THE underdogs travelled to Thurles yesterday bristling with thoughts of an upset. Unfortunately for them, Limerick had picked up the vibes and ensured there would be no surprises.

Instead, they put the foot on Waterford's neck from the throw in and kept it there until the Guinness sponsored Munster hurling championship game petered out as a contest 5 minutes before the end.

They led by 11 points at that stage and coasted to the final whistle, allowing Waterford five points in a row to gain respectability from what was ultimately a disappointing performance.

"We gave away too many stupid scores," said Waterford captain Fergal Hartley. His manager, Gerald McCarthy, concurred: "We had a terrible start and gave away some silly frees." But he was realistic about the outcome: "With a bit of luck we might have done better; but Limerick deserved to win. They led by 10 points on two occasions and maybe took their foot off the pedal."

His opposite number, Tom Ryan, said their win had a touch of luck about it. But midfielder Mike Houlihan was more frank about the contest: "Some of the league games we played this year were as hard as that out there today," he said.

Houlihan confirmed what was evident from the start - they had come expecting a tight game and, accordingly, were ready for it. He exemplified their appetite for hard work with a nonstop performance that saw him reel off a stream of tackles, clearances and drives into his waiting full forward line.

It was here that most of the damage was done, wing forward Barry Foley having moved into the corner mere moments before scoring the first of his two goals. When Ryan referred to Limerick's luck, it was probably the goals he had in mind. The first of these, in the 18th minute, might have been saved; but Foley's seemingly weak shot came off a startled Ray Whitty in the Waterford goal.

Less than five minutes later Whitty had time to lift and clear a routine rolling ball. He fumbled the lift - Foley was on to it in a flash and smacked it to an empty net. Four minutes later Whitty was gone, McCarthy deciding to replace his goalkeeper.

Whitty's replacement, Brendan Landers, played soundly, making three second half catches under the crossbar and clearing.

At the other end, Albert Shanahan decorated a confident performance with some good reflex stops late in the game.

But on a day when Waterford needed everything to go well, the goals were grievous blows. And in between the goals, just to prove that their luck was out, Billy O'Sullivan - their best forward on the day - seemed to have beaten Shanahan with a scrambled effort; but Mike Nash got back to clear the ball as it dribbled towards the line.

Limerick, in any event, operated at a different level of speed and skill - defending much more tightly and attacking more fluidly, even if some players had off days. Corner back Decian Nash compensated for one of these with a brilliant second half hook on full forward Paul Flynn - the goal was on, with 15 minutes still left to play.

Flynn was similarly deprived by the sporadic supply. His 27th minute goal, whipped home on the bounce after Paul Power made the incision, confirmed his potential for damage but not without the ball. Centre forward Ken McGrath showed glimpses of his class; but again could not deliver any decisive blows.

The Limerick attack, by contrast, feasted on an extravagant supply from defence and midfield. Some of the points were classics from long distance and difficult angles, Mike Galligan striking some beauties, Shane O'Neill and debutante James Moran adding an impressive cutting edge inside.

They scored five points from their first five attacks. When T J Ryan pointed in the 16th minute, every Limerick forward had scored, their confidence palpably thriving in the spaces granted by Waterford's struggling defence.

Limerick led by nine points with 26 minutes gone, and when Flynn's goal reduced the gap, they simply pulled away again, Gary Kirby punishing Waterford impeccably from placed balls.

Trailing by eight points at half-time, 2-13 to 1-8, Waterford showed genuine resilience with three quick points in a row after the interval. A worried Tom Ryan had seen enough - enter Ciaran Carey. It is perhaps too convenient to say that Carey's arrival stemmed the tide - but it did coincide with a six point volley from Limerick that ultimately assured them of victory.

This ability to up the tempo looked impressive - three of the points came in the space of a minute - but Limerick would score just one more point in the remaining 18 minutes.

Waterford, in fact, outscored Limerick by nine points to seven in the second half; but never looked like winning after conceding those six points.

They trailed by 10 points in the 58th minute when Flynn tried for a goal from a free some 30 yards out.

The shot was easily blocked.

He should have taken the point but it was a hopeless situation and the frustrated full forward shrugged his shoulders to a passing team mate.

Waterford added four more points; but the white flag had already been raised.