Waterford bounce back to stun Limerick at Walsh Park
Waterford caused a surprise in round two of the National Hurling league when they proved too good for John Kiely's Limerick.
Having lost heavily in the opening round to Cork, Peter Queally’s charges performed much better on home soil. Limerick on the other hand had sat out the opening weekend.
The Treaty men at times looked a little ring rusty and despite an experienced team selection they failed to ever gain control in a closely fought encounter.
Very little separated the sides throughout this competitive game on St Brigid’s Day at Walsh Park. The defining moments arrived on 43 minutes when Limerick rookie Matthew Fitzgerald upended Reuben Halloran on route to goal.
Following consultation with his umpire's referee Colm Lyons brandished a black card to the young defender. Shane Bennett rifled the resulting penalty to the net. Waterford outscored the visitors 1-04 to 0-03 during this 10 minute spell, which was effectively the difference at full-time.
While the home side enjoyed the benefit of the breeze in the opening half, it was point for point. Indeed the teams were level on eight different occasions in the opening half.
Halloran was scorer in chief for Waterford, unerring from placed balls but they did leave a couple of gilt-edged goal opportunities behind.
When Charlie Treen ghosted behind the Limerick defensive cover, debutant Matthew Fitzgerald recovered to block his goal effort at the expense of a 65.
Brian Lynch is tackled by Barry Nash
Halloran’s duly obliged to level the scores 0-05 each on the quarter hour.
Michael Kiely also just before the interval, caught a long delivery from Shane Bennett on the edge of the square but his one-handed effort was parried to safety by Nickie Quaid.
Shane O’Brien was impressive for the visitors hitting three points in the opening 35 minutes. However, Limerick suffered a blow when the influential Adam English had to retire injured just before the interval.
Late injury-time frees from Reuben Halloran nudged Waterford 0-10 to 0-09 ahead at the break.
Limerick on resumption spurned an early goal effort when Gearoid Hegarty’s pass to Donnacha Ó Dalaigh fell out over the endline with the goal gapping.
Then just moments later at the opposite end Halloran was felled when racing on goal earning the penalty with corner-back Fitzgerald also receiving a 10 minute spell on the sideline.
Shane Bennett’s bullet past Nickie Quaid had the rigging shaking at the Keane’s Road end. Waterford now led 1-11 to 0-10 with 44 minutes on the clock.
Gearoid Hegarty was particularly impressive hitting three fine point in the final quarter but Limerick never quite looked like winning this one.
The accurate free-taking of both Halloran and goalkeeper Billy Nolan kept Waterford just with their noses in front to full-time.
Waterford: Billy Nolan (0-02, 2f), Mairtín Power, Conor Prunty, Conor Keane, Iarlaith Daly, Mark Fitzgerald, Shane Bennett (1-02,1p), Brian Lynch (0-01), Darragh Lynch, Reuben Halloran (0-11, 10f, 1’65), Jamie Barron (0-01), Calum Lyons (0-01), Patrick Curran, Michael Kiely, Charlie Treen (0-03).
Subs: Carthach Daly for Conor Prunty (54'), James Power for Patrick Curran (58'), Sean Mackey for Charlie Treen (68').
Limerick: Nickie Quaid, Matthew Fitzgerald, Sean Finn, Barry Nash, Diarmuid Byrnes (0-03, 2f), Will O’Donoghue, Colin Coughlan, Adam English, Darragh O’Donovan, Gearoid Hegarty (0-03), Cian Lynch (0-01), Tom Morrissey, Donnacha Ó Dalaigh (0-01), Shane O’Brien (0-04), Aidan O’Connor (0-08, 6f).
Subs: Ethan Hurley for Adam English (33'), Paddy O’Donovan for Tom Morrissey and Hugh Flanagan for Donnacha Ó Dalaigh (56'), Joe Fitzgerald for Darragh O’Donovan and Oisin O Farrell for Shane O’Brien (62').
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
