Galway 1-14

Limerick 0-13

Jack Grealish's 37th minute goal proved decisive as Galway overcame Limerick at Semple Stadium to earn an All-Ireland MHC semi-final meeting with Kilkenny.

Grealish - not to be mistaken with the controversial Aston Villa soccer star - took a pass from Jack Coyne and fired to the net to give the Tribesmen a 1-11 to 0-8 lead. Beaten Munster finalists Limerick couldn't get any closer than three points after that as Galway progressed to a last-four date with the All-Ireland champions on August 9.

The winners had raced into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the ninth minute before Limerick narrowed the gap with points from Peter Casey and Cian Magner-Flynn.

Michael Lynch and Evan Niland (four) replied for Galway to leave them 0-9 to 0-4 ahead after 22 minutes, but the Treaty men finished with unanswered scores from Seamus Flanagan, Casey (two) and Eoin McNamara to trail by the minimum at half-time, 0-8 to 0-9.

Galway resumed with Niland's sixth and seven points before Grealish's major put clear daylight between the sides.

Limerick had the margin down to three points with seven minutes to go before Niland's ninth point put four in it again.

Limerick corner back Oisin O'Reilly had a late goal chance, but his shot hit the crossbar and over for a point as the Tribesmen held on.

Galway - D Gilligan; S Bannon, J Fitzpatrick, K O'Connor; C Mulry, I O'Brien, A Greaney; J Grealish (1-0), J Coyne; B Concannon (0-1), T Monaghan (0-1), F Burke (0-1); M Lynch (0-1), E Niland (0-9, 5f, 2'65), S Loftus. Subs: C Fahy (0-1) for J Coyne, L Forde for M Lynch, P Foley for F Burke.

Limerick - E McNamara (0-2, 1f, 1'65); O O'Reilly (0-1), C McSweeney, J O'Grady; C Byrnes, C Houlihan, S Flanagan; T Grimes, D O'Carroll; M Mackey (0-1), B Murphy (0-1), P Casey (0-5, 4f); K Hayes (0-1), P O'Loughlin, C Magner Flynn (0-2). Subs: C O'Connor for P O'Loughlin, B McPartland for D Carroll, C Carroll for C Houlihan, C Boylan for M Mackey, W O'Meara for C Magner Flynn.

Referee - T Carroll.

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