Limerick sink Waterford to claim Munster Senior Hurling League title

Limerick 0-23
Waterford 0-15

By Tom Clancy at Mallow GAA Complex

An accurate and efficient Limerick annexed a first Co-Op Superstores Munster Hurling League for the fourth time thanks to a 0-23 to 0-15 success over Waterford in Mallow.

It is the first time since 2022, and indeed the fourth under manager John Kiely. Aidan O’Connor top scored with 0-11 while all 26 members of the match day panel saw game time.

The Shannonsiders had arrived at this stage following a two-point loss to Clare before comfortably dispatching of an experimental Cork side. Clare’s loss to the Rebels meant scoring difference returned Limerick to a first final since..

Waterford, meanwhile finished level against Tipperary in round one, before whacking Kerry to also progress to the final on scoring difference from their group.

Played before nearly 2,000 at a bitterly cold Mallow, John Kiely’s men set the early pace and opened up a 0-6 to 0-3 lead after ten minutes. Key here was an early point from Joe Fitzgerald, while Donnach  Ó Dálaiagh and Shane O’Brien also contributed to the scoreboard. For Waterford, Sean Mackey and Rueben Halloran were on target.

There was just two between the side as Limerick had the games first goal chance. O’Brien, who lost his hurley, saw his kicked effort deflected wide – Aidan O’Connor profited the 65. There was points too for Fintan Fitzgerald and another for O’Brien in this period.

By half-time, it was a one-point game. The men in green leading 0-11 to 0-10 after Halloran brought his tally to five and kept his side in it. O’Connor, from play and a free, accounted for the last two Limerick points of the half.

Barry Murphy left the action early, with Sean Finn replacing him. Presumably injury or illness curtailing his trail at number 3.

Played before a crowd of 1,957 Limerick rolled Nickie Quaid, Tom Morrissey, Colin Coughlan, Cathal O’Neill and Ethan Hurley off the bench to bolster their chances for the second half.

O’Connor (two frees and one from play) and Hurley widened the lead to 0-15 0-11. There was to be just five wides from Limerick in this contest.

Further points from Hurley, Hegarty, Adam English and Cathal O’Neill secured the silverware. William O’Donoghue collected the silverware on behalf of his side from Munster GAA after the final whistle.

Attention now turns to the Allianz National Hurling League where Waterford will provide the opposition in round two (Feb 1), with a bye for Limerick next weekend. Peter Queally’s outfit travel to Cork next Sunday where they will face the League and Munster Champions.

Scorers for Limerick: Aidan O’Connor 0-11 (6 frees, 1 ’65); Shane O’Brien 0-3; Ethan Hurley 0-2; Gearoid Hegarty 0-2; Joe Fitzgerald, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Fintan Fitzgerald, Cathal O’Neill, Adam English 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Reuben Halloran 0-7 (6f), Billy Nolan 0-2(both frees), Sean Mackey, Jack Twomey, Jamie Barron, Jack Fagan 0-1 each.

Limerick: Colin Ryan; Vince Harrington, Barry Murphy, Eddie Stokes; Darragh Langan, William O’Donoghue (Capt), Matthew Fitzgerald; Joe Fitzgerald, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearóid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, John English; Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Shane O’Brien, Fintan Fitzgerald.

Subs: Seán Finn for Murphy (inj – 17); Nickie Quaid for C Ryan, Colin Coughlan for Langan, Cathal O’Neill for English, Tom Morrissey for F Fitzgerald, Ethan Hurley for J Fitzgerald (all half-time); Oisín O’Farrell for O’Brien, Hugh Flanagan for Ó Dálaigh (both 42); Dylan O’Shea for M Fitzgerald, Adam English for O’Donovan, Chris Thomas for Stokes (all 49)

Waterford: Billy Nolan; Mairtín Power, Conor Prunty, PJ Fanning, Jack Fagan, Mark Fitzgerald, Shane Benntt; Darragh Lyons, Tom Barron; Séamus Fitzgerald, Rueben Halloran, Jack Twomey; Jamie Barron, Charlie Treen, Seán Mackey.

Subs: James Power for Twomey (43); Brian Lynch Jack Lacey for D Lyons (57); Evan Spellman for S Bennett (59).

Referee: John Bugler (Clare)