All to play for against All-Ireland champions
Waterford’s Jack Prendergast celebrates scoring his side’s second goal of the game when these sides last met in the Munster SHC in Limerick back in April 2022. Photos: Inpho.
The drama and controversy that has dogged this year’s Munster Championship carries forward to next Sunday’s final day of Round Robin games with issues to be still decided.
For both Waterford and Limerick future participation hinges on getting something out of Sunday’s game where a Waterford win, albeit against all the odds, would secure, not just championship survival but a place in the Munster Final, most likely against Clare should they beat Tipperary as expected.
The most striking aspect of Sunday’s game in Limerick is that a draw would see both sides through at the expense of Cork while a Limerick win would see Waterford losing out and Cork going through to the qualifiers. A win for Waterford would also see Cork through and Limerick hopes of a fifth successive All-Ireland victory dashed. As things stand Cork are in a good position following defeats by Waterford and Clare knowing that a draw is an unlikely result with both teams all out for victory in Limerick.
What then are Waterford’s chances going into this game against the defending All Ireland champions, a team they have lost to in League, Munster and All-Ireland finals. The last two meetings between the sides in the Round Robin series have been close fought affairs. In the post Covid year of 2022 Limerick came through on a score of 0-30 to 2-21 on home soil.
Late goals by Stephen Bennett and Jack Prendergast had taken Waterford to within a point before two late points sealed the victory for the home side.
Last year Waterford played their ‘home’ game against the champions in Thurles where Limerick held on for a two point win on a score of 1-18 to 0-19 having been hard pressed to do so. There is no question but that Waterford’s championship form this year has been much better and a loss to Clare by the minimum margin in controversial circumstances on Sunday last, a win over Cork and a draw with Tipperary suggests that Davy Fitzgerald’s side will not be easily overcome on Sunday.
One could be forgiven for thinking the hurling gods are conspiring to deny Waterford when considering Cork’s late win over Limerick, Tipperary’s square goal in Walsh Park and last Sunday’s awarding of a match winning point from a controversial ‘65 in Ennis with a decision one way or the other in each case having different consequences.
Waterford will be going to Limerick on Sunday looking for the win and such a result cannot be ruled out.
There will be a number of concerns where selection is concerned as a result of injuries. Darragh Lyons and Patrick Curran must be considered doubtful with both having gone off injured on Sunday last while Neil Montgomery and Conor Prunty continue to be ruled out. The substitutes all made a big impression in Ennis. Shane Bennett must be considered a likely starter on Sunday next as well as Jack Fagan while Patrick Fitzgerald and Padraig Fitzgerald must also be considered. In the end the latter two will be most likely kept as impact subs in the closing stages.
Limerick have been hard pressed in losing to Cork and just getting over the line against Clare. Their result against Tipperary can be ignored but recent form suggests they are not yet up to speed where they normally are at this stage of the championship. Their halfback line has been the sheet anchor of the side throughout their successes of the last five years and it was in that area they struggled against Cork with Declan Hannon being substituted and Diarmuid Byrnes looking very shaky. Kyle Hayes was not comfortable and conceded the match winning penalty to Cork. It was left to Gearoid Hegarty and Aaron Gillane to keep them in the game.
As rank outsiders on Sunday Waterford will feel less pressure than Limerick. If the fullback line can hold up and the likes of De Burca, Barron, Calum Lyons, Stephen Bennett, Mike Kiely and Dessie Hutchinson can all weigh in with big games on Sunday Waterford could still be in the championship come Monday morning.
This preview was penned before the teams were named....
