Youthful Déise come up short in final decider
Waterford's Billy Nolan landing a point from a free during the game against Limerick.
John Kiely’s Limerick side collected the first piece of silverware for 2026 on Saturday afternoon last when they proved too strong for Waterford in the Munster Hurling League Final at the Mallow GAA Complex.
The winners led by the minimum at the break, but in the second half, when they made a number of changes, they were always the better of the two sides.
Peter Queally will have used this game as a run out for the National League opener against Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Sunday, where places will be up for grabs, as it is expected that the Ballygunner players will not feature in the early stages of the league for Waterford after their run in the All-Ireland Club championship which drew to a close on Sunday last.
However, it is hard to see too many of the players selected to start in this game feature at the business end of the more important championship, but with some more game time in their legs, then they could well play themselves into contention, if Waterford were to have a good run in the league.
In front of an attendance just short of the 2,000 tickets available to supporters, Limerick opened the scoring with a Joe Fitzgerald point in the first minute. Reuben Halloran soon levelled matters, and Waterford were to go in front when Billy Nolan put over a free 55 metres out from his own goal close to the sideline.
Donnacha Ó Dalaigh pulled the sides level before Sean Mackey edged Waterford back in front with four minutes played, but this was as good as it got for Waterford on the scoreboard for the remainder of the game.
Shane O’Brien drew the sides level, before Gearoid Hegarty, Shaine O’Brien and the very impressive Aidan O’Connor had the Treaty Men 0-6 to 0-3 in front after nine minutes.
Jack Twomey pulled a point back for Waterford. Shane O’Brien and Fintan Fitzgerald hit points for John Kiely’s side to extend their lead, which was followed by scores at the other end from Reuben Halloran and Jamie Barron.
Limerick lost full back, Barry Murphy, on 17 minutes, just after Aidan O’Connor put over a ’65. John Kiely, however, was able to strengthen his team by sending on the experienced Sean Finn in place of Murphy.
Reuben Halloran and Aidan O’Connor swapped scores from placed balls, before the De La Salle duo of Reuben Halloran and Jack Fagan landed scores to leave one between the sides with five minutes of a 30-minute first.
Limerick made five changes at the start of the second half, sending on Nicky Quaid, Colin Coughlan, Tom Morrissey, Cathal O’Neill and Ethan Hurley, but it was Waterford that were first to score in the second half, with another Reuben Halloran free to level matters.
Limerick enjoyed a period of dominance in the minutes that followed as Aidan O’Connor, Ethan Hurley, and four more from O’Connor had Limerick 0-17 to 0-11 in front 11 minutes into the second half.
Reuben Halloran hit his second of the half when he put over a free just short of the midway point in the second half, but his score was soon wiped out with one from Cathal O’Neill at the other end.
Shane Bennett put over one for Waterford, but it was followed by scores from Gearoid Hegarty and Ethan Hurley as Limerick stretched their lead to seven with nine minutes plus stoppage time to play.
The Waterford management team left it till late in the game to make changes, too late to have any real impact on the game. Shane Bennett pointed again before he was replaced late on. Aidan O’Connor put over a brace of scores to go eight in front.
Billy Nolan put over his second of the game, again from a free, this time just outside his own 45 metre line, but it was wiped out with one from Adam English deep in stoppage time.
Limerick may well have taken home silverware after this game, but when the two sides meet again at Walsh Park on February 1, the stakes will be much higher, but without the silverware.
Aidan O’Connor 0-11, (7f, 1 65); Shane O’Brien 0-3; Gearoid Hegarty, Ethan Hurley 0-2 each; Joe Fitzgerald, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, Fintan Fitzgerald, Adam English, Cathal O’Neill 0-1 each.
Reuben Halloran 0-7, (6f); Billy Nolan (2f), Shane Bennett 0-2 each; Jack Fagan, Jack Twomey, Jamie Barron, Sean Mackey 0-1 each.
Colin Ryan; Eddie Stokes, Vincent Harrington, Barry Murphy; Darragh Langan, Will O’Donoghue, Matthew Fitzgerald; Joe Fitzgerald, Darragh O’Donovan; Gearoid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor, John English; Fintan Fitzgerald, Shane O’Brien, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh.
Sean Finn for Barry Murphy (17), Nicky Quaid for Colin Ryan (h-t), Colin Coughlan for Darragh Langan (h-t), Ethan Hurley for Joe Fitzgerald (h-t), Tom Morrissey for John English (h-t), Cathal O’Neill for Fintan Fitzgerald (h-t), Hugh Flanagan for Donnacha Ó Dálaigh (42), Oisin O’Farrell for Shane O’Brien (42), Adam English for Darragh O’Donovan (49), Dylan O’Shea for Matthew Fitzgerald (49), Chris Thomas for Vincent Harrington (49).
Billy Nolan; Mairtin Power, Conor Prunty, PJ Fanning; Jack Fagan, Mark Fitzgerald, Shane Bennett; Darragh Lyons, Tom Barron; Seamus Fitzgerald, Reuben Halloran, Jack Twomey; Jamie Barron, Charlie Treen, Sean Mackey.
James Power for Jack Twomey (43), Brian Lynch for Mark Fitzgerald (49), Marc Ó Mathúna for Charlie Treen (50), Michael Mullaney for Seamus Fitzgerald (55), Jack Lacey for Darragh Lyons (57), Evan Spellman for Shane Bennett (59).
John Bugler (Clare).
