O’Shaughnessy leads the way

Limerick 2-13 Waterford 2-9

Such is the confidence of O’Shaughnessy that he had the nerve to go for goal from two 20 metre frees and on each occasion found the net to deny Waterford who made a major contribution to a splendid contest.

It was just as well the Limerick captain scored those precious goals because, for long periods, they played second fiddle to a committed Waterford side who will rue their 13 wides.

However, the experienced gained from previous campaigns stood to Limerick and, apart from O’Shaughnessy’s contribution, they were grateful for the excellence of Paudie O’Dwyer, Niall Moran, Eoin Kelly and Patrick Kirby.

The champions made the livelier start when three former St. Colman’s players Maurice O’Brien, Patrick Kirby and O’Shaughnessy all combined to put the latter through, but this shot came back off the upright to Eoin Kelly who pointed.

Both defences were on top, with Paudie O’Dwyer and Maurice O’Brien to the fore for Limerick and Denis Coffey and Kenny Stafford on top for Waterford. As a result, scores were at a premium and the sides were tied at 0-2 a piece after 10 minutes.

With the counties having met twice at senior level over the last 10 days and players from both teams involved, a number of personal duals were fought out which delighted the 3,500 crowd. Eoin Kelly on Maurice O’Brien and Niall Moran on Michael Walsh were two in particular and it would be fair to say they broke even over the hour.

The dominance of Eoin Kelly and Paul O’Brien combined to give Waterford a grip and after Kelly rifled over three points in a row the visitors rocked the champions with a goal in the 25th minute when a long free by Kelly dropped invitingly for Sean Ryan and the Waterford full-forward knocked it home to give his side a 1-5 to 0-3 lead which was about right, given the dominance they enjoyed.Limerick struck back strongly and when Andrew O’Shaughnessy blasted a 30 metre free to the net in injury time Waterford’s half-time lead was a mere two points, 1-5 to 1-3, and it had to be said it was not a true reflection of their overall superiority.

Limerick resumed the second half with Eoin Foley back in defence on Eoin Kelly and Niall Moran on the 40 but Kelly continued to rule the roost and they forged three points clear after 40 minutes as the champions’ titles began to totter. However, Foley finally began to negate the threat of Kelly and with Maurice O’Brien thundering into the game at wing-back, Limerick showed just why they are masters at this level. A succession of points had them level by the end of the third quarter and after Patrick Kirby gave them the lead, it all finally began to go Limerick’s way.

O’Shaughnessy who had been kept in a vice-like grip for most of the match by outstanding full-back William Kiely lined up a 20 metre free and urged on by the home crowd rattled the net for a second time to give his side a 2-11 to 1-9 lead with five minutes to go.

Waterford refused to give it up, however, and were thrown a lifeline when substitute Thomas Kearney beat Timmy Houlihan from close range but it was very much a case of too little too late and O’Shaughnessy ensured the champions remain on course for a fourth successive title with the insurance point on the stroke of full-time.

Scorers - Limerick: A. O’Shaughnessy (2-2, 2-01 frees), P. Kirby (0-3 frees), E. Foley, N. Moran, B. Murray (0-2 each), M. O’Brien, T. Carmody (0-1 each).

Waterford: E. Kelly (0-5, 0-2 frees, 0-1 65), S. Ryan (1-1), T. Kearney (1-0), P. O’Brien (0-2), S. Walsh (0-1).

LIMERICK: T. Houlihan, J. O’Connor, M. Clifford, D. McCarthy, G. Heagney, P. O’Dwyer, M. O’Brien, N. Moran, R. Hayes, P. Tobin, E. Foley, B. Murray, B. Geoghegan, A. O’Shaughnessy, P. Kirby, Subs: T. Carmody for Tobin, A. O’Connor for Geoghegan.

WATERFORD: I. O’Regan, S. Kearney, W. Kiely, D. Coffey, M. Mears, A. Kearney, K. Stafford, M. Frisby, M. Walsh, E. Kelly, E. Rockett, C. Morrissey, P. O’Brien, S. Ryan, S. Walsh, Subs: I. Power for Frisby, G. Quinlan for Morrissey, T. Kearney for A. Kearney

Referee: G. Harrington (Cork).