Wasteful Limerick crash out of Munster U20HC with defeat to Waterford
MISSED CHANCE: Limerick's Hugh Flanagan clearing the sliotar against Waterford's Conor Lynch. Pic: Brendan Gleeson.
Limerick shot their way out of the Munster U20 Championship as they registered 19 wides against already eliminated Waterford to suffer a one-point defeat in their clash at the TUS Gaelic Grounds.
The victory is some consolation for James O’Connor’s Waterford, who exit the competition with three narrow losses and this slim win. It could have been so different for the Déise. Limerick will host Tipperary in the final round, with nothing but pride to be restored.
This was a case of one side missing too much and the other being more efficient up front. Just five wides for the visitors in contrast to that horror show of shooting from the Shannonsiders.
As well as those wides, there was saves from the keeper, shots short and even the post denied them on a night when they simply had to win.
Conor Tobin plundered the game’s opening goal as the clock ticked beyond four minutes. A surging run from Joe McDonnell saw him carry the ball from his own half. He handpassed to Ballygunner.
Two missed frees from keeper Alex Kearns from midway did little to lift the Treaty challenge – though the testing breeze made for difficult shooting. Tobin was quick to turn the loose Limerick full-back line and blast over for a point, though he would have fancied the goal.
From the next play, Limerick had their own goal and of similar nature to the one conceded. Conor Ryan carried from a long-way out, before feeding Eoin Brosnan who, having narrowly missed one earlier, made no mistake from close range.
By the end of the first quarter, the visitors led 1-6 to 1-2, with Mark Hartley their third scorer.
Limerick were struggling for fluency and even when they did arrow over two in a row through Robert O’Farrell and Hugh Flanagan, Waterford hit back within seconds – another from Hartley killed any momentum.
By the short whistle, Waterford led 1-10 to 1-5. Eight wides for Limerick were proving costly, particularly as they’d worked the ball well time and again to create a realistic shooting chance.
Waterford were much more economical, with just a trio of inaccurate efforts registered for a side playing in a similar style that had seen them fall just short in the three previous rounds.
Eoin Brosnan started the fightback with the opening score of the second period as the wind continued to blow towards the Clare End Terrace. Senior panellist Matthew Fitzgerald traded scores with David Comerford, while the same happened between Jack Cosgrove and Hugo Quann in a very open middle third.
A great double save from Kearns kept Limerick in this – first from Tobin and then from Ollie Fives. However, they registered a thirteenth wide on the counter attack.
Four-in-a-row from the Treaty, including a fine effort from sub-James Coughlan, brought this back to a three-point game 1-15 to 1-12 with a dozen minutes remaining.
A game levelling goal looked to have arrived on 53 minutes. Cosgrove spinning and firing a missile only for James Comerford to get his stick to the ball and deflect it clear.
However, with the game back to two thanks to a lineball from Fitzgerald, Tobin stepped on the gas and added two more.
Limerick replied with Patrick Kearney and then Flanagan but the game ended in a one point loss as Kearney’s late free inched wide to see the game end with a nineteenth wide.
A victory for Waterford but it was too little, too late for their Championship dreams.
H Flanagan 0-5 (3f); E Brosnan 1-2; Jack Cosgrove 0-3; M Fitzgerald 0-2 (1 s/l); R O’Farrell, D Gleeson, J Coughlan, D Ferland, P Kearney 0-1 each.
D Comerford 0-10 (0-6 f; 1 ‘65); C Tobin 1-3; M Hartley 0-2; H Quann, J Power, G O’Shea 0-1 each.
A Kearns (Na Piarsaigh); J Murray (Patrickswell), J Dwane (Kilmallock), S Duff (Mungret St. Paul’s); J Cosgrove (Ahane), E Richardson (Doon), M Fitzgerald (Monaleen); C Ryan (Ahane) (Capt), A O’Connell (Doon); J O’Connor (Ahane), D Gleeson (Adare), R O’Farrell (Kildimo Pallaskenry); D Ferland (Monaleen), H Flanagan (Garryspillane), E Brosnan (Na Piarsaigh).
J O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh) for Murray (40); J Coughlan (Ballybrown) for O’Connell (41); P Kearney (Adare) for Gleeson (44); C Dennehy (Glenroe) for Ryan (51); K Begley (Mungret St. Paul’s) for O’Connor (57).
J Comerford (Ballygunner) (JC); D Keane (De La Salle), C Lynch (Geraldines), T Ahern (Ballyduff Upper); B Penkert (Mount Sion), J McDonnell (Tallow), C O’Sullivan (Ballygunner) (JC); H Quann (Lismore), P Spelman (Fourmilewater); D Comerford (St. Molleran’s), J Power (Ballygunner), M Hartley (Ballygunner); G O’Shea (St. Molleran’s), C Tobin (Ballygunner), O Fives (Ballygunner).
G Power (Clonea) for O’Shea (49); T Kennedy (Mount Sion) for O’Sullivan (51); C Reville (Roanmore) for Fives (55); P Quann (Dungarvan) for Spellman (60).
John Bugler (Clare).
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