Limerick book spot in Munster senior hurling final after 10-point win over Waterford

LIMERICK Senior hurlers have booked their place in the Munster Senior Hurling Final after a resounding 0-30 to 2-14 victory over Waterford this afternoon in the TUS Gaelic Grounds in the final group game of the round robin campaign. 

This will be the Treaty sides sixth consecutive Munster Final which is set to to take place on Sunday, June 9 at 4pm in FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles against Clare, who beat Tipperary today as well. John Kiely's men went into cruise control in the second-half scoring 16-points compared to Waterford's eight. 

The Déise side got onto the scoreboard first though with a Stephen Bennett free after a minute of play. This point was answered by a fabulous long-range effort from Diarmaid Byrnes to settle the Limerick team. 

Points flowed after this effort with Limerick's backs showing their scoring talents with points from Barry Nash and Kyle Hayes as Aaron Gillane popped over a free to leave them 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after eight minutes. During this opening quarter the current All-Ireland champions clocked up seven wides. 

These wides aided Waterford's come back as Davy Fitzgerald's side leveled the game with a point from play from Paddy Leavey and another Stephen Bennett free.

Waterford regained their lead once again as Bennett stepped up from the 45 yard-line and drove the sliothar low and hard ending up in the back of Limerick's net leaving them 1-4 to 0-4 ahead after 16 minutes. 

The goal could have damped the Limerick's sides spirits but had the opposite effect as quick points from Cathal O'Neill, substitute Shane O'Brien and Tom Morrisey gave the Treaty men the lead again, 0-11 to 1-5.

Kyle Hayes' charging runs up the sideline benefitted well for the home side as the wing back slotted over three vital points for his side. Waterford's final score of the half came from another Bennett free. Despite registering 14 wides in the first-half it remained Limerick ahead at the break 0-14 to 1-6. 

Waterford got out of the blocks quickly after half-time with two vital scores from Calum Lyons and Kevin Mahony as Limerick replied with two points of their own from play. 

Fitzgerald's men were not deterred by the Limerick scores from Cathal O'Neill and Tom Morrissey and after 46 minutes a bounced back ball found Shane Bennett who made no mistake with the second shot at goal to leave Limerick only four-points ahead 0-19 to 2-9. 

Like many instances in the game Waterford battled back at Limerick's lead with Calum Lyons finding his range slotting over his second point while subs Patrick Fitzgerald added his name to the tally to go only two-points behind after 58 minutes of play. 

The life went out of the game slightly as Shane O'Brien popped over a beautiful score over his opposite shoulder to keep the scoreboard ticking over for Limerick. 

A fantastic display of defence from the Shannonsiders quietened the visitors win the final 10 minutes of the game as Conor Boylan and O'Brien linked up to shoot a great score. 

Waterford's scoring first score for over 12 minutes came from a Dessie Hutchinson free as Limerick went into cruise control in the closing stages of the game. 

SCORERS LIMERICK: Aaron Gillane 0-7 (0-7 frees),Tom Morrissey 0-4, Kyle Hayes 0-3, Shane O'Brien 0-3, Cathal O’Neill 0-2, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-2 (0-1 free), Gearoid Hegarty 0-2, Barry Nash, David Reidy, William O’Donoghue, Conor Boylan, Cian Lynch, Adam English 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Stephen Bennett 1-5 (1-4 frees), Shane Bennett 1-0,  Dessie Hutchinson 0-2 (0-1 free), Kevin Mahony 0-2, Calum Lyons 0-2, Jack Prendergast, Paddy Leavey, Patrick Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid (Effin), Mike Casey (Na Piarsaigh), Dan Morrissey (Ahane), Barry Nash (South Liberties), Diarmaid Byrnes (Patrickswell), Declan Hannon (C) (Adare), Kyle Hayes (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), William O’Donoghue (Na Piarsaigh), Cathal O’Neill (Crecora/Manister), Gearoid Hegarty (St. Patrick’s), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Aaron Gillane (Patrickswell), Seamus Flanagan (Feohanagh/Castlemahon), David Reidy (Dromin/Athlacca)

SUBS: Shane O'Brien (Kilmallock) for S Flanagan (19 minutes), Adam English (Doon) for T Morrissey (54 minutes), Fergal O’Connor (Effin) for M Casey (60 minutes), Conor Boylan (Na Piarsaigh) for D Reidy (61 minutes), Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (Monaleen) for A Gillane (70 minutes)

WATERFORD: Shaun O'Brien, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly, Ian Kenny, Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg De Búrca, Calum Lyons, Paddy Leavey, Jamie Barron, Shane Bennett, Jack Prendergast, Neil Montgomery, Dessie Hutchinson, Stephen Bennett, Kevin Mahony

SUBS: Michael Kiely for N Montgomery (Half-Time), Patrick Fitzgerald for J Barron (45 minutes), Padraig Fitzgerald for S Bennett (55 minutes), Kieran Bennett for S Bennett (64 minutes), Jack Fagan for J Prendergast (67 minutes)

REFEREE: Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)