Galway ratings: Credit for Fahy and Niland on tough day
The Leinster champions were taught a harsh lesson but, in such a young squad, there's plenty of time to take some it onboard and come back in the future.
Darach Fahy - 7
Brilliant save from a Gearóid Hegarty shot for goal on three minutes, stood up to another Hegarty shot a short time later.
Hegarty did all he could on a difficult afternoon and he would eventually be beaten by a Cathal O'Neill shot.
Joshua Ryan - 6
Joe Canning's 2017 final mascot, Ryan has come of age this year.
He'll have less difficult days but he kept going. He gathered a high ball in after 31 minutes to set up a Galway attack.
He also broke out of defence on 38 minutes to set up another Galway play, although he team-mates couldn't convert.
He got forward and was brought down for the late penalty, which Galway scored.
Cillian Trayers - 5.5
Under the cosh against the rampant Limerick attackers, he did brilliantly to prevent Aaron Gillane getting a shot at goal away after 29 minutes.
He also broke up an attempted Limerick attack on 46 minutes, and once more blocked down Gillane on the hour, this time in his attempt for a point.
Darren Morrissey - 5.5
Did plenty of good things, reading a ball inside as he stopped a Limerick attack after eight minutes, and broke up another attempted move under the Hogan Stand just before the half-hour mark.
A loose hand pass after 43 minutes ended with the Limerick goal, and he was also dispossessed by Hegarty in the middle of the park a short while later.
Padraic Mannion - 5
Such a celebrated distributor of the ball, this wasn't his game.
He was booked after getting involved with a flick on Hegarty and then some grappling with English. Kept working hard until the death.
Daithi Burke - 5.5
Like his fellow defenders, he was under pressure for large parts of the game. Would have been satisfied to get a block in on an attempt at a point from Shane O'Brien early in the second half.
Set up Colm Molloy for a late point.
Ronan Glennon - 4
A bad day at the office was compounded for Glennon when he was sent off for catching Peter Casey with 15 minutes to go. He protested loudly, but he could have few complaints.
Earlier, he was pinged for overcarrying after Hegarty held him up, while he also shot well wide with an attempt for a point mid-way through the first half.
Ronan Glennon receiving his marching orders from referee Colm Lyons
Tiernan Killeen - 6
He won the throw in to launch an early Galway attack, and was the provider for Niland for Galway's first score from play after 18 minutes.
As the game went on, was gradually pushed out as Limerick got on top and he was replaced by John Fleming on the hour.
Gavin Lee - 5
A difficult game for the Clarinbridge man who hit the game's first wide in the second minute.
He was called ashore and replaced by Conor Cooney with 23 minutes to go.
Tom Monaghan - 6
After an early wide, he showed all of his battling qualities to set up Darragh Neary for a chance at a point.
He scored twice after the break, and looked to be one of Galway's better players, before Cian Daniels replaced him with 15 minutes to go.
Cathal Mannion - 6
Galway's orchestra conductor scored a cracking point from under the Cusack Stand after an early wide. He would add another wide late on as the Tribesmen's challenge faded.
Darragh Neary - 5
Neary was booked for a loose clip of the hurl on Cian Lynch in the first half. He drew a foul early in the second half, which gave Niland the chance for the opening score of the second half.
Redeemed himself somewhat with a superb run and a point on the hour mark but added a wide late on.
Conor Whelan - 5
Wides in either half from the Kinvara man after getting an early hook in on English, as he struggled to put his mark on the contest.
Aaron Niland top scored for Galway
Jason Rabbitte - 6
Had the thankless task of leading the Galway attack on a day when they were behind from early on.
Rabbitte had his only point of the contest shortly before half-time, a classy score from a narrow angle out right.
One of the few Galway men to come out with credit from the first half but he found things trickier after the break.
Aaron Niland - 7
Galway's top scorer stuck to his task as he landed eight frees and a 65 over the course of the game.
He hit his team's first six points, and their first from play after 18 minutes.
Aidan O'Connor gave him a shove into the advertising hoarding after 23 minutes and he toyed with reacting, before thinking better of it.
He would hit the first score of the second half but was replaced by Colm Molloy on the hour mark.
Substitutes
Conor Cooney - 6
Came on for Gavin Lee and hit a frustrating wide in the 51st minute in a period where Galway looked like they might threaten a bit of a comeback.
Had another wide before hitting two late points - one from a free - and then burying the penalty with the last puck of the game.
Cian Daniels - 5.5
Came on for Tom Monaghan but didn't manage a score, putting an effort disappointingly wide with a little over 10 minutes to go.
John Fleming 5
Replaced Tiernan Killeen but made little impact.
Colm Molloy 5.5
Got 10 minutes at the end and managed to add his name to the scoresheet with a point from play.
Seán Linnane - 5
Came on for Cathal Mannion for added time and had little chance to make his mark.
