Limerick 2-15

Waterford 1-15

LIMERICK GOT THEIR new season off to a winning start with a goal to spare in this Waterford Crystal Cup quarter final against Waterford.

The two sides meet in round one of Division 1B of the National League in the coming weeks, but today a strong second half from TJ Ryan’s side ensured they advance to play UCC in the semi-final next weekend.

This afternoon’s win came despite Derek McGrath’s Waterford leading 1-7 to 0-3 after 26 minutes. They were helped by a 22nd-minute Jake Dillon goal and points from Martin O’Neill, Thomas Connors and Shane O’Sullivan.

But Limerick came to life in the closing stages of the first half to cut the interval lead to 1-8 to 1-7.

Limerick had started with two debutants, Cian Lynch and Patrick Begley. Lynch and Adrian Breen ended the opening half with 0-2 each. In injury time, Breen added a goal to his tally to leave just a point between the teams at the break.

In the second half, an own goal from Waterford defender Shane Fives after ten minutes set Limerick on their way. That had the men in green ahead for the first time and they never looked back.

Captain Donal O’Grady and Tom Morrissey, another newcomer, were among their second-half scorers. Waterford relied heavily on frees from O’Neill and Dillon, and couldn’t find a late goal to force extra time.

Scorers for Limerick: Adrian Breen 1-2, Cian Lynch 0-3, Cathal King, Thomas O’Brien (0-1f), Donal O’Grady, Tom Morrissey (0-1) 0-2 each, Dan Morrissey, Shane Dowling (0-f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Waterford: Martin O’Neill 0-8 (0-6f), Jake Dillon 1-3 (0-3f), Thomas Connors 0-2, Shane O’Sullivan, Shane Bennett 0-1 each.

LIMERICK

1. Nickie Quaid

2. Tom Condon
3. Richie McCarthy
4. Seamus Hickey

5. Conor Allis
6. Wayne McNamara
7. Dan Morrissey

8. James Ryan
9. Cathal King

10. David Breen
11. Niall Moran
12. Cian Lynch

13. Thomas O’Brien
14. Patrick Begley
15. Adrian Breen

Subs:

Donal O’Grady for D Breen (10)
Tom Morrissey for T O’Brien (half-time)
Paul Browne for N Moran (55)
Shane Dowling for A Breen (61)

WATERFORD

1. Stephen O’Keeffe

2. Mark McNulty
3. Shane Fives
4. Noel Connors

5. Gavin O’Brien
6. Austin Gleeson
7. Pa Walsh

8. Martin O’Neill
9. Shane O’Sullivan

10. Kevin Moran
11. Thomas Connors
12. Donie Breathnach

13. Brian O’Halloran
14. Jake Dillon
15. Michael Kearney

Subs:

Cormac Curran for D Breathnach (39)
Michael Walsh for B O’Halloran (50)
Shane Bennett for T Connors (56)
Barry Coughlan for J Dillon (66)

Referee: Damien Fox (Clare).

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