Athlone 1-15 UL 1-8:RAY GALLIGAN'S goal was crucial as Athlone IT saw off UL in Limerick yesterday.

The midland college were 0-7 to 0-6 ahead at half-time. That lead was stretched to six by the 45th minute through a goal and two points from Galligan and a point from John Reynolds. Limerick’s Enda Varley converted a penalty but Athlone stood firm.

ATHLONE IT: G Connaughton; S Higgins, D Masterson, D Reynolds; M Mitchell, D Considine, K Smith; G Dennigan (0-1), B Connors; P Doherty (0-3), D Egan (0-2), A Burke; F Burke (0-2), J Reynolds (0-2), R Galligan (1-5, four frees). Subs: P Bannon for A Burke, C Duncan for F Burke.

UL: S Thornton; F Fitzgerald, P Codd, R Brady; S Lonergan, G O’Donnell, D Rattigan; S O’Shea, A Moloney; M Cahalane, P Austin (0-1), P Larkin; E Varley (1-5, 0-5 frees, 1-0 penalty), D Niblock (0-1), MT O’Sullivan (0-1). Subs: F Coffey for M Cahalane, B Fox for MT O’Sullivan, J Lyne for D Rattigan, P Kennelly for F Coffey, P Carroll for P Larkin.

Referee: Brian Tyrell (Tipperary).