Galway–Limerick hurling rivalry

The very first Galway-Limerick clash took place on 3 December 1911 in the All-Ireland semi-final. Galway were completely underprepared for the game, which Limerick won by 8-1 to 2-0.

On 25 June 1922 Galway and Limerick clashed for the first time in over a decade in what was the 1921 All-Ireland semi-final. Limerick's ability to score goals was they key as they ran out 6-0 to 2-2 winners.

In 1923 the political realities of the era affected the championship. Galway and Limerick qualified for the All-Ireland final, however, Limerick refused to play the game until all Civil War prisoners were released. They were initially disqualified and the title awarded to Galway, however, the game eventually took place on 14 September 1924. Mick Gill’s new tactic of lobbing the sliotar into the square paid dividends as Galway scored seven goals over the hour. A 7-3 to 4-5 victory gave Galway an historic first All-Ireland title while it marked the end of the road for the great Limerick team of the era.

St. Cronan's Park in Roscrea was the venue for Galway's All-Ireland semi-final clash with Limerick on 5 August 1934. Limerick, the defeated All-Ireland finalists of the previous year, easily accounted for the opposition on a score line of 4-4 to 2-4.

Galway faced Limerick in an All-Ireland semi-final once again on 11 August 1940. By this stage Limerick were regarded as one of the teams of the decade having won two All-Ireland titles from four consecutive appearances between 1933 and 1936. Limerick made no mistake and recorded a 3-6 to 0-5 victory. The Galway players walked off the pitch with fifteen minutes left as they were not impressed with the rough tactics of their opponents.

Galway and Limerick's next championship clash was on 27 May 1962 in a Munster quarter-final. Galway, who had faced no opposition in their own province for many years, were admitted to Munster in 1959. Having only won one game in the previous three seasons, the odds were stacked against the Westerners. Limerick made no mistake and recorded a 2-13 to 2-7 victory.

A year later on 9 June 1963, Galway faced Limerick in a Munster semi-final at Cusack Park. Limerick's top scorer, Tom McGarry, bagged 1-1 to help the Treaty men to a 3-9 to 2-7 victory.

On 7 September 1980, Galway and Limerick clashed for the first in seventeen years. It was also their first All-Ireland final meeting since 1923. Early goals by Bernie Forde and P.J. Molloy gave Galway a 2-1 to no score lead after just ten minutes and helped them to a 2-7 to 1-5 lead at the interval. Éamonn Cregan single-handedly launched the Limerick counter-attack in the second-half. Over the course of the game he scored 2-7, including an overhead goal and a point in which he showed the sliotar to full-back Conor Hayes and nonchalantly drove the ball over the bar. It was not enough to stem the tide and Galway went on to win the game by 2-15 to 3-9. It was the county’s first All-Ireland title since 1923 and the celebrations surpassed anything ever seen in Croke Park. It took captain Joe Connolly ten minutes to reach the rostrum in the Hogan Stand to collect the Liam MacCarthy Cup, however, once there he delivered one of the most famous acceptance speeches of all-time.[2]

Just under a year later on 2 August 1981, Galway and Limerick renewed their rivalry in an All-Ireland semi-final clash. In a low-scoring game Éamonn Cregan top scored for Limerick with 0-5. In a game described in the Irish Times as "turbulent", a draw was seen as a fair result as Galway finished with 0-11 t0 Limerick's 1-8.

The replay two weeks later on 16 August 1981 was a much more free-flowing game. The Connolly brothers, Joe and John, combined to a score 3-9 between for Galway. Éamonn Cregan was once again Limerick's scorer-in-chief as he bagged 1-5. Brian Carroll scored a second goal for Limerick, however, it couldn't halt Galway's momentum. A 4-16 to 2-17 victory sent the Westerners into a third successive All-Ireland final.

The first championship meeting in almost a quarter of a century took place at the Gaelic Grounds on 9 July 2005 in a third ground qualifier group game. The opening fifteen minutes proved a nightmare for Limerick debutante Michael Clifford who was given a roasting by Damien Hayes. Galway, thanks to Ger Farragher and Hayes, led 0-6 to 0-2 before Hayes capitalised on a weak clearance by goalkeeper Timmy Houlihan to return the ball to the net. Galway 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 Galway reeling as they stole ahead 2-7 to 1-9. As the game drew to a close Limerick made championship history, not because of what they did, but because of what they were trying to do. They found themselves in the never-before-seen championship situation whereby not even a draw would save their day. 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 for a Galway win.[3]

Match Day Report