Munster SHC Semi-final replay: Waterford 1-12 Limerick 0-13 It was an example of what might - advisedly - be called Murphy's Law. On a sunny Saturday evening in Thurles before about 30,000 spectators and an expectant television audience, this Guinness Munster hurling semi-final replay cussedly refused to burst into life. Instead of the exhilarating chaos and cascading goals of the drawn match we had a dour, edgy encounter.
Waterford's victory was deserved. From the moment they hit the front in the 23rd minute, they led all the way to the tape. Manager Justin McCarthy reckoned afterwards his side's experience had been an important factor and accepted it had been a less pleasing spectacle than the drawn match, with too much bunching and little open play.
Six days previously after the dam-burst of scores he and his team were tight-lipped and furious. His chatty demeanour on Saturday proved there's a limit to the value he places on aesthetics. Hard to place a limit on the value of Paul Flynn at the moment. McCarthy described his player's input as "inspired".
It was Flynn who clipped the decisive goal. The 23rd minute might seem a bit early for such an intervention but on an evening when the goal supply was drastically reduced, the value soared accordingly. A sideline ball - bitterly disputed by Limerick manager Dave Keane - was floated in by Eoin Kelly and Flynn got in at an acute angle and hit the ball into the far corner of the net. Otherwise he added a point from play and regularised Waterford's at times chaotic free-taking arrangements, which saw Dave Bennett and Ken McGrath also have a go.
Then in the second half two beautifully executed points in a couple of minutes around the start of the final quarter helped maintain his team's four-point lead. And in one inventive cameo he tapped a long-distance free to the unmarked Dan Shanahan, who had time and space to point.
Waterford made the usual plethora of changes to their announced line-up. Eoin Murphy went to corner back with Declan Prendergast moving out to the wing. Peter Queally and James Murray swapped wing back and centrefield, and in attack the big play was to send Ken McGrath in at full forward.
It's hard to know would it have had the effect of kick-starting his subdued form because Tony Browne went over on his ankle and had to be replaced, with McGrath moving out to cover for him. Browne's availability for the Munster final will be a concern. Of equal concern will be the continuing struggle of Ken McGrath and Eoin Kelly to recover their best form.
Browne wasn't the day's only casualty. Team-mate Andy Moloney was concussed in the second half and taken to hospital after an accidental clash with Paudie O'Dwyer. Limerick's Niall Moran was also hospitalised after a first-half facial injury following an incident that drew the wrath of Keane, who claimed his player had been hit off the ball.
The Limerick manager was also critical of referee Dickie Murphy but it wouldn't be a criticism widely shared by neutrals.
Waterford coped with the attrition levels better than their younger opponents and created more openings. John Mullane seemed haunted by his open-goal embarrassment from the drawn match and attempted a couple of psychedelic shots when he should have played the ball inside.
If Waterford's changes tightened their defence, Limerick were also improved by their five changes - one enforced - to the extent that you were left wondering what Keane was thinking of when he picked the team for the drawn match. Eoin Foley made a big impact at centrefield even if his shooting was erratic for so gifted a striker of the ball.
The match never settled into the Keystone Cops pattern of the previous week, with Waterford establishing a massive lead and Limerick breathlessly chasing it. The champions maintained modest leads and although Limerick responded determinedly - five of their points came within two minutes of Waterford scores - they were unable to establish the momentum that brought them back into contention the first day. As Keane said afterwards his team never looked like scoring the goal that was needed to haul them back into a threatening position. In that respect the exam-tied Andrew O'Shaughnessy was badly missed.
Leading 1-6 to 0-6 at half-time Waterford went on to keep Limerick at arm's length.
WATERFORD: 1. S Brenner; 4. B Greene, 3. T Feeney, 5. E Murphy; 2. D Prendergast, 6. F Hartley, 9. J Murray; 8. T Browne, 7. P Queally; 14. A Moloney, 10. E Kelly (0-1), 12. D Bennett (0-2, frees); 13. J Mullane; 11. K McGrath, 15. P Flynn (1-7, four frees). Subs: 18. S Prendergast for Browne (20 mins), 23. M Walsh for Bennett (46 mins), 24. D Shanahan (0-1) for Moloney (48 mins), 19. E McGrath (0-1) for Queally (61 mins), 28. P O'Brien for Mullane (73 mins).
LIMERICK: 1. T Houlihan; 4. S McDonagh, 3. TJ Ryan, 2. D Reale; 5. P O'Dwyer, 6. P Lawlor, 7. M Foley; 8. E Foley, (0-3, one free) 9. C Smith; 12. N Moran, 11. B Begley (0-2), 10. C Fitzgerald (0-6, four frees); 21. D Sheehan, 14. O Moran, 15. P Kirby (0-1, one free). Subs: 28. J O'Brien for Moran (12 mins), 20. C Carey (0-1) for Smith (22 mins), 17. E Mulcahy for Kirby (68 mins).
Referee: D Murphy (Wexford).
