Limerick crowned Munster U20 ‘B’ Football champions:
By Paul Shaughnessy Limerick Leader Sport
LIMERICK were crowned Munster U20 football B champions for the second year in-a-row when they defeated Waterford 3-14 to 0-13 on Tuesday evening in the Mallow GAA complex.
John O’Grady’ side will now advance into the All-Ireland B semi-final in six weeks time against Ulster opposition. Limerick were full value for their victory and they controlled matters for most of this encounter. Waterford fought back throughout the second half but Limerick finished strongly in the end.
Both sides faced off in the Munster U20 B final after finishing third and fourth in phase one of the provincial championship. Clare, Tipperary, Cork and Kerry have dvanced into phase two of the Munster U20 Championship.
Padraic Phelan, Tommy Ryan and Diarmuid Hynes impressed scoring 3-3 between them.
The Shannonsiders’ captain Diarmuid Hynes opened up the scoring. Three minutes later, Tommy Ryan tore down through the centre of the Waterford defence and Ryan rattled the ball into the back of the net as Limerick led 1-1 to 0-0 on six minutes.
Waterford’s Joe Brennan narrowed the gap on the final quarter mark to keep the Deise within touch. Mungret St Paul’s clubman Diarmuid Hynes, Evan Curry and Brian O’Callaghan extended Limerick’s lead. On 21 minutes, Padraic Phelan scored his side’s second goal of the evening from close range to put his side 2-5 to 0-1 in front.
Tadgh Hourigan and Shane O’Grady added efforts before the break to push O’Grady’s charges 2-7 to 0-1 clear. Joe Brennan ended Waterford’s scoring drought on 29 minutes which meant Limerick led 2-7 to 0-2 at the interval.
Limerick corner forward Shane O’Grady was lively throughout this encounter. O’Grady had now scored his third point of the evening on 33 minutes. Aidan O’Shea who won a Junior Football Championship title with Cappagh last year got in on the scoring in the early stages of the second half. Limerick were 2-10 to 0-2 ahead on 35 minutes.
Waterford were a different team after that landing the next twelve scores, sharpshooter Joe Brennan made advantage of the new rules scoring three pointers in that period.
Substitute Padraic Murphy was fouled inside the small square and Limerick wing forward Padraic Phelan made no mistake from the penalty spot to push his side 3-10 to 0-12 in front with ten minutes remaining.
Padraic Murphy, Evan Curry and Luke Walsh hit points late on to seal a comfortbale ten point victory for Limerick.
SCORERS:
LIMERICK: Padraic Phelan (2-0, 1-0 penalty), Tommy Ryan 1-0, Diarmuid Hynes and Shane O’Grady 0-3 each, Evan Curry 0-2, Luke Walsh (0-2, 0-1 free), Tadgh Hourigan, Aidan O’Shea, and Brian O’Callaghan 0-1 each, Padraic Murphy (0-1, 0-1 free)
WATERFORD: Joe Brennan (0-10, 0-1 two pointer frees, 1 two pointer, 0-1 free), Paddy McCarthy 0-1, Calum Sloan (0-1, two pointer)
LIMERICK: Cian McGrath (Oola); Cian O’Sullivan (Kildimo-Pallaskenry), Cathal Mangan (Croom), Calum Boyle (Fr Casey’s); Tom Lloyd (Mungret St Paul’s), Tommy Ryan (Dromcollogher-Broadford), Jack Butler (Ahane); Tadgh Hourigan (Pallasgreen), Brian O’Callaghan (Dromcollgher-Broadford); Padraic Phelan (Pallasgreen), Aidan O’Shea (Cappagh), Evan Curry (Athea);Diarmuid Hynes (Captain, Mungret St Paul’s), Micheal Fahy (Dromcollogher-Broaford, Shane O’Grady (Oola).
SUBS: Tom Ryan (Dromcollogher Broaford) for Hourigan (37 minutes), Padraic Murphy (Askeaton-Ballysteen-Kilcornan) for Fahy (45 minutes), Luke Walsh (Mungret St Pauls’) for O’Shea (50 minutes), Bobby Smith for Boyle (56 minutes), Barry Griffin (Monaleen) for O’Callaghan (60 minutes).
WATERFORD: Simon Burns; Michael McHaugh, Ben Boland, Cian Kiely; Darragh Jacob, Fergal O’Brien, Justin Foley; Caolan MacCathmhaoil, Donagh Cooney; Diarmuid Mackle, Paddy McCarthy, Darragh Murphy; Joe Brennan, Conor Keating, Kyle Flynn.
SUBS: Calum Sloan for Foley (24 minutes), Paddy Spelman for Boland (28 minutes), Emmanuel Abebayo for Flynn (40 minutes), Luke Winkle for Keating (56 minutes)
REFEREE: Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh (Kerry)