Enright leads Limerick IT to McGrath Cup semi-final

LIMERICK IT’S hard earned but deserved McGrath Cup victory over their Waterford counterparts under floodlights at Aglish last night has set up an all-Shannonside local derby semi-final next Saturday.

The students will relish having a crack off the county team, but while their overall performance in the defeat of Waterford IT was impressive, they will have to raise the bar even higher if they are to reach the final for the first time.

A superb individual display by wing forward Tommy Enright inspired them to victory, the Fr Casey’s (Abbeyfeale) clubman ending the game with an impressive 1-4 tally, all from play. His goal, the only one of the game, was clinically finished in the 42nd minute after outstanding work by substitute Chris Wallace and it finally killed off a brave Waterford IT challenge.

It was the losers who made the better start with an early brace of points from centre-back James Ryan. But with Michael McMahon driving them on from midfield, Limerick IT gradually got back into contention and were level by the end of the first quarter.

Finishing the half stronger, they led 0-5 to 0-4 at the break.

There was still nothing between the sides on the resumption but a purple patch for Limerick IT, which yielded three rapid points in as many minutes, gave them an advantage they would never surrender. The killer blow, however, was Enright’s 42nd minute goal, created by substitute Wallace, who proved a handful when he came on.

The subsequent loss of McMahon with a leg injury that makes him doubtful for the semi-final was a big blow to Limerick IT. It was the one major down side for the winners because until his enforced departure, the rangy Limerickman was the most dominant midfielder on view.

By now Waterford IT were relying on the great play of corner-forward Brian Hannon for their scores and the towering defensive play of James Ryan, and while Hannon obliged with a tally of five points it was still not enough to deny the winners the victory spoils.

Fittingly it was Enright who closed the scoring with the last of his four quality points.

Scorers: Limerick IT: T. Dunne (1-4); C. Kilroy(0-3); J. Kelleher(0-1), G. Scally (0-1), D. McCarthy(0-1).Waterford IT: B. Hannon (0-5); J. Ryan (0-1), C. O’Hara(0-1).

LIMERICK IT: C Ryan (Cork); G. Kearns (Kerry), D. Casey (Kerry), N. Kerrigan (Westmeath); T. Dunne (Tipperary), G. Lyons (Clare), W. Murphy (Cork); M. McMahon (Limerick), B. Jones (Tipperary); G. Scally (Offaly), D. McCarthy (Cork). T. Enright (Limerick); C. Kilroy (Galway), R. O’Sullivan (Kerry), J. Kelleher (Kerry).

Subs: M. Dowling (Limerick) for Murphy; C. Wallace (Kerry) for McMahon; P. Brennan (Wicklow) for McCarthy; E. Cummins (Waterford) for Kelleher.

WATERFORD IT: M. Walsh (Waterford); C. Kelly (Leitrim), K. Higgins (Offaly). G. O’Sullivan (Kerry); A. Lyons (Meath), J. Ryan (Limerick), C. O’Connor (Meath); F. O’Leary(Cork), J. Booth (Laois); G. Dunne (Offaly), J. O’Donnell (Leitrim), N. Lawlor (Laois); B. Hannon (Meath), C. O’Hara (Tipperary), T. Connors (Waterford).

Subs: C. McNally (Kildare) for Connors; M. Kearney (Cork) for Ryan.

Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).