NFL Div 4 Waterford 1-16 Limerick 1-14:LATE POINTS by goalkeeper Brian Scanlon and leading attacker Ger Collins enabled Limerick to triumph against Waterford in Saturday's Allianz NFL Division Four final in Croke Park.
In a gripping encounter it took those two injury-time points to see Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s men over the finishing line. Scanlon’s brilliant conversion of a 45 in the 70th minute was the critical score, with his manager revealing afterwards it had not been pre-rehearsed to bring the goalkeeper upfield for the kick.
“It was a small bit of inspiration from Stephen Lavin, who was water boy today because he was injured,” said O’Sullivan.
“Stephen said Brian would put it over and I said it was worth the chance. It was a great kick . . . It was nice to perform in a final in Croke Park and it’s great for the football people of Limerick.”
“It’s very disappointing to lose but it’s a privilege to be in Croke Park and great that those guys got to play there. It has been a very positive league,” said Waterford boss John Owens.
Limerick benefited greatly from the fortuitous goal Ger Collins registered in the 10th minute.
Collins and Ian Ryan were thorns in the side of the Waterford rearguard in the opening half and they helped Limerick forge a 1-6 to 0-4 lead by the 24th minute.
Waterford’s response was magnificent, though, as inspired by the inputs of Tony Grey, Shane Briggs and Brian Wall, they reeled off six points on the trot to edge 0-10 to 1-6 ahead nearing half-time.
But Collins and Ryan grabbed a late point apiece to give Limerick a slender interval advantage.
Waterford looked to have pounced for a crucial score in the 49th minute when Liam Ó Lionáin shot a superb low 20-yard drive to the net. That left them 1-13 to 1-11 ahead and 10 minutes later a Brian Wall pointed free left them 1-14 to 1-12 in front.
But Ryan and substitute Eoghan O’Connor brought Limerick level, and Scanlon and Collins sealed the win with their decisive late points.
LIMERICK:B Scanlon (0-1, 45); M O'Riordan, C Mullane, A Lane; D Carroll, P Browne, P Ranahan (0-1), J O'Donovan (0-1); J Galvin; J Mullane, J Ryan, I Ryan (0-5, one free); G Collins (1-6, two frees), C Joyce-Power, S Buckley (0-1). Subs:S Gallagher for Carroll (ht), S Kelly for J Mullane (52), E O'Connor (0-1) for J Ryan (56), E Joy for Lane (inj) (66), C Fitzgerald for Joyce-Power (73).
WATERFORD:T Wall; Maurice O'Gorman, T O'Gorman, K Connery; T Grey (0-2), S Briggs, N Hennessy (0-1); T Prendergast, M Ahern; W Hennessy (0-2), C McGrath (0-1), B Wall (0-5, three frees); G Hurney, R Ahearne (0-1), L Ó Lionáin (1-1). Subs:P Hurney (0-1) for Ahearne (46 mins), S Cunningham for W Hennessy (59), C Phelan for Connery (66), J Phelan for Prendergast (70), Michael O'Gorman for N Hennessy (70).
Referee:Robert O'Donnell (Donegal)
