Impressive Limerick see off Waterford to secure crucial win in Munster senior hurling championship

CHAMPIONS Limerick secured the first win of their Munster senior hurling championship round robin campaign with a convincing 0-28 to 0-22 victory over Waterford in front a sun-drenched attendance of 12,101 at Walsh Park on Saturday evening.

Limerick, seeking an unprecedented seventh Munster senior hurling title in a row, led their hosts 0-15 to 0-10 at half-time.

John Kiely's charges, who looked the more likely winners throughout, continued to hold the upperhand in the second period, recording an impressive six point success in the end.

READ MORE: WATCH: Live pre-match analysis from Walsh Park as Limerick face Waterford in Munster Hurling Championship

There was much to admire in Limerick's display, the provincial champions hurling with a much greater degree of fluency and sharpness than they had displayed in their opening outing.

Limerick also brought a huge energy all over the pitch, their huge workrate will no doubt have pleased their management team. 

The Shannonsiders' breathless intensity proved too much for a Waterford side which were playing their second championship fixture in the space of six days.

Kyle Hayes, who was deployed at centre half-back rather than centre half forward for this game, turned in a dominant display all through for the winners, using his power, pace and athleticism to telling effect. 

Cian Lynch was awarded the Man of the Match accolade, while the likes of Barry Nash, Tom Morrissey, Adam English, Aaron Gillane, Mike Casey and Shane O'Brien also caught the eye in an impressive team performance. 

The Limerick management team will also be pleased by the impressive impact their substitutions made to this important win.

A significant total of 22 points from the winners tally of 28 points came from open play, while 10 different players contributed score for Limerick. Opponents Waterford scored 12 points from play over the 70 minutes, with 10 of their points coming from placed balls. 

Limerick have  now won their last nine championship games against the Deise, the Shannonsiders last defeat in the fixture was a one-point loss in the 2011 Munster semi-final.

WATCH NEXT: WATCH: Limerick manager John Kiely reflects on Munster Championship victory over Waterford

Next up for Limerick, who now have three points from their opening two round robin fixtures, is a home fixture against Cork on Sunday, May 18 at the TUS Gaelic Grounds, 4pm.

For Saturday evening's trip to the South East, Limerick made two changes to the team that drew with Tipperary in Round 1 as Sean Finn and Dan Morrissey came into the defence in place of Barry Murphy and Colin Coughlan.

Opponents Waterford made just one change to the team that defeated Clare six days earlier as Patrick Fitzgerald came into the starting XV in place of Kieran Bennett. That saw a positional switch with Jamie Barron moving from centre-forward to midfield, Stephen Bennett named at centre-forward, and Fitzgerald in the corner.

On a perfect evening for a game, Limerick came roaring out of the blocks. It was evident from the throw-in that the Shannonsiders had learned a great deal in the two weeks since their drawn opening round encounter with Tipperary.

Limerick were two points to the good inside the opening 90 seconds with scores from Diarmaid Byrnes and Shane O'Brien.

The visitors use of possession was hugely impressive as they moved the ball at pace creating overlaps which they utilised to telling effect.

Limerick raced 0-7 to 0-2 in front by the 10th minute as points followed from the influential Cian Lynch, Barry Nash, Adam English and the free-running Tom Morrissey.

Waterford, six days on from their opening round victory over Clare, were being outplayed, but stayed in the contest, with points from Stephen Bennett, free, and Jack Prendergast on 14 minutes to get within two of their visitors, 0-5 to 0-7.

With their confidence levels rising and their gameplan working well, Limerick stretched clear, 0-10 to 0-5, with a run of three unanswered points from Aaron Gillane, two frees, and another from Man of the Match Lynch.

Limerick replaced wing back Byrnes, who had earlier picked up a yellow card, with Ballybrown's Colin Coughlan on 19 minutes.
The holders camp within a whisker of netting the first goal of the game on the 21st minute when the impressive Shane O'Brien latched onto Tom Morrissey's long delivery. However, the Kilmallock man's blast for a goal came crashing back off an upright before being cleared.

Despite the near miss, Limerick pressed on and points from Gillane, free, and Tom Morrissey, who scored three from play in the opening half, had the Shannonsiders 0-12 to 0-6 in front.

Limerick's lead was five at the break as Morrissey and Gillane struck over the last two scores of the half after Waterford had closed to within three points after 33 minutes.

Limerick were on the wrong side of the free count in the opening half, an aspect of the game which frustrated their travelling support, who felt the home side were finding it easier to be awarded frees. 

Waterford started the second half impressively and drew within two points of their rivals, 0-14 to 0-16, after 42 minutes when topscorer Shane Bennett converted a 42nd minute '65.

However, it was to be as close as Waterford would get to their opponents as Limerick succeeded in keeping them at arms' length.

A run of four scores without reply from Gillane, with two, including a free, English and O'Brien stretched their advantage out to six points after 47 minutes.

The tide had turned in the Shannonsiders' favour.

You felt it was going to be Limerick's evening for sure in the 54th minute when Gearoid Hegarty landed a terrific score, the savage work rate displayed by three or four Limerick players which forced a crucial turnover in the lead up to the point brought a deafening roar from the visiting supporters in the covered stand. They were roaring their approval.

Limerick never looked like being in any danger of losing the contest in the final quarter.

SCORERS: Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-9 (0-6 frees, 2 '65s); Billy Nolan (frees), Mark Fitzgerald, Jamie Barron 0-2 each; Patrick Fitzgerald, Jack Prendergast, Dessie Hutchinson, Kevin Mahony, Mikey Kiely, Shane Bennett, Gavin Fives 0-1 each. Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-9 (0-6 frees); Shane O’Brien 0-4; Tom Morrissey, Adam English, Cian Lynch 0-3 each; Barry Nash 0-2; Diarmaid Byrnes, Gearoid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, Cathal O’Neill 0-1 each.

WATERFORD: Billy Nolan; Ian Kenny, Conor Prunty, Iarlaith Daly; Mark Fitzgerald, Tadhg de Burca, Paddy Leavey; Darragh Lyons, Jamie Barron; Jack Prendergast, Stephen Bennett, Patrick Curran; Kevin Mahony, Dessie Hutchinson, Patrick Fitzgerald. Subs: Michael Kiely for Curran (25 mins), Shane Bennett for Fitzgerald (half-time), Gavin Fives for Lyons (45 mins), Padraig Fitzgerald for Mahony (50 mins), Austin Gleeson for Jamie Barron (65 mins).

LIMERICK: Nickie Quaid; Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Mike Casey; Diarmaid Byrnes, Kyle Hayes, Barry Nash; Adam English, William O'Donoghue; Gearóid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey; Aaron Gillane, Shane O’Brien, David Reidy. Subs: Colin Coughlan for Byrnes (19 mins), Cathal O'Neill for O'Donoghue (49 mins), Aidan O'Connor for Morrissey (60 mins), Darragh O'Donovan for English (65 mins), Donnacha O'Dalaigh for O'Brien (69 mins).

REFEREE: Colm Lyons (Cork)