Galway retained their ESB All-Ireland minor title – the county’s seventh in all – with a well-judged 3-13 to 0-17 final triumph over Limerick in today's Croke Park curtain-raiser.
Mattie Murphy's side needed a replay to see off Kilkenny twelve months ago but they were just too good for beaten Munster finalists Limerick this afternoon in a lively encounter.
Goals from Joe Canning, Conor Kavanagh, who mustered 2-05 of Galway's tally between them, and sub Thomas Flannery saw the Irish Press Cup remain out west.
Kavanagh's blistering 19th-minute goal, in which he soloed through on a 20-metre run before flashing a rising shot beyond keeper Ger Flynn, helped Galway to an early lead.
Limerick, conquerors of Leinster champions Dublin in the semi-finals, steadied themselves and launched themselves right back into in the first half's closing stages.
Kavanagh's goal had pushed the champions 1-05 to 0-05 in front, but five late points - including a hat-trick from the impressive Eoin Ryan and a brace from free-taker John Kelly - saw the Shannonsiders level at 1-07 to 0-10 at half-time.
That good work was undone in the second half.
Portumna sharpshooter Canning, a brother of Galway senior star Ollie, out-foxed the Limerick defence to goal only seconds into the second half and although Brian O'Sullivan leveled matters for the sixth time on 41 minutes, Flannery netted after two brilliant blocks by Flynn, ten minutes later, for a 3-10 to
0-14 lead.
Credit to Tim O'Connor's Limerick, they grabbed three of the game's final four points but there was no denying Galway their sixth minor success since 1992.
Wing back Keith Kilkenny flashed over the final point in the second minute of injury-time.
Galway: J Skehell; A Leech, P Loughnane, P Callaghan; J Hughes (0-01, 1f), C O'Donovan, K Kilkenny (0-01); A Keary (Capt), K Coen (0-01); S Glynn (0-02), J Greene (0-01), A Callanan; C Kavanagh (1-02), J Canning (1-03, 1f), B Murphy.
Subs: F Kerrigan (0-02) for Coen (41 mins), S Howley for O’Donovan (46), T Flannery (1-00) for Callanan (48), J Gilsen for Murphy (52), B Kenny for Leech (63)
Limerick: G Flynn; S Browne, L Hurley, T Condon; J Kelly (0-03, 2f, 1 45), D Moloney, G O'Mahony (0-01); D Moore, S Hickey (0-02); D Hanley (0-01), J Ryan, B O'Sullivan (0-04); M Ryan, E Ryan (0-06, 1f), D O'Sullivan.
Subs: G Alliss for D O’Sullivan (24 mins), R McCarthy for O’Mahony (36-38), G Collins for Moore (51), D O’Connor for Alliss (60)
Referee: Eamonn Morris Dublin
