Resilient Limerick U20s battle back to secure thrilling draw with Waterford in Munster championship

“WE FELL way short of our standards in the first half but, fair dues to the lads, they brought off a great comeback to get the draw.”

Limerick U-20 hurling manager Evan Loftus was caught between satisfaction and frustration as his side followed up their opening round victory over Tipperary by being held to a share of the points after a 1-13 to 0-16 draw with Waterford at Cappoquin Logistics Fraher Field, Dungarvan on Wednesday evening.

At the half-time break, it was an outcome Loftus would have grabbed with both hands as his charges lost composure, touch and conviction when Waterford shot into an early lead and turned on the style to hold off Limerick's attempts at recovery.

Going into the final quarter, they were still making no impact on the gap when a somewhat fortunate goal changed the game. A storming finish placed victory in Limerick's sights with enough time still on the clock to achieve it.

However, in keeping with the nature of the game, Limerick missed more chances than their opponents to close out the win and all but clinch their place in the play-offs.

However, with home round robin games to come against Cork and Clare, Limerick are still in driver's seat to claim one of the three spots available in the knockout stages of the Munster U20 hurling championship.

And on this performance, it depends on which side of Limerick's nature turns up. They'll certainly need to impose themselves earlier on their opponents but, on the plus sides, they showed a resilience to pull themselves back into contention when all seemed lost.

Waterford started on fire, running at the Limerick defence to set up the shot or draw the foul.

Despite Limerick's Ruairí O'Connor replying to Mark Hartley's opening pointed free, a pair of Hartley placed balls sandwiching points on the run from Jack Twomey and Ben O'Sullivan powered Waterford into a lead of four.

The visitors finally put some meaningful pressure on their opponents once they steadied their half-back line and exchanges between Robert O'Farrell and Hartley's '65, Hugh Flanagan's and Hartley's frees, and O'Farrell and Twomey from play, looked to have made the play more competitive by the quarter mark.

However, Waterford then took off again as Joe McDonnell, Conor Tobin and Twomey stretched their advantage out to seven points.

Limerick looked to have found momentum when Donal Coughlan's point under pressure was followed by Flanagan's pointed free.

However, the Shannonsiders then missed a pair of frees. At the other end, Waterford also struggled with their finishing after Cillian Ryan pointed in reply.

The visitors had the final say of the first half with Flanagan's added time point which reduced their deficit to five points, 0-12 to 0-7.

The Déise restarted the game the stronger, tacking on Hartley's pointed free and Twomey's smashing point from a sideline cut to restore their advantage to seven points.

Back came Limerick, however, and O'Farrell replied with a point. Even that score was met by an excellent movement up the length of the field from the home side that ended with Pat Walsh's point on the run.

Coming up to the three-quarter mark, the home side looked well in control and were pressuring their opponents' heavy touch into turnovers.

However, just as it looked as if Limerick had run out of ideas, Mark O'Brien's 100-metre free, not long after he had come on as a substitute, fell from the sky into the small square and hopped past Alex Reade and into the net.

Limerick were suddenly right back in the contest.

Goalkeeper Fionn O'Brien denied O'Sullivan an instant goal in reply and Dara Ferland's follow-up point then reduced the gap to three points.

Limerick's momentum then stuttered on a few wrong options as Michael Morrissey replied with a point to ease the pressure on the Déise.

Back came a resilient Limerick side who lifted themselves again for O'Brien to point a '65' followed by a pair of frees to bring them back to within a point of their hosts.

With both sides' supporters now on their feet, Limerick's Seán Duff brought the sides level with a precious point. Both sides pushed for the winning score but, in the hectic seven minutes before John Bugler finally blew his whistle, four Limerick and two Waterford chances flashed wide of the posts as the game ended in a deadlock

SCORERS: LIMERICK: Mark O'Brien 1-3 (1-2 frees, 0-1 '65'), Hugh Flanagan (3 frees), Robert O'Farrell 0-3 each, Ruairí O'Connor, Donal Coughlan, Dara Ferland, Seán Duff 0-1 each; WATERFORD: Mark Hartley 0-6 (5 frees, 1 '65'), Jack Twomey 0-4 ( 1 sideline cut), Ben O'Sullivan, Joe McDonnell, Conor Tobin. Cillian Ryan, Pat Walsh, Michael Morrissey 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Fionn O'Brien (Bruree); John Murray (Patrickswell), Sean Casey (Bruff), Dan Scully (Dromin-Athlacca); Jack Cosgrave (Ahane), Aidan O'Connell (Doon), Darragh Langan (Monaleen); Matthew Fitzgerald (Monaleen), James Finn (Na Piarsaigh); Robert O'Farrell (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Hugh Flanagan (Garryspillane), Donal Coughlan (Doon); Tadgh Boddy (Dromin-Athlacca), Ruairi O'Connor (Feenagh-Kilmeedy), Fintan Fitzgerald (Captain, Mungret St Paul's). SUBS: Dara Ferland (Monaleen) for Tadhg Boddy (20 mins), Mark O'Brien (Mungret-St Paul's) for Donal Coughlan (37 mins), Seán Duff (Mungret-St Paul's) for James Finn (40 mins), Barry Adams (Ballybrown) for Ruairí O'Connor (47 mins), Owen Meany (Bruff) for Darragh Langan (injured, 62 mins).

WATERFORD: Alex Reade (Ballyduff Lower); Daniel Lalor (De La Salle), Fiachra Cooney (Ballygunner), Conor Keane (De La Salle); Cillian Ryan (Brickey Rangers), Aaron O'Neill (Ballygunner), Seán Mackey (Fenor); Joe McDonnell (Tallow), Evan Spellman (Fourmilewater); Jack Twomey (De La Salle), Mark Hartley (Ballygunner), Cormac Deevey (Brickey Rangers); Ben O'Sullivan (Clashmore), Pat Walsh (Fourmilewater), Conor Tobin (Ballygunner). SUBS: Michael Morrissey (Fourmilewater) for Cormac Deevey (39 mins), Brian Callaghan (Abbeyside-Ballinacourty) for Joe McDonnell (55 mins), Gearóid Power (Clashmore) for Ben O'Sullivan (55 mins), Peter Cummins (Brickey Rangers for Pat Walsh (60 mins).

REFEREE: John Bugler (Clare).