Limerick minor hurlers suffer defeat to Waterford in Munster championship

LIMERICK minor hurlers suffered their second loss of the Munster Minor Championship, when coming out second best to a strong Waterford outfit on a 1-20 to 0-14 scoreline at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Friday night.

It leaves Limerick on the back-foot to make an impact on this year’s provincial campaign, having lost out to Cork by 10 points in their opening round robin fixture seven days earlier.

This Waterford success was in large thanks to Cormac Spain, of Ballygunner, who tallied 1-10, including 1-3 from play. His late goal ended any feint hope of a Limerick success.

Level six times in the opening half, Limerick manager Donal O’Grady and his backroom team would have been satisfied to head for the dressing rooms level, 0-8 each.

Having played against a strong breeze Limerick worked extremely hard to keep the Deise at bay, while also having scores of their own from Shane Waters, Paul Murphy and Cathal Dennehy.

Full-forward Killian Begley pointed, two but it was nip and tuck with no side stringing together more than two scores until the second-half.

For Waterford, Gearóid O’Shea joined Spain in arrowing over while for Limerick the direct play of centre-forward Rory Hanly caused issues for the home defence.

However, whether the home side got a new lease of life or Limerick lost their momentum, the second half belonged to the winners. Limerick struggled for primary possession and while the free count went against them, they quickly slipped behind.

The accurate and clever play from Spain saw him arrow over more scores, including two from play with Jamie Shanahan and Shane Power notching points.

The introduction of Gavin O’Brien, younger brother of senior star Shane, saw him on the scoresheet within a couple of minutes. The accurate Shane Waters also notched a free but it wasn’t enough.

With the clock on 56 minutes, David O’Keeffe was denied with a brave James Comerford save. A goal here could have set up a grandstand finish, but instead, his clubmate Waters settled for a point from the resultant 65.

Skilful and elusive, Spain was practically everywhere and he thundered home an effort that Waterford coach Paul Flynn would have been proud of to seal the result in the dying minutes. He set up the final score to round-up the victory for a fancied Waterford side.

Next up for Limerick is a trip to Thurles on Friday, April 18, before they host Clare to conclude the round robin series. Waterford, courtesy of a second win, head into their bye week, in a very strong position.

SCORERS: Waterford: Cormac Spain 1-13 (0-10 frees); Gearóid O’Shea 0-3; Jamie Shanahan, Shane Power 0-2 each. Limerick: Shane Waters 0-8 (0-7 frees; 0-1 ‘65); Paul Murphy, David O’Keeffe, Killian Begley, Rory Hanly, Cathal Dennehy, Gavin O’Brien 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: James Comerford (Ballygunner); Conor Lynch (Geraldines); Darragh Murphy (St. Mary’s East)  Darragh Keane (De La Salle); Bradley Penkert (Mount Sion), Hugo Quann (Lismore), Conor Power (Da La Salle); Gearóid O’Shea (St. Mollearn’s), Pierace Quann (Dungarvan); Eoin Burke (Roanmore), Jack Power (Ballygunner), Tommy Kennedy (Mount Sion); Cormac Spain (Ballygunner), Shane Power (De La Salle), Jamie Shanahan (Erin’s Own). Subs: Caoilinn Reville (Roanmore) for Kennedy (half-time); Aaron Walsh (Abbeyside/Ballinacourty) for Burke (38); Dylan Murphy (Roanmore) for P Quann (54).

LIMERICK: Marcus Murphy (Na Piarsaigh); Shane Carroll (Kildimo Pallaskenry), Evan Ryan (South Liberties), Jackie Dwane (Kilmallock); Sean Fitzgerald (Murroe Boher), Gavin Thompson (St. Kieran’s), Michael Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore); Eoin Hennessy (Patrickswell), David O’Keeffe (Na Piarsaigh); Danny Sheehna (Na Piarsaigh), Rory Hanly (Ballybricken/Bohermore), Paul Murphy (Castletown/Ballyagran); Shane Waters (Na Piarsaigh), Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Killian Begley (Mungret St. Paul’s). Subs: Gavin O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Hennessey (47); Ryan Foley (Patrickswell) for Begley (54); Paul Collins (Tournafulla) for Carroll (54); Kyle McCarthy (Glenroe) for Fitzgerald (61).

REFEREE: Niall Fahy (Cork).