Gaelic Games

Limerick beat Waterford to claim place in Munster Hurling League final

TJ Ryan’s side will now face Clare in Saturday’s decider

Limerick’s Wayne McNamara, Michael Reidy and Richie McCarthy tackle Austin Gleeson of Waterford. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Limerick’s Wayne McNamara, Michael Reidy and Richie McCarthy tackle Austin Gleeson of Waterford. Photograph: Cathal Noonan/Inpho
Tue Jan 19 2016 - 22:24

Limerick 3-16 Waterford 1-17

Limerick booked their place in the Munster League final against Clare at the Gaelic Grounds next Saturday with an impressive win over Waterford at the same venue.

With underfoot conditions extremely slippy it was easy to understand why they shared 32 wides over the 70 minutes.

Both managers will be happy with the workout as they opted to field many of those who will be in league action in two weeks time.

Limerick manager TJ Ryan made 13 changes from the team that beat Cork while Derek McGrath had only one of the side who lost to Clare last Sunday on duty.

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Limerick got off to a blistering start with points by Thomas O’Brien, Tom Morrissey and Seanie Tobin and Morrissey goaled after four minutes following a superb save by Ian O’Regan from Tobin.

A Maurice Shanahan free after five minutes was Waterford’s first point but a huge long range point by centre-back Diarmuid Byrnes had Limerick six points clear after as many minutes.

Patrick Curran pointed for Waterford as Limerick remained on top with Tobin getting a superb over his shoulder point.

Barry Nash broke through and handpassed to David Reidy for Limerick’s second goal after 11 minutes.

Shane Bennett had Waterford’s third point and after Tobin extended Limerick’s lead Shanahan missed two Waterford frees.

Nickie Quaid had to retire injured following a brave save after 29 minutes. Waterford, despite hitting eight wides, finished the half the stronger side with points by Shanahan, Barron, and Curran again.

By half-time Limerick led by 2-12 to 1-7 with the Waterford goal being one of the highlights of the game as Austin Gleeson hit a cracker from 30 yards which gave substitute goalkeeper Barry Hennessy no chance.

The visitors managed to cut the gap to three points half-way through the second half before a goal from substitute from Kevin O'Brien just two minutes after he came on sealed the win for Limerick.

LIMERICK: N Quaid; T Condon, R McCarthy, S O'Brien; P O'Brien, D Byrnes (0-2, 1f), W McNamara; J Fitzgibbon, P Browne; B Nash, G O'Mahony (0-2), T Morrissey (1-1); T O'Brien (0-2), D Reidy (1-5, 0-2f), S Tobin (0-3). Subs: B Hennessy for Quaid (29), D O'Donovan for Fitzgibbon (h-t), G Mulcahy for Reidy (53), K O'Brien (1-1) for T O'Brien (53), M Reidy for Condon (55).
WATERFORD: I O'Regan; P Prendergast, S Fives, N Connors; S Roche, S McNulty (0-1), C Gleeson; J Barron (0-1), K Moran; C Dunford, S Bennett (0-2), J Dillon (0-3); A Gleeson (1-0), M Shanahan (0-7, 5fs), P Curran (0-2). Subs G O'Brien for Roche (24), T Devine for Moran (45), S O'Sullivan for Barron (46), P Hogan (0-1) for Dunford (52), B Coughlan for Bennett (70).
Referee: P Kelly (Tipperary).