Limerick 2-16 Waterford 0-22
Paudie Prendergast popped up with an equaliser in the second minute of stoppage time to salvage a draw for Waterford in this evening’s Allianz Hurling League Division 1B opener against hosts Limerick.
Prendergast’s late intervention sent the Déise home with a share of the spoils from the Gaelic Grounds.
And this result could yet turn out to be a priceless one for Waterford, attempting to bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt following last year’s relegation.
They had to battle for it after Limerick full-back Richie McCarthy looked to have won it for the hosts with a 70th minute point from distance, as 3502 spectators watched on.
But there was still time for Waterford to pick the right pass and Prendergast stuck from 50m to level matters.
Waterford led by four points on six occasions and stormed back to lead again by three after David Reidy’s 48th minute penalty goal brought Limerick level.
But Limerick had the whip hand in the closing minutes, leading by two points before Austin Gleeson and leading scorer Pauric Mahony hauled Waterford level again.
There was time for the sides to trade those late scores and in a competitive Division 1B, this was the ideal way to kick off.
At half-time, Waterford were 0-14 to 1-07 clear, having recovered from the concession of a first minute goal, the first of Reidy’s two penalty strikes.
Mahony kept Waterford firing from placed balls while Gavin O’Mahony, cleared to play for Limerick by All-Ireland club finalists Kilmallock, was superb for the home side with four of his five points scored in the opening half.
In the second period, it was Paul Browne’s turn to lead the charge for Limerick, as he bagged three of his four points from play after the break.
LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy (0-01), S Hickey; D O’Grady, W McNamara, T Condon (0-01); C King, P Browne (0-04); N Moran, G O’Mahony (0-05), C Lynch (0-01); D Reidy (2-03, 2-00 pen, 0-03f), P Begley, A Breen (0-01).
Subs: T Morrissey for Moran (28), J Ryan for King (h.t.), D Morrissey for Begley (50), J Fitzgibbon for O’Grady (64), S O’Brien for Condon (65)
WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T Bourke, A Gleeson (0-2), Philip Mahony; J Barron (0-02), T Devine; K Moran (0-01), Pauric Mahony (0-11, 9f), J Dillon; B O’Halloran (0-02), M Walsh (0-01), M Kearney.
Subs: P Prendergast (0-02) for Philip Mahony (23), Shane Bennett (0-01) for Kearney (42), Stephen Bennett for Dillon (48), M O’Neill for Devine (57), G O’Brien for Moran (69).
Referee: C Lyons (Cork)
