Limerick's early dominance lays the foundation for victory

Several missing persons eventually revealed themselves in Ennis on Saturday evening. Identified as Galway hurlers, their appearance came fatally late and the 16,000 largely partisan crowd in Cusack Park would remain largely unexcited about this game.

By then, Limerick had taken control. With a 10-point lead at half-time, it was clear that a huge collapse would be required for them not to defend their All-Ireland title next month.

Such contrasting starts clearly stemmed from a combination of Limerick's ferocious determination and Galway's stale entrance. Spectacular wins over Cork and Tipperary in Munster had tempered and sharpened Limerick's game while Galway had spent a typical western summer of isolation.

Still, Galway had five starters with senior experience - including forwards Richie Murray and Damien Hayes - and their anonymous start was a little mysterious. Limerick's Maurice O'Brien seemed to control the half-back line and behind him, Damien Reale and Eugene Mulcahy ensured every ball was driven forward. That allowed the men up front to go on the rampage, and after just 26 minutes all six forwards had converted a score.

Mark Keane took his place in the full-forward line even though his injured ankle had been in plaster for most of the last month and had the desired influence with his free-taking as well as producing one of the defining scores. After 17 minutes, Limerick were ahead by six points and although David Donoghue had briefly threatened Timmy Houlihan for the games' opening goal, the ball would first strike the net at the other end.

Niall Moran had launched the first ball at the Galway goal and in the course of the subsequent scramble, Keane swept it into the net. Now up 1-7 to 0-1, Limerick had everyone wondering if Galway were ever going to start playing. Donoghue's free in the opening minute had been their only score and it was a similar distance from the close of the first half before Kevin Brady added their second.

Goals then were needed from the start of the second and after two minutes Hayes was more or less donated one. Limerick's defence fell into a rare state of confusion and when Hayes fired to the net.

Donoghue and Keane exchanged frees as Limerick appeared increasingly unsettled. Hardiman was now operating around midfield and minor captain Ger Farragher came off the bench to join him.

Entering the final quarter, Galway won a 21-yard free and David Huban came off the bench and lashed the ball into the net. Galway were back to three - 1-10 to 2-4. Crucially, however, the young substitute Andrew O'Shaughnessy fired straight back for Limerick and the game drifted away without raising any more drama.

"We did have a fantastic first 20 minutes," admitted Limerick manager Dave Keane afterwards. "But then we were stuck at 1-7 for a good while. Though I was happy at half-time, we had still let a bit go. And it was the second time in a row that we failed to lift our game in the second half. We did show character and when they got back to a goal we went straight up and got a point and that was important."

LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, B Carroll, E Mulcahy; M O'Riordan, B Geary, M O'Brien; P Lawlor (0-1), S Lucey; E Foley (0-2), K Tobin (0-2), P Tobin (0-1); C Fitzgerald (0-1), N Moran (0-1), M Keane (1-4, all frees). Subs: A O'Shaughnessy (0-1) for K Tobin (41 mins).

GALWAY: C Callanan; B Mahony, D Cloonan, J Culkin; D Hardiman, C Dervan, M J Quinn; S Donoghue, F Moore; R Murray (0-1), G Keary, D Hayes (1-1); D Donoghue (0-2, both frees), D Forde, K Brady (0-1). Subs: G Farragher (0-1, a sideline) for Moore (half-time), D Huban (1-0, a free) for Keary (48 mins).

Referee: B Kelly (Westmeath).