Limerick claim Kerins Cup with victory over Waterford
Munster U20 ‘B’ FC final: Limerick 2-10, Waterford 1-5
Darragh Murray was on target for Limerick
Limerick claimed the John Kerins Cup with a double scores victory over Waterford in this first Munster U20 ‘B’ final. It was the meeting of the sides who finished in the bottom places in phase one, and was essentially a 5th/6th place play off in the province.
Played at a damp Mallow, there was an attendance of under 200 people who saw Waterford lead at half-time before those in green dominated in a one-sided second half. The Déise were riding the crest of a wave having witnessed a rare senior win last weekend, but they didn’t show up after half-time.
After a bright opening by Limerick which saw the lead through Darragh Murray and Ronan Quirke, they endured a 20-minute barren spell in front of the posts. While they kicked six wides in this period, Waterford took control on the scoreboard.
Gavin Whelan’s men opened their account after a dozen minutes through Sam Pender and the same man netted a goal in fortuitous fashion seconds later. His attempt for a point from 30 meters bounced and deceived Craig MacInnes in the Limerick goal, and found the roof of the net.
Further scores from Pender and Darragh Murphy punished the Limerick sluggishness, but there was a late score from Quirke to get Limerick moving again.
1-5 in the 20 minutes after half-time turned the tide, with Aaron Neville’s 50th-minute goal killing the contest.
Rory Fennell was sin-binned just prior, on 48 minutes, for a trip on Jason Hassett, deep in the Treaty defence. That began to spell the end, with Murray curling over a third, before Neville finished calmly for his second goal, after great work by Ronan Quirke.
Waterford ended 30 minutes without a score with a Mikey O’Brien point, but it was academic as Limerick progress to the All Ireland ‘B’ semi-final, to be played next month.
Scorers – Limerick: A Neville 2-0; R Quirke 0-4 (0-2 frees); D Murray 0-3; C Ó Duinn, D Hynes (free), J McCarthy (45) 0-1 each. Waterford: S Pender 1-2 (0-1 free); R Fennell 0-1; D Murphy 0-1; M O’Brien 0-1 (free).
Limerick: C MacInnes; C O’Connell, J Hassett, P Downey; J Whelan, J Somers, M Kilbridge; D Murray, J McCarthy; S O’Brien, A Neville, S Cross; R Quirke, M Fahy, C Ó Duinn. Subs: J Behan for Somers (half-time); D Hynes for Cross (38); O Woulfe for O’Brien, B Smith for Fahy (both 50); P Murphy for O’Connell (55).
Waterford: C Moore; R O’Connell, S Byrne, D Behan; C Sloan, M O’Brien, T Martin; M O’Sullivan, D Butler; M Power, R Fennell, D Murphy; S O’Rourke, S Pender, L Ó Siothcháin. Subs: T Fennell for Power (45); S Power for Behan (48); O Brazil for Murphy (52); A Mansfield for Butler (57); F Dwyer for Pender (60).
Referee: James Regan (Cork).
