Limerick agonisingly miss out on Phase 1 Munster minor final despite victory over Waterford

“A BIT of heartbreak”, reflected manager Mike Lenihan after Limerick's minor footballers were edged out on scoring difference from qualifying for the knockout phase of the Munster championship despite getting the better of Waterford on a 2-14 to 1-10 scoreline in Mick Neville Park on Monday evening.

Despite finishing with four points from their three group stage outings, Tipperary's last gasp penalty victory over Clare edged the Shannonsiders out of reaching the Phase 1 final on score difference.

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However, Limerick's season isn't done yet as they still have the All-Ireland 'C' championship to look forward to where they will be hoping to go one better than their second round defeat to Down last year.

And on this performance, Lenihan's charges certainly have the potential to show what they're made of as they shook off a shaky start against Waterford to dominate play with some fast, stylish and inventive football before taking the foot off the gas right at the end when they conceded the late goal that ended their hopes of going further in Munster.

In fact, the litany of what-might-have-beens doesn't end there. A few missed frees prevented them from building up a bigger lead by half-time and a penalty cannoning off the wrong side of the upright delayed their march to dominance until the final quarter.

However, once Limerick took over after an evenly-contested opening quarter, there was never any question of which side would prevail.

Waterford used their height advantage in the middle third to dominate the early kickouts and, after Tom Lynch kicked over a score  just from the wrong side of the two-point zone straight off from the throw-in, the sustained pressure led to Aaron Curran and Ronan O'Hara moving their lead out to three points.

However, matters changed once Limerick got their placings right, a fast break from deep saw Jamie Crowley take on the challenges to open the space and offloaded to his Monaleen clubmate Ben Kiely who rounded the challenge before drilling to the net.

Oisín Healy's follow-up point had the hosts in the lead. However. the Suirsiders recovered quickly for O'Hara and Lynch's pointed free to put them back in front coming up to the quarter mark.

However, after Ryan Shehan's equalising free and Oisin Hallahan's reply, Limerick were relieved to see Ronan Sullivan's speculative shot deflected back into play off the crossbar.

However, breaking quickly from that escape, Limerick full-forward Crowley collected to point on the turn and the score was followed by pointed frees from Sheehan and Crowley before O'Hara collected off the kickout to land a score and reduce the home team's lead to two points, 1-6 to 0-7,  at the break.

Limerick attacked from the restart but, after missing two chances, Waterford's Andrew Ryan struck on the burst at the other end to bring the margin back to the minimum.

However, that was enough to focus the hosts' attentions for Crowley, Aaron O'Kelly and Healy to rattle off a quickfire trio of scores. Indeed, it could have been bigger had Crowley, after spectacularly collecting a long delivery and being fouled rounding goalie and defender, not crashed his penalty effort off the butt of the left upright.

Three minutes later came compensation, the influential Crowley collecting a long Shane Gill pass to dance pass the challenge and fire home a goal of his own.

After O'Hara pointed in reply, Limerick stormed into the closing stages as a Sheehan two-pointer and his follow-up free put Limerick nine points to the good.

At that stage, the subs were being introduced and the intensity eased off before eight scoreless minutes ended with a Crowley free. However, Waterford found a clear path off the kickout for O'Hara to race through the defence and belt home a screamer of a goal on the run.

Ahern then followed with a pointed free before Jake Higgins waltzed through the open space at the other to finish the scoring for Limerick.

SCORERS: LIMERICK: Jamie Crowley 1-5 (0-4 frees), Ryan Sheehan 0-5 (1 2s, 3frees), Ben Kiely 1-0, Oisin Healy 0-2, Aaron O'Keeffe, Jake Higgins 0-1 each; WATERFORD: Ronan O'Hara 1-4, Tom Lynch 0-3 (2 frees), Aaron Curran, Oisín Hallahan, Andrew Ryan 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Jack Noonan (Dromcollogher-Broadford}; Matthew Cox (Ballybricken-Bohermore), Ronan Butler (Ahane), Amhlaoibh Bohane (Mungret-Saint Paul's), Aaron Murphy (Father Caseys), Markus Vang (Cappagh), Jake Higgins (Kildim0-Pallaskenry); Kealan Lonergan (Glin), Shane Gill (Ahane); Aaron O’Kelly (Father Caseys), Ryan Sheehan (Dromcollogher-Broadford), Oisín Healy (Saint Senans); Ben Kiely (Monaleen), Jamie Crowley (Monaleen), Eoin Williams (Monaleen). SUBS:  Paddy Ryan (Oola) for Eoin Williams (37 minutes), Darragh Moloney (Castlemahon) for Ben Kiely (50 minutes), Eoghan Crowley (Father Caseys) for Keelan Lonergan (52 minutes), James Browne (Father Caseys) for Matthew Cox (55 minutes), Ryan Downey (Ballylanders) for Aaron O'Kelly (57 minutes).

WATERFORD: Darragh Walsh (Dungarvan); Jesse Kiely (Rathgormack), Hugh Scanlan, Geraldines, Aglish), Senan Woods-Wyse (Saint Saviour's); Michael Barry (Michael McGraths, Tramore), Corey Lyons (Dungarvan), Luke Higgins (Dunhill); Andrew Ryan (The Nire), Ronan O'Hora (Kilgobnet); Aaron Curran (Stradbally), Eddie O'Reilly (Gaultier), Paul Bagnall (Michael McGraths, Tramore); Oisin Hallahan (Dungarvan), Tony Lynch (Rathgormack), Ronan Sullivan (Newtown). SUBS: Callum Royle (Brickey Rangers) for Paul Bagnall (50 minutes), Alan Pyne (Ballyduff Lower) for Hugh Scanlan (55 minutes), David Ryan (The Nire) for Luke Higgins (57 minutes), Ciarán Sullivan (Newtown) for Ronan O'Sullivan (57 minutes), Darragh Crotty (Rathgormack) for Senan Woods-Wyse (60 minutes).

REFEREE: Gary Twomey (Clare)