A Shane Duggan screamer handed Limerick a huge three points in a blood and thunder Munster derby at the Markets Field.
The Garryowen native struck from 25-yards in the final five minutes after both sides had been reduced to ten men in the opening 45 minutes.
Waterford made three changes to the side that fell to Shamrock Rovers last week at the RSC. Dessie Hutchinson, Noel Hunt and Sander Puri came in to replace Rory Feely, Gavan Holohan and Ismahil Akinade.
The Blues had only won one of their last six away games, and boss Alan Reynolds switched it up to try and spark some magic on the road.
Limerick made just the one change from their 2-1 defeat at the hands of St. Pat’s last week, as youngster Karl O’Sullivan dropped to the bench. He was replaced by Cian Coleman who returned from suspension.
The sides last met in the RSC a few months ago, with Limerick running out 6-3 winners. In fact, only one of the last 29 league meetings between these sides has ended in a draw.
Just 90 seconds into this one, there was enough drama to suggest there would be no boring stalemate here, either.
Killian Brouder got his feet tangled when playing out from the back and former Republic of Ireland international Noel Hunt pressed him and won possession. He took a touch and looked set to shoot, but Brouder’s centre half partner Eoin Wearen rushed across to cut Hunt down.
Referee Damien McGraith pointed to the spot and issued Wearen his marching orders, much to the dismay of the home support.
Paul Keegan slotted past Brendan Clarke at this venue earlier in the season, and his then-understudy Tommy Holland was on hand to watch. It was his chance to deny the Blues captain on this occasion and he did just that – diving low to his right.
It also seemed likely that referee McGraith would make it up to Limerick for his early sending-off of Wearen, but he really had no choice but to grant the hosts their own spot-kick on 34 minutes.
The tireless Will Fitzgerald haunted Dessie Hutchinson down the left flank. The young winger skipped around a few challenges but was dragged down by Dave Webster inside the area.
As Billy Dennehy stepped up, the control room accidentally played goal music prior to his run-up, but this fazed him not, as the Tralee native slotted calmly to net penalties in back-to-back games.
Just before half-time, Connor Ellis and Dave Webster came together on the halfway line and the latter was adjudged to have fouled the Corkman – resulting in a second yellow and a red to follow, as he limped off the pitch.
They had all the momentum, but Limerick shot themselves in the foot early in the second half when former Markets Field hero Bastien Hery ran 70 yards untouched before smashing past Holland. The hosts had overcommitted to an attack and left themselves wide open.
But Limerick would not be denied as their captain took it upon himself to fire them to a much-needed win in front of a partisan home crowd.
Limerick: Tommy Holland; Kilian Cantwell, Eoin Wearen, Killian Brouder, Billy Dennehy; Cian Coleman, Darren Murphy; Barry Maguire (Karl O’Sullivan 31, 6), Shane Duggan, Will Fitzgerald; Connor Ellis (Danny Morrissey 70).
Waterford: Matthew Connor; Dessie Hutchinson, Dave Webster, Kenny Browne, Dylan Barnett; Paul Keegan (Carlos Wilson, 79); Stanley Aborah, Bastien Hery; Sander Puri (Rory Feely, 57); Noel Hunt, Courtney Duffus (Ismahil Akinade, 57).
Referee: Damien McGraith (Mayo)
