Waterford and Limerick must do it all again

How many times have we seen it? Time is ticking down and one side happens to be on their way to victory.

Twelve months ago when Waterford and Limerick played the Munster Minor Hurling Final at Limerick, Waterford appeared to be on their way to a comfortable win. But in the closing minutes, for what ever reason the Waterford team appeared to loose some of their focus and Limerick came back to earn a draw.

Last October at Walsh Park, local rivals Ballygunner and Passage were meeting in the county senior hurling final. Passage had never beaten their neighbours in a senior championship game (standing to be corrected on that) and it looked as though they would have to wait for another year at least for a first championship win as Ballygunner led by seven points with as many minutes to play.

But Passage put in a storming finish, hitting a total of ten points made up of goals and points in the closing minutes of the game to win by three.

And then last Sunday, Waterford and Limerick met in the Munster Minor final for the second year in a row, this time at Pairc Ui Chaoimh but this time the rolls were reversed. Limerick appeared to be heading for victory, but Waterford put in a storming finish to earn a replay which takes place this evening week in Thurles.

That Waterford and Limerick appeared in the Munster Minor Hurling Final in the last two years is hardly surprising.

Great work is being done in both counties and the fruits of the effort put in are being reaped.

Over the past few years both sides have dominated the Dr. Harty Cup. Coláiste na nDéise and then Dungarvan Colleges after a name change won the Dr. Harty Cup in 2012 and 2013. Ard Scoil Ris won it two years year’s prior to this and they won it again in 2014.

Dungarvan CBS reached four and won two Munster Senior B Hurling championships between 2010 and 2013. Along the way schools like Blackwater Community School, De La Salle College, St Augustine’s, St Paul’s, St Declan’s amongst others have competed well in Munster Colleges competitions and players from Waterford clubs have also found a place on college sides in Clonmel and Youghal that have also performed well in Munster Colleges competitions.

Within the county we have also seen the counties under 14 and 16 sides put together some good results in the Tony Forristal and Tipperary Supporters Club under 16 tournaments while more and more of our clubs are beginning to compete at the top level of our underage championships.

On hindsight this game had a draw written all over it. When the two counties clashed twelve months earlier at the same stage of the competition as already pointed out, the sides finished all square with Limerick winning the replay at Thurles. When the two sides met at Walsh Park in 2011 the sides finished all square before Waterford came out on top after extra time.

It was Limerick that had the best start in this game as Ronan Lynch pointed inside a minute of the game starting.

Shane Bennett would reply with a point for Waterford but Limerick would soon up their game hitting the next three scores through Peter Casey, Ronan Lynch and Barry Nash.

Peter Hogan pulled a point back for Waterford which was followed by Ronan Lynch and Patrick Curran swapping scores.

Limerick continued to mount pressure on the Waterford goal as Seamus Flanagan put his side three points in front and soon afterwards Billy Nolan who had earlier made a good save to deny Limerick again showed his ability by denying the side in green again.

Shane Bennett pulled a point back for Waterford which left two between the sides but that lead was stretched soon afterwards when Barry Nash registered the first goal of the game.

Andy Molumby and Ronan Lynch swapped points to keep Limerick five in front which was cut by one on twenty minutes when Patrick Curran put over a free.

Andy Molumby pointed to leave three between the sides but seven minutes from the break that lead was doubled when Tom Morrissey poked to the Waterford net from close range.

After this, Waterford enjoyed a bit of a purple patch, hitting five points in a row. Patrick Curran put over a brace which was followed by a brace from Aaron O’Sullivan and another by Patrick Curran to leave just one between the sides.

Ronan Lynch put two between the sides once more when he shot over a free and moments later Waterford had an opportunity to go in front for the first time when a penalty was won but Shane Bennett’s effort was saved by Colin Ryan which resulted in Limerick going to the dressing rooms with a 2-8 to 0-12 advantage.

Waterford started the second half brightly with Peter Hogan and Patrick Curran putting over points which were soon cancelled out with efforts from Ronan Lynch and Peter Casey.

Tom Morrissey landed a point for Limerick before Peter Casey struck a third Limerick goal which was followed up with another Ronan Lynch point which gave the 2013 champions a seven point advantage.

When Shane Bennett put over a point direct from a sideline cut it seemed to give Waterford renewed hope.

Although Edward Doyle and Seamus Flanagan would put over points for Limerick with Patrick Curran pointed in between it was Waterford that finished the game the stronger of the two sides.

A goal from Cormac Curran had Waterford trailing by four and that went to three when Shane Bennett now on free taking duties after Patrick Curran pointed.

 Time remained and team captain Shane Ryan was on the field only seconds after replacing Patrick Curran when he gained procession of the ball and slammed into the Limerick net at the city end of the ground.

There can be no doubting that both sides will feel that they learned from this game and will go into the game confident of a win.

While both teams are sure of at least one more game after the replay, the value of winning the replay next Tuesday night cannot be spelt out enough. The looser of that game will be out again days later when they play Dublin in the quarter finals. Last year when Waterford lost to Limerick in the replayed Munster Final they were somewhat fortunate to be paired with Antrim in the quarter finals. The Glens men on that day disappointed somewhat, but this year the looser of the replay will come up against what should be a strong Dublin side.

WATERFORD: Billy Nolan (Roanmore); David Prendergast (Lismore), MJ Sutton (Ferrybank), Michael Cronin (Ardmore); Conor Prunty (Abbeyside), Colm Roche (Shamrocks), Jack Mullaney (Stradbally); Darragh Lyons (Dungarvan), Andy Molumby (Cappoquin); Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart), Conor Gleeson (Fourmilewater), Cormac Curran (Brickeys); Aaron O’Sullivan (Cappoquin), Peter Hogan (Ballygunner), Patrick Curran (Dungarvan). Subs: Eddie Meaney (De La Salle) for Aaron O’Sullivan, Joe Allen (Dungarvan) for Andy Molumby, Shane Ryan (De La Salle) for Patrick Curran.

Scorers: Patrick Curran 0-7 (6f), Shane Bennett 0-4 (1f), Cormac Curran, Shane Ryan (1-0 each), Andy Molumby, Peter Hogan, Aaron O’Sullivan 0-2 each.

LIMERICK: Eoghan McNamara (Doon); Sean Finn (Bruff), Paddy O’Loughlin (Kilmallock), Jamie Porter (Monaleen); Lorcan Lyons (Monaleen), Colin Ryan (Pallasgreen), Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (Monaleen); Robbie Hanley (Kilmallock), Ronan Lynch (Na Piarsaigh); Seamus Flanagan (Fohenagh/Castlemahon), Barry Nash (South Liberties), Cian Lynch (Patrickswell); Conor Fitzgerald (Claughaun), Tom Morrissey (Ahane), Peter Casey (Na Piarsaigh). Subs: Edward Doyle (Monaleen) for Conor Fitzgerald, Darragh Fanning (Pallasgreen) for Lorcan Lyons, Brian Ryan (South Liberties) for Robbie Hanley.

Scorers: Ronan Lynch 0-6 (2f), Peter Casey 1-2, Tom Morrissey, Barry Nash 1-1 each, Seamus Flanagan 0-2, Cian Lynch, Edward Doyle 0-1 each.

Referee: Damien Fox (Clare).