Waterford 1-20

Limerick 0-14

A superb second half display from the Waterford minor hurlers saw them book their place in the All-Ireland series as they recorded back to back Munster successes courtesy of a 1-20 to 0-14 against a dogged Limerick side at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field.

The sides were level on 0-8 apiece at the break, but a superb second period saw a Cormac Spain-inspired Waterford plough on to become the first Déise side to win two Munster Championship games in the same season in seven years.

There was little to separate the sides in the opening 40 minutes, as they were level nine times in total – but a clinical last 20 minutes from the home side proved the ultimate difference.

An early score from Shane Waters and a fine point from the lively Paul Murphy saw Limerick go two in front early on, before Spain opened his account, the first of a whopping 1-14 on the night for the Ballygunner starlet.

David O’Keeffe knocked over another for the visitors, but efforts from Spain and the impressive Jamie Shanahan soon had it 0-3 apiece.

Killian Begley and the excellent Gearoid O’Shea then traded scores before Spain fired Waterford in front for the first time on 11 minutes when found by a superb ball from Hugo Quann.

Waters and Spain again went blow-for-blow via dead balls, before Rory Hanly got in on the act. O’Shea was looking a dangerous outlet for the Déise and the St. Molleran’s man was soon on target with his second. Two frees from Waters and another from Spain made it 0-8 apiece at half time and all to play for after the interval – and Limerick certainly would’ve been the happier side.

Whatever James O’Connor said to his players in those few minutes, it worked an absolute treat as Waterford looked a different team come the sound of Niall Fahy’s second-half whistle.

A great point from the talismanic Spain moved Waterford in front before Cathal Dennehy replied with a well-worked score for Limerick. An expertly-taken free from Na Piarsaigh man Waters had Limerick 0-10 to 0-9 ahead but Waterford then hit a purple match – notching five of the next six scores.

Spain produced one of the scores of the match on 39 minutes when found in the corner and turning Jackie Dwane before gliding the sliotar over the bar with consummate ease from the tightest of angles – the score drawing rapturous applause from a seismic home crowd in Dungarvan.

The effort seemed to rouse and rally the Waterford troops as Jamie Shanahan soon turned well to point his second and Waterford’s eleventh of the evening to move them ahead. Waters responded with another free but the home side soon entered a lead that they would never again relinquish.

A flurry of four expertly taken frees from the stick of Spain saw Waterford move four points ahead with about fifteen minutes remaining – as the sense that a goal could prove crucial became all the more palpable.

A seventh point from Waters did little to momentarily stem the tide for a Limerick side beginning to run out of time – as a determined Waterford were first to every ball – the defensive heroics of Conor Lynch, Bradley Penkert and Jack Power particularly catching the eye.

Power soon turned provider for his twin brother Shane – and when he raised a white flag, you began to think Waterford were finding their groove at just the right time.

Substitute Gavin O’Brien added a reminder that all was not lost from a Limerick perspective, but Spain again emphasized the value of a good free taker as he knocked over another three scores in quick succession to push Waterford’s advantage out to six points approaching the final five minutes of normal time.

Limerick needed something to spark them into life and something fast – and it very nearly arrived on 58 minutes – as they moved the sliotar excellently in tight pockets around the area before David O’Keeffe unleashed a low drive toward goal, but captain James Comerford was on hand to produce a superb save.

Waters slotted over the requisite ’65 – but Comerford’s call to action seemed certain to have secured the two points on offer for Waterford. If it wasn’t sure already, who better than the simply outstanding Cormac Spain to seal it – as he was found off the shoulder marauding down the left hand side and smacked a rasping effort into the far top right corner to secure victory on 59 minutes with the game’s only goal.

A quickly taken free from Spain to O’Shea for his third score was the cherry atop the icing atop the cake – as the Déise now turn their attentions to Cork, knowing a place in the provincial final is on offer.

Manager James O’Connor said: “We were chasing shadows in the first half but there were harsh words in the second half – it registered, and we just looked like a different team. For this team to play well, we must play at a high tempo. We play at 100 miles an hour – and when we do that, we play well – and we can win.”

First time in 2,491 days (10 June 2018) that a Waterford team has won two Munster Championship matches in the same season. pic.twitter.com/w84jAUykOl

— Jordan Norris (@jordannorris98) April 4, 2025

“We’ve two games left, if we win one of them – we’re in a Munster final, we believe we can get there but we have to go out and do this all over again.”

Waterford: James Comerford; Conor Lynch, Darragh Murphy, Darragh Keane; Bradley Penkert, Hugo Quann, Conor Power; Gearoid O’Shea, Pierce Quann; Eoin Burke, Jack Power, Tommy Kennedy; Cormac Spain, Shane Power, Jamie Shanahan.

Subs: Caoilinn Reville for Tommy Kennedy (HT); Dylan Murphy for Pierce Quann (53); Aaron Walsh for Eoin Burke (57)

Scorers: Cormac Spain (1-14; 0-11f); Gearoid O’Shea (0-03); Jamie Shanahan (0-02); Shane Power (0-01)

Limerick: Marcus Murphy; Shane Carroll, Evan Ryan, Jackie Dwane; Sean Fitzgerald, Gavin Thompson, Michael Hanly; Eoin Hennessy, David O’Keeffe; Danny Sheehan, Rory Hanly, Paul Murphy; Shane Waters, Cathal Dennehy, Killian Begley.

Subs: Gavin O’Brien for Eoin Hennessy (46); Ryan Foley for Killian Begley (53); Kyle McCarthy for Sean Fitzgerald (60)

Scorers: Shane Waters (0-08; 0-07f; 0-01 ’65); Cathal Dennehy, Paul Murphy, Rory Hanly, Gavin O’Brien, Killan Begley and David O’Keeffe (0-01 each)

Referee: Niall Fahy (Cork)

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