Galway made it two wins from two in the Allianz Hurling League with an impressive victory over Limerick at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
Conor Cooney top-scored with 10 points for Henry Shefflin's side, who cruised to the win after Limerick’s Gearóid Hegarty was shown a red card for a strike on Joseph Cooney.
John Kiely’s men led by a point heading into the final 10 minutes but Galway slotted seven unanswered scores to earn a six-point winning margin.
Limerick raced into the lead in the fourth minute when Aaron Gillane collected a long Kyle Hayes delivery and then fired past Eanna Murphy for the first score of the game.
Aaron Gillane ensured @LimerickCLG got off to a bright start in their Allianz Hurling League encounter against @Galway_GAA. pic.twitter.com/FFihVTfTNI
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 12, 2022
Cathal O’Neill pointed for Limerick soon after but Galway levelled with four on the bounce from Cathal Mannion, Conor Cooney (2) and Jack Hastings. Conor Cooney’s third of the opening quarter then saw the Tribesmen to a 0-05 to 1-01 advantage.
The All-Ireland champions stopped a 13-minute scoreless period with a Gillane free before O’Neill squared the game for a second time.
It was nip and tuck for much of the remainder of the first half, with O’Neill impressing for Limerick from play, while Conor Cooney was imperious from placed balls.
Gearóid Hegarty of @LimerickCLG sees red. pic.twitter.com/f6lIojm13L
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 12, 2022
However, it was Limerick that went in ahead at the break 1-09 to 0-10 to the good, with Gillane slotting two frees either side of Catham Mannion's second point of the half.
The big talking point came four minutes into the second half when Hegarty got his marching orders and Galway took control from that moment.
Fintan Burke added a point from play to his two sideline cuts and Joseph Cooney also finished strongly to see Galway home.
Allianz League Player of the match Fintan Burke on the satisfying performance put up by Galway in defeating Limerick #rtegaa #AllianzHurlingLeague pic.twitter.com/d3k1ikAXtI
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 12, 2022
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Richie English; Diarmaid Byrnes (0-02, 2f), Barry Nash (0-01), Kyle Hayes; Brian O'Grady, William O’Donoghue; Gearóid Hegarty (0-01), Cathal O’Neill (0-04), Darragh O’Donovan; Aaron Gillane (1-06,4f), Seamus Flanagan (0-02), David Reidy.
Subs: Ronan Connolly (0-01) for O’Donoghue (5, inj); Tom Morrissey (0-01) for O’Grady (h-t), Declan Hannon for Connolly (49, inj), Graeme Mulcahy for Reidy (64), Adam English for Flanagan (66).
Galway: Eanna Murphy; Jack Grealish, Daithi Burke, Jack Fitzpatrick; Padraic Mannion, Gearoid McInerney, Fintan Burke (0-03, 2 s/l); Joseph Cooney (0-03), Ronan Glennon (0-02); Tom Monaghan (0-01), Jack Hastings (0-01), Conor Cooney (0-10, 8f), Eanna Burke, Conor Whelan (0-01), Cathal Mannion (0-04).
Subs: Gavin Lee for E Burke (48), Darren Morrissey for Fitzpatrick (56), David Burke for Grealish (59), Cianan Fahy for Hastings (64), Johnny Coen (0-02) for Glennon (67).
Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)
