Limerick 3-16
Waterford 1-17
LIMERICK WITHSTOOD A second-half fightback from Waterford on a freezing Tuesday night at the Gaelic Grounds to join Clare in the Munster SHL final.
In front of 1,069 fans, TJ Ryan’s side held a fifteen point advantage by the half hour mark but Waterford narrowed to three before Kevin O’Brien’s goal settled the matter.
Austin Gleeson smashed a goal of the season contender for the travelling party but they compiled a frustrating 17 wides by the full time.
Waterford manager Derek McGrath persisted with his squad rotation policy as he made fourteen changes from the loss to Clare. Limerick bainsteoir Ryan settled on twelve switches from the win over Cork.
The home side whizzed 1-3 to 0-0 ahead with only four minutes elapsed. Thomas O’Brien, Tom Morrissey and Seanie Tobin tapped over early points for the dominant hosts.
Tom Morrissey swept the sliotar to the net after Ian O’Regan blocked Tobin’s initial effort.
On 11 minutes, Barry Nash assisted Limerick’s second major as David Reidy blasted home. The full forward trio of O’Brien, Reidy and Tobin recorded 1-9 between them by the break as Limerick raced 15 points clear.
Waterford appeared rusty but reeled off 1-4 to close the gap. Gleeson shot a 30-yard screamer to the top corner past Limerick sub keeper Barry Hennessy after 34 minutes.
Points from Shane Bennett, Maurice Shanahan, Jamie Barron and Patrick Curran left them 2-12 to 1-7 behind.
A resilient Déise got back within three points in the second period. Three apiece by Shanahan and Jake Dillon left it 2-14 to 1-14 with 15 minutes remaining.
O’Brien made an instant impact from bench however as he wormed his way through the white and blue shirts to bury the clincher.
Scorers for Limerick: David Reidy 1-5 (2fs), Kevin O’Brien, Tom Morrissey 1-1 each, Seanie Tobin 0-3, Gavin O’Mahony, Thomas O’Brien, Diarmuid Byrnes (1f) 0-2 each.
Scorers for Waterford: Maurice Shanahan 0-7 (5fs), Austin Gleeson 1-0, Jake Dillon 0-3, Shane Bennett, Patrick Curran 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Shane McNulty, Peter Hogan 0-1 each.
Limerick
1. Nicky Quaid
2. Tom Condon
3. Richie McCarthy
4. Seanie O’Brien
5. Paudie O’Brien
6. Diarmuid Byrnes
7. Wayne McNamara
8. John Fitzgibbon
9. Paul Browne
10. Barry Nash
11. Gavin O’Mahony
12. Tom Morrissey
13. Thomas O’Brien
14. David Reidy
15. Sean Tobin
Subs
16. Barry Hennessy for Quaid (28)
23. Darragh O’Donovan for Fitzgibbon (H-T)
24. Graeme Mulcahy for D Reidy (52)
25. Kevin O’Brien for T O’Brien (52)
20. Michael Reidy for Condon (52)
Waterford
1. Ian O’Regan
2. Paudie Prendergast
3. Shane Fives
4. Noel Connors
5. Shane Roche
6. Shane McNulty
7. Conor Gleeson
8. Jamie Barron
9. Kevin Moran
10. Colin Dunford
11. Shane Bennett
12. Jake Dillion
13. Austin Gleeson
14. Maurice Shanahan
15. Patrick Curran
Subs
19. Gavin O’Brien for Roche (23)
23. Tom Devine for Moran (47)
21. Shane O’Sullivan for Barron (47)
22. Peter Hogan for Dunford (52)
18. Barry Coughlan for Bennett (70)
Referee: Philip Kelly (Tipperary)