Back to winning ways after 17 straight defeats
Waterford Under 20 hurlers ended their Munster campaign with victory against Limerick. Photo: Noel Browne
Waterford won for the first time in 17 attempts at under 20 level on Thursday evening at TUS Gaelic Grounds when they had one point to spare over what was a wasteful Limerick side.
The win for James O’Connor’s men was only their second at this level since Sean Power’s side won the Under 21 All-Ireland Final back in 2016. The previous win was against Kerry in 2022, and apart from that in the 25 games played since, the only other game that Waterford did not lose was when they drew with Limerick 12 months ago in Dungarvan.
For now, James O’Connor’s young side, many of whom were part of the side that won last year’s Minor All-Ireland Final as on another night, things could have been much different as the home side hit a massive 19 wides over the course of 60 minutes, while Waterford were far more efficient at the other end.
Waterford were always the better of the two sides in this contest, and set out their stale from the off. David Comerford opened the scoring when he pointed from a free in the second minute. Within seconds James O’Connor’s side were unlucky not to have struck for the game's opening goal. Comerford played a good ball into Conor Tobin but Limerick goalkeeper Alex Kearns came out to close down the angle.
Hugh Flanagan levelled for the home side, but almost straight away Joe McDonnell found Conor Tobin and this time he gave Kearns no chance as Waterford went three in front.
From the restart, John O’Connor was found who in turn picked out Robert O’Farrell. His effort was blocked by James Comerford in the Waterford goal, but the rebound fell to Eoin Brosnan who shot wide when it looked easier to finish to the net.
Jack Cosgrove and David Comerford swapped scores before Bradley Penkert picked out Conor Tobin with an excellent pass, but the Ballygunner man saw the ball go millimetres over the crossbar.
Eoin Brosnann goaled for the home side on 11 minutes. He was picked out by Conor Ryan and as James Comerford came out to close the space that the Na Piarsaigh man had, he was able to do enough to push the ball over the line.
David Comerford hit a brace, Mark Hartley hit one and Comerford struck again to put Waterford 1-7 to 1-2 in front midway through the opening half.
Scores from Robert O’Farrell and Hugh Flanagan (free) helped reduce the Limerick deficit to three points, but their efforts were quickly cancelled out with scores from Mark Hartley and David Comerford at the other end. Darragh Gleeson and Comerford swapped scores late on, giving Waterford a 1-10 to 1-5 advantage at the break.
The home side started the second half brightly as Eoin Brosnan and Matthew Fitzgerald pointed early. Comerford and Jack Cosgrove swapped scores to keep three between the sides after 36 minutes.
Hugo Quinn, Jack Power and Gearoid Power pointed for Waterford to open a six-point advantage with just over 20 minutes to play. Comerford helped extend Waterford’s advantage when he put over a free, but in the next 10 minutes, the home side would have their best spell. James Coughlan, Hugh Flanagan, Jack Cosgrove and Darragh Ferland all pointed from play to leave three between the sides with just over 10 minutes to play.
Comerford and Flanagan swapped frees as Limerick began to put on the pressure. A sideline from the covered stand just inside the 45-metre line was struck by Matthew Fitzgerald. The ball fell to Jack Cosgrove who had his effort brilliantly saved by James Comerford. Seconds later Fitzgerald put over a sideline cut from roughly the same distance from the opposite side of the field to leave two between the sides.
A brace of Conor Tobin efforts put daylight between the sides. Then, in added time, Limerick again enjoyed a purple patch as efforts from Patrick Kearney, Eoin Brosnan and Hugh Flanagan all resulted in scores to leave one between the sides.
The hosts did have a chance to get something from the game deep in stoppage time when referee John Bugler awarded a late free, but under pressure Flanagan send the ball wide of the upright.
David Comerford 0-10 (6f, 1 ‘65); Conor Tobin 1-3; Mark Hartley 0-2; Hugo Quann, Jack Power, Gearoid O’Shea 0-1 each.
Eoin Brosnan 1-2; Hugh Flanagan 0-5 (3f); Jack Cosgrove 0-3; Matthew Fitzgerald 0-2 (1sl) Robert O’Farrell, Darragh Gleeson, James Coughlan, Dara Ferland, Patrick Kearney 0-1 each.
James Comerford; Darragh Keane, Conor Lynch, Tomas Ahern; Bradley Penkert, Joe McDonnell, Cathal O’Sullivan; Hugo Quann, Paddy Spellman; David Comerford, Jack Power, Mark Hartley; Gearoid O’Shea, Conor Tobin, Ollie Fives.
Gearoid Power for O’Shea (48 mins); Tommy Kennedy for O’Sullivan (50 mins); Caoillin Reville for Fives (54 mins); Pierce Quann for Spellman (59 mins).
Alex Kearns; John Murray, Jackie Dwane, Sean Duff; Jack Cosgrove, Eamon Richardson, Matthew Fitzgerald; Conor Ryan, Aidan O’Connell; John O’Connor, Darragh Gleeson, Robert O’Farrell; Dara Ferland, Hugh Flanagan, Eoin Brosnan.
John O’Keeffe for Murray (39 mins); James Coughlan for O’Connell (41 mins); Patrick Kearney for Gleeson (43 mins); Cathal Dennehy for Ryan (50 mins); Killian Begley for O’Connor (56 mins).
John Bugler (Clare).
