A first half goal from Seamus Flanagan helped fourteen man Limerick to a hard fought win over Waterford in the first round of the Munster championship at a sunny Semple Stadium (1-18 to 0-19).
The Shannonsiders recovered from the second half dismissal of 2020 Hurler of the Year Gearoid Hegarty to record their seventh successive victory over the Déise in championship hurling. Aaron Gillane got seven points while Diarmaid Byrnes bagged three. In front of 20,267 fans, the All Ireland champions survived seven dramatic minutes of injury time.
Stephen Bennett shot twelve points (ten frees) for Waterford and Dessie Hutcinson delivered three from play but again they came up short against John Kiely's side. Thirteen wides (nine in the second half) proved costly.
Limerick led 5-1 after ten minutes with Aaron Gillane, Tom Morrissey, Gearoid Hegarty and Peter Casey all on target. Goalkeeper Nickie Quaid smothered a shot from Jack Prendergast after a Dessie Hutchinson cross. Hutchinson hit Waterford's first point from play on the quarter hour mark. The Shannonsiders then lost captain Declan Hannon to injury.
Despite this setback, John Kiely's team moved 8-2 up as Diarmaid Byrnes, Peter Casey and Seamus Flanagan raised white flags. On 21 minutes, Gillane found Flanagan and he poked the ball around Billy Nolan and flicked the ball to the unguarded net (1-8 to 0-3). It was a double whammy for Davy Fitzgerald's side as number six Tadhg De Burca was carried off injured.
The Déise recovered and reduced the deficit to four by the break. Stephen Bennett finished the half with eight points (seven frees) while Jamie Barron sent over one in injury time. At the other end, Billy Nolan deflected a Gearoid Hegarty shot over the bar and Byrnes belted over his second free as Limerick went in 1-11 to 0-10 ahead. Referee Liam Gordon issued six first half yellow cards including one for a Limerick hurley carrier.
The underdogs closed the margin to a point within five minutes of the restart. Bennett blasted over two more frees while Hutchinson also split the posts from the New Stand sideline. Six unanswered points for Waterford. A Gillane free broke the sequence.
On 44 minutes, Gilliane was fouled for a penalty. The number thirteen took it himself but Billy Nolan got down low to save. With 47 minutes on the clock, Gearoid Hegarty was dismissed on a second yellow after a high challenge on Conor Gleeson. After a five minute stoppage, Tom Morrissey pointed for the All Ireland champions. Gillane then missed a free.
Like the league final, Limerick corner back Barry Nash ventured up the field and sent the ball over to the delight of the Limerick support. Two more from Gillane made it a six point game (1-16 to 0-13).
Waterford stayed in the hunt as Patrick Fitzgerald made an instant impression. He scored a point and set up another for Hutchinson to leave just a goal in it with six minutes to play.
Gillane and Conor Gleeson traded singles as seven minutes added time was signalled. Billy Nolan and Padraig Fitzgerald denied Gillane a goal but Limerick worked the ball out and Byrnes struck his third point. Bennett and substitute Austin Gleeson worked the umpires in injury time. In the 76th minute, Gleeson charged through the middle and passed to Patrick Fitzgerald but he volleyed right and wide. A let off for Limerick.
Scorers for Limerick: A Gillane 0-7 (5fs), S Flanagan 1-1, D Byrnes 0-3 (2fs), T Morrissey, G Hegarty, P Casey 0-2 each, B Nash 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: S Bennett 0-12 (10fs), D Hutchinson 0-3, C Gleeson, J Barron, Patrick Fitzgerald, A Gleeson 0-1 each.
Limerick: N Quaid; S Finn, D Morrissey, B Nash; D Byrnes, D Hannon, K Hayes; D O'Donovan, W O'Donoghue; G Hegarty, C Lynch, T Morrissey; A Gillane, S Flanagan, P Casey.
Subs: M Casey for Hannon (15), C O'Neill for Flanagan (60), D Reidy for O'Donoghue (68), C Boylan for Casey (73).
Waterford: B Nolan; C Gleeson, C Prunty, M Fitzgerald; J Fagan, C Lyons, D Lyons; J Barron, N Montgomery; S Bennett, T De Burca, C Dunford; M Kiely, D Hutchinson, J Prendergast.
Subs: T Barron for De Burca (23), A Gleeson for Dunford (51), Patrick Fitzgerald for Prendergast (61), Padraig Fitzgerald for Montgomery (61).
Referee: L Gordon (Galway)
