Limerick forward Seamus Flanagan was "lucky" to escape punishment for a high challenge on Stephen Bennett, according to Sunday Game analyst Ursula Jacob.
Flanagan, whose 21st-minute goal proved crucial in a two-point victory, made a high challenge late in the first half on the Deise forward with a shoulder charge into the face of the forward.
The Sunday Game analyst Liam Sheedy said the towering forward was a "very lucky man" to avoid a red card, with Anthony Daly adding that the with the four-time All-Ireland winner "wasn't looking at the ball".
Waterford still in it despite Limerick being on top and Seamus Flanagan lucky to still be on the pitch is the HT verdict of the RTÉ panel
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 23, 2023
📺 Live on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer https://t.co/ZfZ9mAavJw
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/Ku2ATEL3po
📻 Live on @RTERadio1#GAA #Hurling pic.twitter.com/MeRtIkqDNj
Speaking on the Sunday Game highlights Show, Jacob agreed with Sheedy's assessment.
"He can count himself lucky he didn't receive any card, yellow or red," she said. "He comes in late, it's a high challenge on Stephen Bennett.
"The more you look at it, was there intent there?"
Limerick did lose Gearoid Hegarty after the break for a second bookable offence for a high challenge on Conor Gleeson, but former Treaty forward Shane Dowling said the incident which saw a member of the Waterford backroom team make contact with Hegarty in a sideline melee was "disgusting".
"Things spill over, we all make mistakes, but this lad, we don’t know who he is, he actually ran to go down and hit Gearoid," he said.
"There is no place in the game for it.
'Someone running from the dugout to hit a player a dig is absolutely disgusting as far as I'm concerned' - The panel assess the flashpoints in Semple Stadium #SundayGame #rtegaa pic.twitter.com/j1qsbnotBL
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 23, 2023
"It’s the Munster Championship, things are going to get heated. Gearoid got sent off, Seamus had a high challenge, there were other things there as well.
"It is part of championship hurling. We have got to understand that. Somebody running in to the dugout, in to hit a player with a dig, is just absolutely disgusting as far as I’m concerned."
Speaking after the match, Limerick manager John Kiely said he didn't see Hegarty's second booking, but was also concerned with what transpired after the Hegarty flashpoint, with the referee also sending the Waterford mentor to the stand for his part in the sideline melee.
"The piece after that was very disappointing and hopefully it will be dealt with accordingly," he said.
