There was no separating the All-Ireland champions and one of the pretenders to their throne after a typically hard-fought National League match at a windswept and rain-soaked Pearse Stadium in Salthill.
The result means that Limerick top the Division 1B table and qualify for the league semi-finals as group winners while Galway were unable to secure the victory they needed to make the last four.
Despite playing for more than 50 minutes with 14 men after a first half red card for Shane O'Brien, Limerick looked set to justify their hot favourites tag when scores from substitutes Diarmuid Byrnes and Gearoid Hegarty edged them two points ahead entering added time.
But Galway stuck to their task and two late frees from Evan Niland earned Henry Shefflin’s side a well-earned share of the spoils.
The home side had deservedly led at the end of an enjoyable first half by 0-12 to 0-9, but John Kiely brought in the likes of Diarmuid Byrnes, William O'Donoghue, Gearoid Hegarty and Peter Casey to help turn the tide as the game progressed.
Byrnes, the 2022 Hurler of the Year, landed five points from long-range frees during the second period and his accuracy, along with superb efforts from Tom Morrissey and Adam English, saw Limerick go 0-15 to 0-14 ahead in the 63rd minute.
The reliable Evan Niland levelled the match for the fourth time a minute later, but Limerick surged ahead again when Gearoid Hegarty and Byrnes both hit the target.
Galway’s cause looked lost at that stage but they continued to battle on and, despite the absence of suspended duo Daithí Burke and Conor Whelan, they managed to snatch a draw.
Most of the highlights in the first half came courtesy of the scoring exploits of Galway’s Cathal Mannion and English, who both drilled four points from play.
The sides were level three times in the opening ten minutes before a string of Galway scores from Ronan Glennon, Padraic Mannion and Niland (free) eased the home side ahead by 0-6 to 0-3. Limerick stayed in touch with scores from David Reidy and English. The close nature of the exchanges was reflected in the scoreline after 25 minutes; Galway leading by 0-8 to 0-7.
A major turning point arrived a minute later when referee Thomas Walsh showed Shane O’Brien a red card after the Limerick attacker was adjudged to have interfered with the helmet of Galway’s Sean Linnane.
The Tribesmen took full advantage of their numerical advantage in the closing stages of the half, outscoring Limerick by four points to two as Cathal Mannion, Niland (free), David Burke and Gavin Lee all raised white flags.
This left three points between the sides at the interval but, despite using Padraic Mannion as the spare man and looking to have the situation well under control, Galway were unable to keep Limerick at bay during an absorbing second half.
Galway: D Fahy; J Grealish, F Burke, P Mannion (0-1); A Tuohey (0-1), C Fahy, R Glennon (0-2); D Burke (0-1), S Linnane; G Lee (0-2), T Monaghan, J Cooney; C Mannion (0-4), C Cooney, E Niland (0-6, 4fs).
Subs used: B Concannon for Lee (50); J Ryan for J Cooney (57); D Morrissey for Tuohey (63); D O’Shea for D Burke (68)
Limerick: N Quaid; F O’Connor, M Casey, B Nash; C O’Neill, D Hannon, C Coughlan; D Reidy (0-1), B Murphy; S O’Brien (0-1), C Lynch, T Morrissey (0-2); A Gillane (0-2, 2fs), S Flanagan, A English (0-5).
Subs used: D Byrnes (0-5, 5fs) for Coughlan (inj, 35); P Casey for Flanagan (47): W O’Donoghue for Murphy (47); G Hegarty (0-1) for Gillane (57); A Costello for O’Connor (inj, 63); R Lyons for M Casey (65); G Mulcahy for Reidy (67).Referee: T Walsh (Waterford)
