Allianz HL D1A: Waterford make statement against Limerick
Calum Lyons of Waterford is tackled by Diarmaid Byrnes of Limerick during the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A match between Waterford and Limerick at Azzurri Walsh Park in Waterford. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile.
Allianz Hurling League Division 1A
Waterford 1-21 Limerick 0-20
By Dermot Keyes
Waterford did so much more than restore pride on home soil when deservedly seeing off a Limerick side featuring 10 All Stars and three Hurlers of the Year.
Two magnificent second half frees from goalkeeper Billy Nolan, along with the accuracy of free taker Ruben Halloran and outstanding performances from Máirtín Power, Jamie Barron and Shane Bennett proved decisive during a lively end-to-end tussle.
In pleasant sunshine, Waterford led by 0-10 to 0-9 at the interval and were good value for that advantage.
Reuben Halloran, warming to the Déise’s free-taking task, opened the scoring inside the opening minute, with Cian Lynch mustering an immediate response from Limerick’s next attack.
The hosts, producing an improved level of physicality than what they’d delivered at Páirc Uí Chaoimh, edged ahead thanks to Brian Lynch’s third minute point following a fine assist by Calum Lyons.
Two minutes later, the ever-dependable Diarmaid Byrnes, shooting into the breeze, converted a fine free, with Halloran replying via his second dead ball in the seventh minute.
Halloran (another free) and the lively Shane O’Brien traded white flaggers in the 11th and 12th minutes before Donnacha Ó Dálaigh sent the Shannonsiders ahead following fine support play by Cian Lynch.
Halloran and Aidan O’Connor exchanged further points in the 15th and 16th minutes before the De La Salle marksman restored Waterford’s lead from 45 metres as the game ticked into its 20th minute.
Moments later, senior newcomer Charlie Treen latched onto the breaking ball and impressively found his range while Limerick were left rueing Shane O’Brien’s short-range effort which zipped wide of Billy Nolan’s right hand upright.
Shane Bennett atoned for a 20th minute miss with a superb point from distance just four minutes later following an incisive Billy Nolan pass.
Limerick inched ahead thanks to points from Byrnes and O’Brien in the 28th and 34th minutes but it was Waterford who finished the half the stronger thanks to a brace of Halloran frees.
Waterford goaled in the 45th minute through a Shane Bennett penalty - his second in as many weeks - after Reuben Halloran was impeded by Matthew Fitzgerald, who was black carded for his challenge.
With the surface getting stickier, Waterford dug deep in the face of a Diarmaid Byrnes-inspired resurgence during which Limerick outscoring the Déise by 0-5 to 0-1 between the 54th and 65th minutes.
From under the lip of the covered stand, Shane Bennett landed a morale boosting point in the 68th minute, with Halloran converting his 10th point of the afternoon 90 seconds later.
While Gearóid Hegarty bisected the city end uprights in the 70th minute, it was Waterford, through Reuben Halloran and Billy Nolan, who impressively sealed victory with stoppage time points.
Waterford scorers: Reuben Halloran 0-11 (0-10f, 0-01 65), Shane Bennett 1-02 (1-0 pen), Charlie Treen 0-03, Billy Nolan 0-02f, Calum Lyons 0-01, Jamie Barron 0-01, Brian Lynch 0-01.
Limerick scorers: Aidan O’Connor 0-08 (0-07f), Shane O’Brien 0-04, Diarmaid Byrnes 0-03 (0-02f), Gearoid Hegarty 0-03, Cian Lynch 0-01, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh 0-1.
Waterford: Billy Nolan; Mairtín Power, Conor Prunty; Conor Keane, Iarlaith Daly, Mark Fitzgerald, Shane Bennett; Brian Lynch, Darragh Lyons; Calum Lyons, Jamie Barron, Patrick Curran; Reuben Halloran, Michael Kiely, Charlie Treen.
Subs: Carthach Daly for Conor Prunty 55, James Power for Patrick Curran 58, Sean Mackey for Charlie Treen 68.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Matthew Fitzgerald, Seán Finn, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Colin Coughlan; Adam English, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Shane O’Brien, Aidan O’Connor.
Subs: Ethan Hurley for Darragh O’Donovan (blood, 28-31), Ethan Hurley for Adam English 34, Hugh Flanagan for Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Paddy O’Donovan for Tom Morrissey (both 56), Joe Fitzgerald for Shane O’Brien, Oisín O’Farrell for Darragh O’Donovan (both 63),
Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).
