Waterford lose a man but stave off frantic Limerick

A rousing afternoon in Pairc Ui Chaoimh ended with just enough space on the scoreboard for Waterford to squeeze into the Guinness Munster hurling championship semi-finals. The margin was far tighter than most - probably even the winners - had expected, and Limerick were left to bemoan a litany of missed chances which could have changed their brave display into something more tangible.

In fact, had it not been for Tony Browne defying medical science and playing with damaged ankle ligaments, last year's All-Ireland semi-finalists might well have fallen at this summer's first fence.

Although obviously not at his best, the 1998 Players' Hurler of the Year did enough both by raising morale only hours before the throw-in and by his authoritative opening spell. Later in the match, being less mobile than usual, he played deeper but his influence was valuable.

The team had to overcome another adversity when wing back Brian Greene was sent off in the 49th minute. Already on a booking, he tackled Ciaran Carey so late that night was almost falling; he was booked again and shown the line.

From then on, Limerick sensed a chance and, using Carey intelligently as the extra man, they pushed their cause all the way to the final whistle.

Nonetheless Waterford deserved to win because there was more coherence to their hurling. They moved the ball more thoughtfully and took their chances more efficiently than Limerick, whose frantic raids generated plenty of opportunity but few scores.

It took much shuffling of the forwards before Limerick established any sort of attacking rhythm against a fine Waterford defence in which Peter Queally on the right wing was outstanding in tidying up and clearing ball. Barry Foley got two well-taken points, but he otherwise struggled in Queally's company.

Waterford started confidently and ended the first quarter leading by five points, 0-6 to 0-1. To the fore in the early efforts were Ken McGrath and Paul Flynn. McGrath had a productive afternoon, taking four points from play, three in the first half.

His second score typified his team's sharper instincts up front. After a sustained move by Limerick had seen the ball coursed around their opponents' defence by packs of players - none with the poise to create the opening and take the point - the ball went down the other end and McGrath stuck it over, simply and without complication.

Flynn's afternoon was more consistent than McGrath's in that the full forward posed constant menace to Limerick. It is a tribute to his performance to point out that young Brian Begley, making his debut, did a number of eye-catching things and relieved pressure well on the full back line.

Beside him, fellow debutant Brian Geary was outstanding at corner back and more than justified the impressive advance publicity gathered during Limerick's less-than-vintage league run.

Yet for all Begley's promise, Flynn had one of his better afternoons, and that means 1-8 (1-4 from play) in a serious championship match. Given the frustrating tendency he exhibited last year, when better alternated with poorer as the summer wore on, there will be great interest in how he performs in next month's semifinal against Cork.

Limerick's response eventually got under way in the 17th minute. It had a familiar source. As his team's latest attack was fizzling out into something decreasingly threatening, Ciaran Carey seized the sliotar and drove over a rallying point from the left sideline.

Matters were, however, to deteriorate before they improved for Limerick. Four minutes after Carey's score, Fergal Hartley took a point, and in the 23rd minute Flynn made a major incision.

He was set on his way by a strong groundstroke from Browne which put Flynn in on his marker. He roasted Begley and took the ball almost up to under Joe Quaid's nose before cracking in the goal to give his team an eight-point lead, 1-7 to 0-2.

Instrumental in helping Limerick get to half-time without being technically dead was a sequence of frees converted by Mike Galligan between the 25th and 28th minutes. These three scores at least redeemed Flynn's goal, and by half-time the margin was down to five, 1-9 to 0-7.

After the interval, it took nearly 15 minutes for the match to light up, but the crowd of 30,216 was treated to a thundering last 20 minutes. The scene was set by Greene's dismissal. Limerick gave Carey the free role and he used it well, moving from fire brigade duties at the back all the way up to helping in attack and managing a couple of those characteristic solo runs through the middle.

Manager Eamonn Cregan also introduced some experience by sending in Gary Kirby and TJ Ryan. Kirby replaced Galligan, and showed his free taking is as nerveless as ever by taking four points from dead balls and ending up his team's top scorer after only 25 minutes on the field.

Pressure told in 56th minute when Mike Houlihan - by now switched into slugging it out at full forward - managed to get some sort of touch on a dropping ball from Dave Clarke and Limerick had their goal. A few minutes later, Houlihan teed himself up for a mighty crack at a second goal but the effort flew wide.

By now the pace was frenzied. Mark Foley - who didn't appear happiest in the forwards - was sent clear for a point by his brother Jack, who played very well when switched to wing back. Kirby added a free, Ollie Moran made a fabulous interception on Michael White and Kirby added another free. Limerick were only a point in arrears.

As the last few minutes ticked down, Flynn swapped points with Clarke, who could do no more than put the ball over the bar when something more elaborate was needed. Finally the full-time whistle spared Waterford the sight of Carey tearing through the middle with possession gifted him by an errant lineball.