Limerick 0-10 Galway 0-8: Battling Limerick tore the formbook to shreds with victory over free-scoring Galway at the Gaelic Grounds.

A week earlier, Galway had put 4-17 on the board against hapless Sligo, on the same afternoon that Limerick left Wexford with their tail between their legs.

Delighted coach Liam Kearns said little heed had been paid to the disruption to his panel because of a string of injuries. "We had Conor Fitzgerald and Eoin Keating back today, and there are more to follow. I am confident we have now turned things around," he said.

It was not a good day for Galway, who raced into an early two-point lead and managed just one more before the interval.

They could have done with a sharpshooter in the Johnny Murphy mould. The Ballylanders player struck four points at crucial stages. Galway can argue that they had an unacceptable miss from Kieran Comer on the break, and were denied by a goal-line block by full back Diarmuid Sheehy from a Derek Savage shot.

It had looked promising for Galway after Armstrong had sent them two points clear, but solid performances from John Quane and Jim O'Donovan in midfield, and Stephen Lavin at centre back turned the tide.

John Galvin rallied Limerick with their opening score on 13 minutes, Michael Reidy made it all square, and Reidy, again, and Murphy had confidence soaring at 0-4 to 0-2.

Kevin Brady and Tomás Meehan were dispatched from the substitutes' bench to shore up a leaky Galway defence, but the home side stretched their advantage with pointed frees from Murphy, and another from Michael Reidy.

Armstrong ended a 23 minute- barren spell, leaving Limerick sitting pretty 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval.

Kieran Comer threatened a Galway revival with a 41st minute point, but Murphy replied.

Then followed Galway's best spell, and a hat-trick of points from Micheál Meehan set the game up for a thrilling finale.

Limerick, who surrendered four goals to the same opposition 12 months ago, were not going to be caught out again and Seán Buckley and Eoin Keating consolidated their position, before Armstrong had the last say.

LIMERICK: S Kiely; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, J McCarthy; P Browne, S Lavin, C Mullane; J Quane, J O'Donovan; M Crowley, J Murphy (0-4, three frees), S Buckley (0-1), C Fitzgerald, J Galvin (0-1), M Reidy (0-3). Subs: T Stack for O'Riordan, O Keating (0-1) for Murphy, D Reidy for Mullane, G Ahern for Sheehy, A Lane for M Reidy.

GALWAY: A Keane; V Feeney, K Fitzgeald, C Monaghan; T Costelloe, D Meehan, M Comer; J Bergin, N Coleman; P Clancy, P Joyce, K Comer (0-1), D Savage, M Meehan (0-3, two frees), S Armstrong (0-4). Subs: K Brady for Costelloe, T Meehan for Feeney, M Clancy for K Comer, T Meehan for D Meehan.

Yellow cards: C Mullane (60 mins), D Sheehy (68 mins). Galway: D Meehan (70 mins).

Referee: D Fahy (Longford)