Waterford triumph after late late rally

Waterford 2-11, Limerick 2-9

One of the heroes of that matchwinning late rally was former senior star Sean Daly who grabbed two points, while Niall Power’s proved himself to be something of a super sub with his brace of equally well taken points wrapped up the Deise win.

Although Michael Clancy pointed Limerick into a fourth minute lead, Waterford were in front six minutes later when Gary Hurney set up Anthony Kirwan for a sweetly struck.

From Donal O’Grady’s 65 in the 18th minute David Clancy found the Waterford net. A were now enjoying the better of matters territorially and after Alan O’Connor’s point edged Limerick in front by the minimum Waterford were rescued in a major way by Niall O’Donnell who managed to divert Tony O’Connor’s effort around the post for a 65 which O’Grady converted.

The Shannonsiders went in at the interval break leading 1-5 to 1-2.

A Tom McLoughlin point stretched the Limerick lead within two minutes of the restart before Waterford grabbed their second goal through Daly when he lashed a grounder to the net from fifteen metres.

Again Limerick looked to have regained the initiative when substitute Pakie Sheehan and the Clancys pointed.

Waterford suddenly took the semi final by the scruff of the neck, assumed decisive control virtually right through the field, and pounded a Limerick defence which creaked under the pressure. Points from Kenny Stafford (free), a delightful one from a Tony Reade sideline, and a fabulous one from play by Niall Dunphy brought them level with a minute of normal time remaining.

They continued to pile on the agony for Limerick as Daly edged them in front and Dunphy and Anthony Kirwan put a goal daylight between them with further points. David Clancy looked to have thrown Limerick a dramatic last gasp lifeline when his 20 metre drive caught Landers out for the only time in the game.

However, with a replay looming Waterford found the extra reserves with Stafford pointing a free and Daly doing likewise from play to clinch their narrow but deserved victory.

Scorers for Waterford; S. Daly(1-3); Anthony Kirwan(1-1); K. Stafford (0-3); t. Reade (0-2); N. Dunphy (0-2).

Limerick: D. Clancy (2-1); M. Clancy (0-2); N. O’Riordan (0-2);A. O’Connor, D. O’Grady, T. McLoughlin, P.Sheehan (0-1) each

WATERFORD: B. Landers; N. O’Donnell. S. Cullinane. S. Kearney; J. Cleere. J. O’Connor. C. Kehoe; K. Stafford. Andrew Kirwan; G. Hurney. Anthony Kirwan. T. Reade; M. O’Sullivan. S. Daly. D. Howard.

Subs: S. Barron for Andrew Kirwan; D. Wilkinson for O’Sullivan; N. Dunphy for Hurney.

LIMERICK: P.Horgan J.Hourigan. D. Moynihan. P. Kennedy; L. Murphy. G. O’Leary. D.O’Grady; N. O’Riordan. T. McLoughlin; M. Clancy. C. Moriarty. A. O’Connor; P. Neenan. D.Clancy. T. O’Connor.

Sub: P. Sheehan for Neenan; E. Murphy for Sheehan.

Referee: Michael Cahill, Tipperary.