‘Missed chances cost us dear’

DEFIANT losing manager Richie Bennis refused to accept that this year’s Liam MacCarthy is now beyond Limerick’s reach.

The Limerick manager argued that with 10 minutes to go his side were still in with a realistic chance of victory, but accepted that once the second Waterford goal went in it all fell apart for the Shannonsiders.

“At this level you have to take your chances. We had two early in the first half for goals, which would have given us a nice cushion, but they didn’t go in and that proved extremely costly,” said Bennis.

“In all honestly Waterford were not nine points a better team than us.

“It was nip and tuck all through with neither side unable to pull away. Our lads hurled well and I cannot fault them for effort, but we must be clinical up front if we are to win at this level.

“With 10 minutes to go it was anyone’s game. We had them under the cosh,’’ Bennis said.

“But as so often happens you don’t always get what you expect. Waterford slipped in for two goals against the run of play and they were the decisive scores. We needed the win more than they did, but they got it and the best of luck to them.

“You have to remember that Waterford are the league champions and success breeds success. They have been around a while now and have developed the knack of winning. We must do that to be successful.’’

Andrew O’Shaughnessy said it was a massive blow for him and his colleagues not to have won win the title.

“It was a classic example of how quick a game of hurling can turn. We were a point in front, then two and all of a sudden we were found ourselves five down. It’s difficult to put a finger on how it went away from us.

We’ll have to develop a killer instinct if we are to be a successful team, that’s the bottom line.

“Maybe cuteness and hurling know-how; knowing when to pass the ball, when to keep possession of it and take your scores were the differences between the teams."