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As it happened: Galway v Limerick, All-Ireland Under-21 hurling semi-final

We were at Semple Stadium to see who would make it through to face Wexford in this year’s decider.

Good evening everybody. It’s been a pretty good few weeks for Galway hurling with the seniors and minors pulling off incredible victories against Tipperary and Kilkenny respectively. Can the U21s do something similar here against the Shannonsiders?

Throw-in at Semple Stadium is 6pm.

Let’s give you the teams for both sides. And Galway have named four members of their senior squad in the starting XV – Conor Whelan, Cathal Mannion, Jason Flynn and Paul Killeen.

Galway

1. Gearoid Loughnane (Loughrea)

2. Declan Cronin (Cappataggle)
3. Paul Killeen (Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry)
4. Barry Keane (Clarinbridge)

5. Sean Sweeney (Loughrea)
6. Shane Cooney (St Thomas)
7. Eanna Burke (St Thomas)

8. Kevin McHugo (Tommy Larkins)
9. Dan Nevin (Cappataggle)

10. Eamonn Brannigan (Rahoon-Newcastle)
11. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
12. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)

13. Brian Molloy (Kilnadeema-Leitrim)
14. Ronan O’Meara (Portumna)
15. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkins)

Limerick manager John Kiely has made two changes to his starting XV from the side that beat Clare in the Munster final – Sean Finn comes in in place of Mark O’Callaghan, who’s on the bench, while in attack, Barry Nash is in for Robbie Hanley.

Limerick

1. David McCarthy (Glenroe)

2. Sean Finn (Bruff)
3. Richie English (Doon)
4. Michael Casey (Na Piarsaigh)

5. Diarmaid Byrnes​ (Patrickswell)(Vice Captain)
6. Barry O’Connell (Kildimo Pallaskenry)(Captain)
7. Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s)

8. Darragh O Donovan (Doon)
9. Pat Ryan (Doon)

10. Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh)
11. Cian Lynch (Patrickswell)
12. David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh),

13. Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen)
14. Tom Morrissey (Ahane)
15. Barry Nash (South Liberties)

Galway have suffered defeat in their last four semi-finals – 2010 the last time they won an U21 title.

Meanwhile, Limerick came through a tough provincial challenge and got the better of Tipperary prior to beating Clare.

It was their first Munster crown at U21 level since 2011.

Worth keeping an eye on Ronan Lynch this evening. He was superb for the Limerick minors in last year’s minor All-Ireland final and he racked up 13 points against Clare. If they’re to pick up a win today, his performance will surely be key.

The Limerick team is out taking part in their warm-ups. Seems dry down around Tom Semple’s field. Good conditions and here’s hoping for some good hurling.

And we’re just a few minutes from getting started here. How do we think it’s going to go?

AND WE’RE UNDERWAY!

2 mins – Galway 0-01 Limerick 0-002: And what a start for Galway as Daniel Nevin knocks it over for a quick point before Diarmuid Byrnes does likewise for Limerick. Byrnes adds another and Limerick in front.

4 mins – Galway 0-02 Limerick 0-03: That’s a superb score from Colin Ryan as he points from a tight angle and Limerick move two in front before Conor Whelan knocks one over for the Tribesmen.

7 mins – Galway 0-02 0-05 Limerick: Darragh O’Donovan extends Limerick’s lead after a superb flick from Cian Lynch. Barry Nash adds another point and Limerick in control here.

8 mins – Galway 0-03 Limerick 0-05: Magnificent save from Limerick goalkeeper David McCarthy as he pushes a low drive to safety. On the follow-up, he makes another block and Galway tap over resultant ’65.

9 mins – Galway 0-03 Limerick 0-06: There’s that man Ronan Lynch who makes it double-scores again with a superb sideline that floats straight between the sticks. Limerick by three again.

10 mins – 0-04 0-07: Brian Molloy for Galway before Diarmuid Byrnes grabs his 3rd point so far to make it a three-point game again.

12 mins – Galway 0-04 Limerick 0-08: Another for Limerick as Morrissey grabs his second of the game and it’s been a superb start from the Shannonsiders.

15 mins – Galway 0-04 Limerick 0-09: After a frantic opening, things have gone just a bit scrappy in the last few minutes. And then Morrissey pops up to knock over another point and Limerick lead by five.

Great work from the Galway defence as Ronan Lynch looked to be in on goal. In the end, he takes too many steps and a free out for the Tribesmen.

18 mins: There’s a yellow card for Cathal Mannion after a wild swipe at Darragh O’Donovan.

19 mins – Galway 0-04 Limerick 0-10: And Limerick lead by six. Brilliant from Cian Lynch after he fields superbly before pointing.

20 mins: Diarmuid Byrnes has taken a heavy blow and is receiving treatment. He’s scored three points from half-back so Limerick will be hoping he can continue.

24 mins – Galway 0-06 Limerick 0-10: Two quick scores from Galway as Jason Flynn sends a superb sideline over the bar before Shane Cooney steps up from centre-back to make it a four-point game.

Galway 0-07 Limerick 0-10: Brian Molloy hits another and it’s all Galway here. That’s three in a row now. And a free-in to follow.

Galway 0-08 Limerick 0-10: And suddenly it’s a two-point game as Flynn knocks over the placed ball and Limerick have been rattled here. Goalkeeper David McCarthy has dropped to the ground with ‘injury’. I’m sure it’s a tactic to give his team a breather.

Galway 0-09 Limerick 0-10: That’s close! Eamonn Brannigan’s effort drops short but Ronan O’Meara almost hooks it to the net. McCarthy gets a touch and it’s out for a ’65. Flynn points to make it five unanswered scores for Galway.

There’ll be two minutes of injury-time at the end of this rip-roaring first half.

Galway 0-10 Limerick 0-10: And Jason Flynn! A score and a half from him and we’re level.

AND THAT’S HALF-TIME! 

Wow. Let’s all take a breath. An excellent start from Limerick – they led by six at one stage. But credit Galway who upped the intensity and Jason Flynn has scored a ton to leave it level at the break. Perfectly poised though the Tribesmen were so hungry as the period wore on, typified by some sterling defensive work that ended up directly contributing to Flynn’s equalising point.

AND WE’RE BACK UNDERWAY!

Galway 0-11 Limerick 0-10: And Dan Nevin sends over a great score to put Galway in front for only the second time here.

Galway 0-11 Limerick 0-11: Jason Flynn proves he is mortal by missing a free that would’ve put Galway two-up. Meanwhile, free for Limerick at the other end and Ronan Lynch levels affairs again with the help of a post.

Galway 0-11 Limerick 0-13: Darragh O’Donovan points for Limerick and they’re back in front here. David Dempsey adds another soon after.

Galway 0-12 Limerick 0-16: Brian Molloy points for the Tribesmen to make it a one point game but Tom Morrissey has a goal chance at the other end but blazes just over the bar.  David Dempsey drives forward to add another Limerick score and they’ve started the second half very well. Colin Ryan picks the ball up 40 yards out and puts over another point.

Galway 0-14 Limerick 0-16: Molloy on the mark for Galway once again and there’s three between them. Then, the same player conjures a magic act. From an impossible angle, he drops it over the bar and it’s a two-point game.

Galway 0-14 Limerick 0-17: Limerick drop the free short for Colin Ryan and he turns quickly before firing over. Well-worked score for the Shannonsiders.

Galway 0-15 Limerick 0-17: Jason Flynn adds another to his personal tally and Galway are back within two. Just 13 wides between the sides so far. Some great scores.

Limerick captain Diarmuid Byrnes (who seems to be struggling with injury) is shown a yellow card for a wild pull but it’s just the second yellow we’ve seen. Hardly a dirty game by any stretch.

Ronan Lynch adds another free for Limerick and they’re three in front again.

Galway 0-15 Limerick 1-18: GOAL for Limerick! And that’s some superb reflexes and imagination from Morrissey. The chance seems to have gone as he’s brought down by the Galway defence but as he’s on the deck, he gets the shot in and it nestles in the corner of the net.

Massive moment for Limerick as they pull six clear but just like in the first half, their goalkeeper David McCarthy has helped them out no end. Jason Flynn went for goal from a free close-in but the keeper stretched to flick it away from goal.

Galway 0-15 Limerick 1-19: And there’s Dempsey with his third point of the game to push Limerick seven clear. They’re in total control here.

Galway 0-16 Limerick 1-19: Galway need something big here to rescue things. Still, they managed it in the first half. There’s Conor Whelan to make it a six-point game.

Probably about seven minutes left including stoppage time. Galway need a goal and fast.

Galway 0-17 Limerick 1-19: It’s been a two-man show for Galway, really with Flynn and Molloy impressing. Flynn’s individuality wins him a free and he reduces the deficit to five.

A bit of madness, briefly. Lynch blazes a shot over the bar, apparently. The umpire gestures that it was a score but the Galway players are incensed and the referee over-rules. It was a pretty easy decision to make and initially, they got it wrong. Could’ve been decisive.

Galway 0-17 Limerick 1-20: Dempsey is over by the sideline and is clearly knackered. Still, he flicks it onto the stick and blazes it over the bar for a magnificent score.

AND THAT’S FULL-TIME! 

Tom Morrissey is named Man of the Match and it’s hard to argue with that decision because his goal came at a crucial time in the game. It put Limerick six clear and they never looked back after it. It was a smart piece of thinking as he flicked the ball to the net while struggling on the deck, a couple of Galway defenders hassling him too.

Disappointment for the Tribesmen after coming back so impressively in the first-half. But it’s Limerick v Wexford in this year’s Under-21 All-Ireland final.

Thanks for following along with us this evening. Still plenty of reaction and analysis to come on the site a little later.

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