Limerick squeeze Galway challenge to leave the rest wondering: what exactly will it take to stop them? | DeclanBogue
Declan Bogue JUST AS LIMERICK boot the door off the hinges on their way to their fifth All-Ireland final in six years, it’s worth just reflecting on the words of one John Kiely Esquire of Galbally on the very first day of this championship.
“There was some amount of bullshit spoke about our team and the season ahead and the week before. It’s a softening-up exercise, mentally, from those outside of our camp.Given the second-half dismantling of Galway — and providing it’s alright by John himself, like — it’s fun to imagine that Limerick may have now entered the Cody Zone.
But within minutes, Conor Whelan had it level and Evan Niland stretched the lead. Galway were mano-a-mano, matched up everywhere, and delivering their statement to Limerick that they were every ounce their equal.Then came a Cathal Mannion goal. His run was a clever direct line but the vision and imagination of Kevin Cooney to tap a reverse pass into the turf and then the composure of Mannion to take on the shot across Nickie Quaid was ballsy stuff.
And then, the inevitable and phantom injury: Limerick’s Quaid with his helmet off and a doctor going through the charade, while the big brains of Limerick get a quick tactical reshuffle and allow the heart rates to lower. The first ball of the second half brought three Limerick tackles, two from David Reidy, and on 22 seconds, Seamus Flanagan did one of those over-the-shoulder numbers to level it.
Their purple patch never ends. Kyle Hayes takes possession of the ball and keeps running through all the obstacles, finishing with a scooped point. So quick-witted.
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