Limerick’s plus 19 points difference before the off, was eaten into early by a hungry home side as late call up John Devane and Padraig Joyce pointed before half forward Matthew Clancy found the visitors’ net on 8 minutes.

Owen Keating, the best of the Limerick forwards, replied with their first point as five unanswered points by the 28th minute had them back to 0-5 to 1-3.

Keating, formerly of Limerick FC, combined with replacement Diarmuid Sheedy to goal on the half hour before two Padraig Joyce points, the first being put over by Limerick goalkeeper Seamus O’Donnell and the second after a rangy set up by Sean Og de Paor saw the sides level 1-6 apiece at the break.

Replacement goalkeeper Alan Keane saved Galway’s bacon after the restart with an early stop from Keating but the home side stepped up a gear nine minutes in, as Nicky Joyce netted after de Paor’s long drop kick had evaded Padraig Joyce and ran free.

With the scores then at 2-7 to 1-6 in Galway’s favour, they soon ran amuck with Michael Donnellan sprinting clear and setting up Padraig Joyce to goal off the ground.

Forward Devane spotted Donnellan’s movements in the final eight minutes, and the 1998 All star laid off for Clancy to bury his second goal, after O’Donnell had saved his initial side foot attempt.

Limerick boss Kerins handed a first start to former hurling star Mike O’Brien, in place of Stephen Kelly, and the Munster men still head the table by a point from Galway and third-placed Sligo.