A disciplined Galway VS withstood a late charge from Cork to reclaim the All-Ireland Vocational Schools senior hurling title in a gripping final at Limerick's Gaelic grounds yesterday.

It took just 20 seconds for Galway to take the lead, John Brady turning in a rebound after Martin Coleman had saved from Diarmuid Duggan. Most of the drama was confined to the second period when Cork - trailing 2-9 to 2-5 at the interval - replied with points from Duggan, Richard Butler, Michael O'Donovan and John O'Callaghan to draw level for the first time.

With the wind behind them, Cork were expected to take the initiative. However, they were stunned by a crucial strike in the 48th minute when a long delivery from Cathal Dervan was dispatched to the net by top marksman Kenneth Burke. Cork upped the tempo again but were confined to just one more score from O'Callaghan, which was cancelled out by points from Galway's Reilly and Burke.

GALWAY VS: A Ryan; D Gibbons, R Murray, P Murray; J Farrell, T Regan, K Briscoe; P Dolan, T Tierney (0-1); N Cahalan (0-1), C Dervan, A Cullinane (0-2); N Healy (1-1), K Burke (1-5), J Brady (1-0). Subs: B Costelloe for Dervan, Dervan for Dolan, T Smyth for Brady, D Reilly (0-1) for Cahalan, J Rooney for Smyth.

CORK: M Coleman; G O'Mahony, P Moloney, D Murphy; J Moylan, B Moloney, J Foley; M O'Donovan (0-1), M O'Sullivan; D O'Riordan (0-1), F Murphy, J O'Connor; J P O'Callaghan (0-5), D Duggan (1-1), R Butler (1-3). Subs: T Lane for O'Connor.

Referee: P Horan (Offaly).