Prendergast nicks a draw for Déise at the death
PAUDIE Prendergast’s stunning injury-time point snatched a draw for Waterford in Limerick last night.
Sub Prendergast struck in the second minute of stoppage time as Derek McGrath’s visitors escaped with a deserved share of the spoils.
It appeared that Limerick fullback Richie McCarthy had won it for the hosts before Prendergast’s intervention.
Both teams will feel they could have won it as Waterford were four points up on six occasions.
David Reidy, who scored 2-3 from placed balls, netted a brilliant 48th minute penalty to haul Limerick level at 2-10 to 0-16 but Waterford responded with the next three scores to take command again.
Then in a seesaw second half, played out in front of 3,502 spectators, Paul Browne inspired Limerick hit back to lead by two approaching fulltime before that dramatic finish.
The Déise arrived without now-retired stars Séamus Prendergast, Shane Walsh and Stephen Molumphy, while a number of other players, including Darragh Fives, Shane O’Sullivan, Maurice Shanahan and Colin Dunford, were also unavailable.
But the visitors, operating with Michael ‘Brick’ Walsh in attack, recovered from a nightmare start to put together an impressive first-half performance, with seven players on the scoresheet.
Reidy’s penalty goal in the second minute had Limerick off to a perfect start but Waterford’s response was impressive and they were level at 0-4 to 1-1 when Brian O’Halloran, injuryplagued in recent seasons, popped over a fine score.
Gavin O’Mahony, cleared to play by All-Ireland Club finalists Kilmallock, was Limerick’s leading star in the first half, firing over four points from play.
And it was O’Mahony who put Limerick back in front before Waterford midfielder Jamie Barron levelled matters for the second time in the half.
But Waterford took over after that as their diminutive forwards buzzed and interchanged to good effect.
The scores flowed freely and by half-time, leading scorer Pauric Mahony had six on the board, including five frees. LIMERICK: N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; D O’Grady (J Fitzgibbon 64), W McNamara, T Condon (S O’Brien 65); C King (J Ryan ht), P Browne; N Moran (T Morrissey 28), G O’Mahony, C Lynch (0-1); D Reidy, P Begley (D Morrissey 50), A Breen. Scorers: D Reidy 2-3 (2-0 pen, 0-3f), G O’Mahony 0-5, P Browne 0-4, R McCarthy, T Condon, C Lynch, A Breen 0-1 WATERFORD: S O’Keeffe; S Fives, B Coughlan, N Connors; T Bourke, A Gleeson, Philip Mahony (P Prendergast 23); J Barron, T Devine (M O’Neill 57); K Moran (G O’Brien 69), Pauric Mahony, J Dillon (Stephen Bennett 48); B O’Halloran, M Walsh, M Kearney (Shane Bennett 42). Scorers: Pauric Mahony 0-11 (9f), P Prendergast, B O’Halloran, A Gleeson, J Barron 0-2, K Moran, M Walsh, Shane Bennett 0-1 REFEREE: C Lyons (Cork)