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Allianz HL D1B: Limerick stage dramatic comeback

Dan Morrissey and Declan Hannon celebrating at Pearse Stadium.

Dan Morrissey and Declan Hannon celebrating at Pearse Stadium.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

LIMERICK 2-18 GALWAY 1-19

By Cian O'Connell at Pearse Stadium

Like most of the great Limerick hurling wins it came coated in character, heart, and that famous green and white ingredient: passion.

Trailing by eight points at the break worrying signs were everywhere for Limerick, who admirably refused to hit the panic button.

Substitute Kyle Hayes’ 48th minute goal was a key score on a memorable afternoon for Limerick, who will make a long awaited return to Division 1A in 2019.

That was the spring target for Limerick and manager John Kiely punched the air with delight at the full time whistle following critical late points from Cian Lynch and Paul Ryan.

It hadn’t been so pleasant for Limerick initially. Having quietly registered four Division 1B victories, Galway thundered into the contest mining 1-3 inside four minutes.

Conor Cooney and David Burke drilled points before Cathal Mannion rattled the Limerick net and Johnny Coen added a further score as Galway settled impressively.

Limerick, though, responded hitting 1-2 without reply themselves including a sixth minute goal from an Aaron Gillane penalty.

Adrian Tuohey’s foul on Barry Murphy enabled Gillane to slam a precise finish which gave Limerick an injection of hope.

Dan Morrissey and Declan Hannon celebrating at Pearse Stadium.

Dan Morrissey and Declan Hannon celebrating at Pearse Stadium.

Galway, though, were primed for this encounter and managed to score seven of the next eight points to regain control.

During that burst of Galway supremacy Cathal Mannion caused Limerick plenty of bother, while Coen was relevant throughout too.

Micheal Donoghue’s charges accumulated a 1-10 to 1-2 advantage and while Seamus Flanagan caused Galway problems the locals remained in charge.

There was no shortage of bite as the interval approached with a string of yellow cards brandished, but Galway still departed armed with a 1-15 to 1-7 cushion.

Limerick, though, were left reflecting on several costly misses as they only registered 1-7 from 19 first half attempts compared to Galway’s 1-15 from 20.

Slowly, but surely Limerick narrowed the deficit after the restart with Gillane accurate from frees, and Hayes planted a tonic goal to leave the minimum between the teams.

It stayed tight and tense until the finish with replacement Graeme Mulcahy restoring parity in the 62nd minute. Late on Lynch and Ryan batted over points which sparked gleeful Limerick celebrations in the west.

**Scorers for Limerick: **Aaron Gillane 1-7 (1-0 pen, 6fs, 165), Seamus Flanagan 0-5, David Reidy 0-2, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Pat Ryan, and Graeme Mulcahy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Galway: Cathal Mannion 1-4, Jason Flynn 0-7 (6fs), Johnny Coen, Conor Cooney, and Greg Lally (1 sideline) 0-2 each, David Burke and Joe Canning (65) 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Richie McCarthy, Richie English; Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Dan Morrissey; Paul Browne, Cian Lynch; Gearoid Hegarty, Tom Morrissey, David Reidy; Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Barry Murphy.

Subs: Kyle Hayes for Hegarty (18), Graeme Mulcahy for Flanagan (60), Pat Ryan for Reidy (62), Colin Ryan for Browne (66)

GALWAY: James Skehill; Adrian Tuohey, Padraic Mannion, Shane Bannon; Greg Lally, Gearoid McInerney, Aidan Harte; Johnny Coen, David Burke; Shane Maloney, Cathal Mannion, Conor Whelan; Jason Flynn, Conor Cooney, Niall Burke.

Subs: Davy Glennon for David Burke (25-29), John Hanbury for Bannon (44-47), John Hanbury for Tuohey (48), Joe Canning for Maloney (53), Shane Cooney for Lally (55), Davy Glennon for Flynn (58), Brian Concannon for Niall Burke (67)

REFEREE: Cathal McAllister (Cork).