion 1-1; P Killeen 0-3 (1free), D Higgins 0-3; P Flaherty 0-2; E Burke, J Hanbury, C Flynn, N Burke, P Brehony, B Molloy and A Harte 0-1 each. Limerick: D Hannon 0-12 (0-7frees); S Tobin 1-1, G Mulcahy 0-4; C Lynch 0-3; T O'Brien, T Morrissey and C King 0-2 each; P O'Brien, A Breen and J Fitzgibbon 0-1 each.

Galway: C Callanan; P Mannion, Daithi Burke, R Burke; D Collins, I Tannian, G Lally; A Smith, J Cooney; David Burke, J Regan, D Higgins; D Glennon, N Healy, C Mannion. Subs used: J Hanbury, J Skehill, C Donnellan, P Killeen, P Brehony, N Burke, A Harte, J Flynn, K Hynes, C Flynn, D O'Donoghue, F Moore, G McInerney, P Flaherty.

Limerick: A Murphy; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S O'Brien; W McNamara, G O'Mahony, T Condon; J Fitzgibbon, P O'Brien; T O'Brien, D Hannon, P Browne; G Mulcahy, A Breen, C Lynch. Subs used: B Hennessy, C Allis, C King, D Morrissey, T Morrissey, D Reidy, P Begley, S Tobin.

Referee: John Keane (Galway)

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