Hurling & Camogie

Limerick finish the stronger to eke out Croke Park victory

Picture by Dáire Brennan/Sportsfile
Picture by Dáire Brennan/Sportsfile Picture by Dáire Brennan/Sportsfile

IN THIS extraordinary year Galway seemed set to find a new hero after losing their long-standing talisman to injury late on – but instead Limerick finished stronger to eke out a deserved victory.

The sight of Joe Canning being stretchered off after apparently being concussed by colleague Joseph Cooney shortly after the hour mark looked like a terminal blow to the Tribesmen’s chances in this hard-fought affair.

However, the Tribesmen scored five without replay either side of the lengthy injury delay to somehow level matters at 22 points apiece as the game went into nine minutes of added time, with his replacement Evan Niland coming on to score twice – only for Limerick to grind out a three-point win, helped by three more scores from wing-forward Tom Morrissey.