A return to familiar form. After they were overturned in Cork, in quite sensational fashion a fortnight ago, Limerick arrived at the last day of the Munster round-robin aware that the stakes were high. Just like twelve months ago they could not afford nother stumble, and again they rose to the challenge.
If nerves started to jangle amongst the home support when Waterford made that charge in the second half, off the back of Shane Bennett’s close-range finish to the net, Limerick’s players remained composed. In the end it was a comfortable victory and they breezed into the Munster final. Now they have the chance to do something else truly special.
Victory in that decider in a fortnight will complete six-in-a-row in a highly competitive province. That feat eluded Cork’s team in 1980 when they were in pursuit of it. Limerick aim to maintain their silverware streak.
‘What I do know is that our performance levels are higher than what they were last year and the year before, when you look at the data that’s there,” said John Kiely afterwards. “I’m delighted with that and our trajectory is upwards as well. “There was a lot said about us (being) knocked out of the Munster championship – we’re still here.
We want to drive on.” Their last outing at the Gaelic Grounds was marred by injury late on to a Limerick star forward, this time the withdrawal happened earlier. Peter Casey’s season-ending ankle break was the low note of their encounter with Tipperary, yeste.
