Galway stumbled to a 1-18 to 2-14 victory over Limerick in a tension packed All Ireland Senior Hurling Qualifier to go top of their group before a crowd of nine thousand at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick.
The tribesmen looked well on their way to a quarterfinal clash against either Wexford or Tipperary when they led 1-9 to 0-6 at the interval.
However, they had to withstand a terrific second half onslaught from the home side and looked to top scorer Ger Farragher to point the way to victory in 68 minutes.
Victory might have gone the other way had Limerick Patrick Kirby found his range from 3 earlier frees and deep into injury time he dropped another free into the heart of the goalmouth only for the ball to be cleared.
He was taking instructions from manager Joe McKenna in the knowledge that a draw would still have seen Galway top their group.
The opening 15 minutes proved a nightmare for Limerick debutante corner back Michael Clifford who was given a roasting by Damien Hayes.
Galway, thanks to Farragher and Hayes, led 0-6 to 0-2 before Hayes capitalised on a weak clearance by goalkeeper Tim Houlihan to return the ball to the net.
Limerick, still looking for a first win over a major hurling power since 2000, were very much out of their depth and their problems were multiplied when TJ Ryan hit three frees wide.
Galway showed plenty of pace up front and built up a lead of 1-7 to 0-3 but then slackened off to allow Ollie and Niall Moran and Pat Kirby to give Limerick some hope at the break when they trailed 1-9 to 0-6.
It was a different Limerick at the start of the second half and inside three minutes they had opponents reeling as they stole ahead 2-7 to 1-9.
That lead was carved by the Ryan brothers Donie and TJ with Donie firing to the net following a delivery by Kirby, and then when he was later taken down, TJ netted from the penalty.
Farragher and Dave Tierney took the pressure off Galway to open a two-point lead but in a hectic battle for supremacy, Limerick were back level on 53 minutes when Paul O’Grady pointed to leave it 1-14 to 2-11.
With excitement at fever pitch, both teams exchanged points and were still level 1-17 to 2-14 before Farragher sent over the crucial point.
Scorers:
Limerick: TJ Ryan 1-2, P Kirby 0-6 (0-5 frees), D Ryan (1-0), N Moran (0-2), P O’Grady (0-2), P Tobin, O Moran 0-1 each.
Galway: TJ Farragher 0-8 (0-6 frees). D Hayes 1-3; R Murray 0-2; T O’Regan, O Canning, D Tierney, F Healy, A Kearns 0-1 each.
Limerick:T Houlihan; M Clifford, S Lucey, M Foley, P O’Dwyer, B Geary, P Lawlor; P O’Grady, D O’Grady; A O’Shaughnessy, O Moran, N Moran, D Ryan, TJ Ryan, P Kirby.
Subs: K Tobin for M Clifford, P Tobin for A O’Shaughnessy, J O’Brien for K Tobin, C Fitzgerald for N Moran.
Galway: J Donoghue; D Joyce, S Kavanagh, C Coen, D Collins, D Hardiman, O Canning; T Regan, F Healy; R Murray, D Forde, D Tierney, G Farragher, K Hayes, D Hayes.
Subs: A Kearns for D Hayes,
Referee: B. Gavin, Offaly.
