DRAWN GAMES offer no bragging rights. Limerick came away from Semple Stadium yesterday knowing that the second half momentum had been theirs, but that even with a huge amount of possession they had scored just six times in the final 35 minutes.

Waterford had scored just twice and their concerns were broader. Everybody was happy to be in a dry place with another chance next Sunday.

Justin McCarthy has seen decades and decades of Munster hurling as player, manager and spectator. This wasn’t one for the scrapbook.

“It was a poor Munster championship game. it was about getting a result. For us, it was about fighting our way back. We did that. We are there for another day. Hopefully, it will bring us on.

“It was so tight and there was a lot of tension and hype about it coming up. Overall, it wasn’t a great championship game by any means, but we got a draw having been six points down at half-time and not having played very well. There were chances in the second half, but the conditions, the slippy hurleys. I felt we had to work very hard.”

They did work hard, but at half-time it looked as if it would take more than elbow grease to remedy what was ailing Limerick. Their opening period was as abysmal as it was lacking in ideas. They came out for the second half, stood around in the rain waiting for Waterford, and then disappeared back up the tunnel just as Waterford emerged.

“At half-time?” said Justin, “what happened? Well we were out first and we were ready and there was a cold heavy shower we came back in again. I don’t think it made a difference we were out there for a while in the cold and the rain too.”

Had he any mixed feelings facing the Waterford side he gave so much to through the 90s?

“For me it was just about my own team. I am with Limerick. It was a matter of tuning in and seeing how our fellas played. We weren’t fighting hard enough for possession in the first half, but I knew we would come back. There were harsh words spoken at half- time. Our backs were to the wall. We had no option. Sink or swim.

“There is a lot of experience there; the subs coming in improved matters as well. The goal changed things. David Breen has been struggling with injury, but we took a chance and he made a difference around the edge of the square.”

His captain, Mark Keane, sat quietly on a bench in the corner of a dressingroom and reflected on a day which was about salvage and not triumph. “It was close and maybe exciting, but the quality wasn’t great. For the neutral you would be hoping that the game will be better next Saturday. We were a point down late on and you would take a draw at that stage.

“We were six down at half-time and probably should have been further behind, so even though we had a lot of ball in the second half, a draw is a fair result.”

Davy Fitzgerald, the Waterford manager, echoed the relief of his Limerick counterparts. “We’re just glad to get another chance. If I knew what happened in the second half I would be a happy man. In the first half we played a good half, hurled well, probably could have been more ahead.

“When a team gets momentum on you, it is very hard to stop it. Limerick should have won the game in the end. That’s being honest. No excuses. Limerick should have won the game. Fair play, they are a good team. We know we are in a battle next Saturday.

“At half-time, we reiterated the message. We were disappointed the way some things happened. Going out for the second half they were coming back in against us. I don’t know what the story was.

“We got no knock on our dressingroom. One Munster official was certainly unhappy at us coming out when we did. It wasn’t right. I don’t know what the story is. I was disappointed in that, but I have to hand it to Limerick. They showed great bottle. I have always said it, there is great fight in them. They fought to the end and they will do it again next Saturday.”

Eoin Murphy had a decent day in a full-back line where debutant Noel Connors had been outstanding. It was a day for backs with conditions being so treacherous.

“We had to go out and concentrate as normal, despite the rain. I don’t think there is any edge from that. Wipe the slate clean. Fast forward six days and we will start again. People played well and people played bad. the good thing about fellas playing bad is they have a chance to up it the next day.

“The conditions didn’t help. It was very low scoring. Hopefully, it will dry up. Scores were hard to come by. Both defences were on top, a good day for defenders with the conditions. I think we both start with a clean slate next Saturday.”

Six days and they begin again.

Pray for the weather!