Four-goal Limerick hit the ground running in comprehensive McGrath Cup opener

Limerick can book their place in the McGrath Cup final with a win over Tipperary in ten days time.

Limerick got their 2023 season off to a flying start with a comfortable 4-14 to 0-9 win over Waterford in the opening round of the McGrath Cup.

Debutant Cathal Downes twice found the net in Mick Neville Park with Adrian Enright and Killian Ryan also goaling for the hosts.

It was a nip-and-tuck first half with Limerick leading by four at the break but they restricted the visitors to just two scores in the second period in a dominant showing.

Downes netted in either half, the first came as he palmed to the net after good work by Barry Coleman. The second came on 58 minutes as they overturned the Deise in defence with the Kildimo Pallaskenry man showing composure to finish into the corner.

A minute later, Killian Ryan put the game beyond Waterford, again capitalizing on a mix up in the Waterford rearguard, with the Mungret St Pauls man firing into the roof of the net.

That had Limerick 4-11 to 0-8 to the good with Ray Dempsey’s men coasting to victory in the end in a game where he was able to hand Downes, Jack Ryan, Ruadhan O’Connor and Brian Barry debuts with the latter capping off the scoring for Limerick.

In Mick Neville, it took until the 8th minute for the first score of the game, Adrian Enright stroking home after a well worked Limerick move. But the Deise hit back, eventually drawing level after seventeen minutes.

However, Limerick’s second score would also be a goal, with Barry Coleman teeing up Downes for his first with twenty minutes on the clock. The Shannonsiders began to find their rhythm with Cillian Fahy and Brian Fanning hitting lovely points.

Cian Sheehan then followed up with the pick of the first half points, curling over a beauty with the outside of his right with Fanning grabbing a second shortly after.

Donal Fitzgerald replied in kind for the Deise and he had the final score of the first half to leave it 2-5 to 0-7.

Robbie Bourke opened the second half scoring for Limerick with Fitzgerald offering the response. But they wouldn’t score again until injury time as Limerick hit 2-8 without reply as they showed why they will be operating in the second division of the League this year.

Next up for Ray Dempsey’s men is a clash with Tipperary on January 14th where a win will see them into the final against one of Kerry, Clare or Cork.

Scorers for Limerick: Cathal Downes (2-0); Adrian Enright (1-2); Killian Ryan (1-0); Brian Fanning, Cillian Fahy, Cian Sheehan (0-2 each); Paul Maher, Robbie Bourke, Barry Coleman, Mike Donovan, Peter Nash, Brian Barry (0-1 each).

Limerick: Aaron O’Sullivan; David Connolly, Sean O’Dea, Gordon Brown; Barry Coleman, Brian Fanning, Colm McSweeney; Cian Sheehan, Cillian Fahy; Cathal Downes, Dara Noonan, Paul Maher; Adrian Enright, Killian Ryan, Robbie Bourke.

Subs: Mike Donovan for Noonan (HT), Iian Corbett for Brown (49), Peter Nash for Bourke (54), Jack Ryan for Fanning (61), Brian Barry for McSweeney (61), Eoin O’Shea for Coleman, Ruadhan O’Connor for Connolly, Diarmuid Kelly for Enright, Tony McCarthy for Sheehan (all 67)