| Limerick keep unbeaten run intact
 By
David Thorpe
Limerick 0-21
Waterford 0-14
The Easter eggs are but a pleasant memory and Limerick are still unbeaten.
The optimism that’s starting to flow by the Shannon looks justified
on the evidence of this defeat of Waterford in the NHL Division One semi-final
on Sunday.
This was a long way from a classic game or a vintage performance from
the Treatymen. But winning when not at your best is an art in itself and
the Shannonsiders have mastered it thanks to a team ethic — something
they lacked in recent years — and enough flair to beat honest grafters
like Wateford.
Waterford were technically the better team in the first-half hurling into
a stiff breeze. They restricted their opponents chances and trailing 0-8
to 0-7 at the break must have felt confident of victory given that they
would have a heavy wind at their backs in the second period.
Limerick showed their strength in all areas of the park after the break
however with Mark Keane scoring nine points and giving a succession of
markers a torrid time. This was never a game for the purists — something
which should have suited Waterford far more. But it was Limerick who grafted
harder with Mark Foley outstanding in a Limerick defence which always
had the better of their men.
John Mullane was comfortably the best player on the park — his four
points capped what was generally a stunning contribution. He set up Dan
Shanahan for a point on 52 minutes which put the Deice men up 0-13 to
0-12 and seemingly set fair for victory. It was then that Limerick showed
their metal with Keane rousing the troops with a long-range point.
It was in defence that Limerick won this game with Foley and Donie Ryan
in spectacular form. Paul Flynn played a captain’s part for Waterford
— his late point reduced the arrears to seven on 58 minutes but
that was Waterford’s last score. Indeed the Suirsiders were restricted
to just one point in the final 28 minutes. Even as Limerick were huffing
and puffing in front of goal the Deice threat always looked minimal. It
took an incisive free from Keane to settle nerves in the dying minutes.
Flynn was sent off for the Deice men deep in injury time and it’s
at the discretion of the GAC whether the Waterford captain will be available
for the Munster championship. |
