All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling S-Final – Limerick 1-20 Galway 0-17

Limerick defeated Galway by 1-20 to 0-17 in the Bord Gais Energy All-Ireland Under 21 Hurling Championship Semi-Final on Saturday August 22nd at Semple Stadium Thurles.

REPORT: @LimerickCLG book place in a first @BGEHurlingU21 final since 2002 with victory over @Galway_GAA: http://t.co/6CJagIeEON

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 22, 2015

U21 Hurling: Limerick into first final since 2002

Bord Gáis Energy GAA Hurling All-Ireland U21 semi-final: Limerick 1-20 Galway 0-17

By Jackie Cahill at Semple Stadium for GAA.ie

Limerick booked their place in a first Bord Gáis Energy All-Ireland U21 final since 2002. The Shannonsiders scored a six-point victory over a fancied Galway outfit at Semple Stadium in Thurles, ending the Tribesmen’s hopes of a ‘clean sweep’.

Senior panellist Tom Morrissey scored a crucial 49th minute goal to help the Treaty men through to a September 12 clash against Wexford.
Morrissey somehow managed to find the net under intense pressure for the crucial score, as referee Fergal Horgan played a good advantage.

Limerick had a six-point lead at Semple Stadium and they would go on to win by that margin. And boss John Kiely, a senior panel member in 1996 when Wexford won the All-Ireland final, now has the chance to exact revenge almost 20 years on.

It was a mixed night for Galway’s senior stars Jason Flynn, Cathal Mannion and Conor Whelan. Flynn hit two of his seven points from play and cut over a fine sideline cut in the first half but Whelan managed just a point and Mannion was held scoreless. Brian Molloy provided stout Galway resistance with five points from play but Limerick were too good down the home straight.

In front of 7563 spectators, the sides were level at half-time, 0-10 apiece, with Galway coming from six points down to ensure parity. But when Limerick got on a roll again in the second half, Galway didn’t have the firepower to respond.
***
Scorers for Limerick: T Morrissey 1-3, D Dempsey 0-4, R Lynch 0-3 (2f, 1 sl) & C Ryan 0-3 each, D Byrnes & D O’Donovan 0-2, G Hegarty, C Lynch & B Nash 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: J Flynn 0-7 (2f, 2 65s, 1 sl), B Molloy 0-5, D Nevin 0-2, S Cooney, C Whelan & E Brannigan 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: D McCarthy; S Finn, R English, M Casey; D Byrnes, B O’Connell, G Hegarty; D O’Donovan, P Ryan; R Lynch, C Lynch, D Dempsey; C Ryan, T Morrissey, B Nash
Subs: A La Touche-Cosgrave for P Ryan (51), P Casey for Nash (51), M O’Callaghan for M Casey (59), J Kelliher for Morrissey (60+1).

GALWAY: G Loughnane; D Cronin, P Killeen, B Keane; S Sweeney, S Cooney, É Burke; K McHugo, D Nevin; E Brannigan, C Mannion, C Whelan; B Molloy, R O’Meara, J Flynn
Subs: M Mullins for O’Meara (21), J Kennedy for Brannigan (41), J Ryan for McHugo (52), B Burke for Kennedy (56)

Referee: F Horgan (Tipperary)

Previews: @BGEHurlingU21 S-F – @OfficialWexGAA v @AontroimGAA, @Galway_GAA v @LimerickCLG: http://t.co/OZb7eGToiC pic.twitter.com/Pnh0jNHiKZ

— The GAA (@officialgaa) August 21, 2015

Fixture Details

22.08.2015 (Sat)
Bord Gais Energy GAA Hurling All-Ireland U21 Championship Semi Finals
Semple Stadium, Thurles 16:00
Aontroim v Loch Garman
Referee: Sean Cleere (Cill Chainnigh)
(E.T. if Necessary)

Semple Stadium, Thurles 18:00
Gaillimh v Luimneach
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tiobraid Árann)
(E.T. if Necessary)

Team News

LIMERICK: David McCarthy (Glenroe); Sean Finn (Bruff), Richie English (Doon), Michael Casey (Na Piarsaigh); Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Barry O’Connell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Gearoid Hegarty (St Patricks); Darragh O’Donovan (Doon), Pat Ryan (Doon); Ronan Lynch (Patrickswell), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), David Dempsey (Na Piarsaigh), Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Nash (South Liberties)
Subs: Eoghan McNamara (Doon), Mark O’Callaghan (Knockaderry), Sean Flanagan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen), Jack Kelleher (Patrickswell), Jack Quaid (Effin), Dean Coleman (Doon), Kevin O’Brien (Patrickswell), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh).

Galway Under 21 team to play Limerick announced –

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)