It was easy in the end for Limerick as they started their defence of the McGrath Cup at Cappamore yesterday, but it took a 43rd-minute goal from substitute Stephen Kelly to put distance between the sides.
At that stage, Waterford IT were just five points in arrears, 0-9 to 0-4, and favoured by the strong breeze.
Kelly, currently linked with both Cork City and Limerick FC, had been on the field only 30 seconds when he struck.
Waterford IT conceded early points to Johnny Murphy (three) and Pat Fitzgerald, before Damien Rossiter got them off the mark, and Limerick, without Muirís Gavin, Jason Stokes and Séamus O'Donnell - and manager Liam Kearns on holiday - went on to lead 0-7 to 0-1 at the break.
Points from Alan Mulhall, Paul Deane and Andrew Hanley raised the visitors' hopes, but they lost their way after Kelly's goal.
Four players were sin-binned, two from each side.
LIMERICK: M Jones; M O'Riordan, D Sheehy, J McCarthy; P Browne, S Lavin, A Lane; J Quane, J Donovan; S Buckley, P Fitzgerald (0-2), C Mullane (0-1); J Murphy (0-6), D Reidy, C Hickey (0-3). Subs: S Kelly (1-1) for Buckley, J O'Connell for Fitzgerald, G Ahern for Hickey.
WATERFORD IT: T Curley; M Scanlon, S Casey, D Hickey; D Doyle, E Rockett, P Deane (0-2); P Murphy, M Dillon; P Flaherty, A Mulhall (0-1), A Hanley (0-1); A Dermody, D Rossiter (0-1), P Acheson. Sub: S Fox (0-1) for Acheson.
Referee: R Hickey (Clare).
