Waterford ease past Limerick to secure first win in over two years 

TWO YEAR WAIT: Joseph McDonnell, Waterford controlling the sliotar against Limerick. Pic: Brendan Gleeson

Munster MHC: Limerick 1-14 Waterford 4-12

Waterford secured their first Munster Minor Hurling win in over two years, as a two-goals in either half saw them comfortably defeat a Limerick side how are now out of the championship.

A place in the All-Ireland series was up for grabs and it’s the Déise who’ve taken it, with Limerick stranded due to the head-to-head loss, despite a clash with Tipperary to come.

First half-goals set the tone as they regularly poured through the Limerick rearguard.

It is a sixth defeat at U17 and U20 level so far in 2024 for Limerick who failed to start this game as required. Waterford, for their part, looked sharp, played direct and took their chances. It is a much needed boost for Waterford’s underage sides, who’ve found results in both age-groups hard to come by.

James O’Connor’s side certainly tided up their defence after coming off second best in some of their earlier clashes. They looked potent up front and weren’t slow in feeding a traditional looking inside three of Mark Hartley, Shane Power and Jack Power.

As early as two minutes, they had raised a green flag. A searing run from Jack Power saw him pass selflessly to De La Salle man Shane Power, who buried low for the opening score. The same player added a point on 14 with little possession for the Treaty.

The fight from Shane Dowling’s men relied heavily on the scoring touch of Patrick Kearney, who landed six first half frees, which went alongside three wides and a couple of efforts that fell short from his colleagues.

They got it back to a point by the quarter-mark but again the Déise poured replied with Hartley’s quick brace of points. There was a second goal, on 25 minutes, as Jack Power pulled the sliothar from the sky and with the defence all as see, he raced in and fired low beyond a hapless Cathal Dennehy.

The margin of 2-5 to 0-6 perhaps reflective of the individual quality shown by those in white and blue.

Limerick ended nearly 100 minutes without a score from play when Patrick Cagney fired over. They were sharper up front in the second half but their openness at the back cost th Two quick-fire yellows for half-time substitute, Ahane’s Conor Ryan, Limerick hopes in further peril, his eagerness in the challenge saw Ciaran O’Donovan produce a red card with 43 minutes played.

A total of 911 paid into see this clash and those who’d travelled from Waterford were left satisfied by the time their third goal arrived, again Shane Power the man at the end of a long-direct ball.

The boys in green didn’t much joy but their only goal arrived on 54 minutes, which perhaps showed they hadn’t thrown in the towel. A goal from Malachy McKenna was followed by a couple of long-rang frees from Jack Cosgrave, but they never got closer that four points and the winners kicked for home, ignoring their pour run of results to date.

Their final goal, after a lung-bursting run from wing-back Conor Power sealed the win which means at least one more day out for him and his teammates.

Scorers for Limerick: P Kearney 0-7 (0-6 frees); J Cosgrave 0-4 (0-3 frees); M McKenna 1-0; P Cagney, G Dorgan, J O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: S Power 2-3 (0-1 free); M Hartley 0-5 (0-3 frees); J Power 1-2; C Power 1-0; C Spain, T Kennedy 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: C Dennehy (Glenroe); C Ryan (Adare), D Dennehy (Glenroe), G Enright (Kilmallock); E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh), J Cosgrave (Ahane), P Murphy (Castletown/Ballyagran); P Cagney (Feohanagh/Castlemahon), E Maher (Monaleen); G Dorgan (Monagea), D Sheehan (Na Piarsaigh), J O’Connor (Ahane); J Fitzgerald (Bruff), D Hurley (Hospital/Herbertstown), P Kearney (Adare).

Subs: M McKenna (Pallasgreen) for Hurley (inj - 10); C Ryan (Ahane) for Sheehan (half-time); D Blackwell (Ahane) for Fitzgerald (half-time); E Richardson (Doon) for Brosnan (51) J O’Keeffe (Murroe Boher) for Dorgan (60).

WATERFORD: B Murphy (Tallow); A Furlong (Roanmore), J Twomey (Affane/Cappoqin/Tourin), T Corcoran (Mount Sion); C Power (De La Salle), J McDonnell (Tallow), O Fives (Ballygunner); T Kennedy (Mount Sion), Rory Jacob (Passage); G O’Shea (St. Molleran’s), C Reville (Roanmore), E Burke (Roanmore); M Hartley (Ballygunner), S Power (De La Salle), J Power (Ballygunner).

Subs: C Spain (Ballygunner) for Hartley (48); A Coughlan (Mount Sion) for Burke (50); J Shanahan (Erin’s Own) for Reville (53); B Cummins (Lismore) for Jacob (58).

Referee: Ciarán O’Donovan (Tipperary)