Waterford keep ball rolling in Munster

Hurling Munster Cup/Waterford 3-12 Limerick IT 2-13:Waterford hurlers advanced to the final of the Waterford Crystal Munster Cup as a result of a hard-earned victory over the Davy Fitzgerald-managed Limerick IT at Fraher Field, Dungarvan, yesterday.

The provincial title holders led at half-time by 2-5 to 1-6, the main features of the half being goals from Dan Shanahan in the 24th minute and Galway underage star Joe Canning in the 27th minute when he controlled a Paul O'Brien cross to drive an unstoppable shot to the Waterford net.

Waterford, however, scored their second goal in the 29th minute from a 20-metre free from Eoin Kelly.

The second half saw more parity between the sides as they exchanged points up to the 42nd minute when a Jonathan Clancy point for Limerick IT left the score at 2-8 to 1-9.

Kelly pointed a free in reply two minutes later and then came the crucial moment in the game when Waterford's Eoin Murphy intercepted a Limerick pass and placed Jack Kennedy, whose long delivery was collected by Eoin Kelly who kicked the ball to the net in the 45th minute to leave Waterford 3-9 to 1-9 ahead.

Waterford remained in front despite Eoin Kelly being forced off with a hand injury and, as the game went into time added on, they led by 3-11 to 1-13 when Paudie O'Brien scored Limerick's second goal in the 63rd minute to leave just a point between the teams, 3-11 to 2-13. The final score came from a Dave Bennett 65 to give Waterford a two-point winning margin.

Tipperary will be Waterford's opponents in the competition's final as they beat Cork IT by 4-14 to 0-15 in Templemore on Saturday as Eoin Kelly amassed a personal scoring tally of 1-9.

WATERFORD: C Hennessy; E Murphy, D Prendergast, T Feeney; W Hutchinson, B Phelan, J Kennedy; M Walsh, D Bennett (0-3); J Mullane (0-2), S Prendergast (0-1), E Kelly (2-4); S Walsh (0-1), D Shanahan (1-0), S Casey (0-1). Subs: P Kearney for E Kelly (inj), B Farrell for S Casey.

LIMERICK IT: M Ryan; M Walsh, A Byrne, M O'Brien; W Hyland, S Maher, G O'Connell; J McInerney, J Clancy (0-1); N Healy, C Donnellan (0-3), S Herlihy (0-1); B Gaffney (0-1), J Canning (1-6), S Tobin. Subs: P O'Brien (1-1) for Tobin, I White for Herlihy, G O'Mahony for McInerney.

Referee: A Heaney (Clare).