Limerick and Waterford kick off this year’s Munster football championship as they meet in the quarter-final at the LIT Gaelic Grounds this Saturday at 3pm.
The winners will move into the Munster semi-final to play Cork.
It is the second consecutive meeting of the sides at this stage of the province with Limerick winning out 2-14 to 0-10 in n the reverse fixture last October.
Their meetings in the Munster championship have been few and far between with this weekend’s clash only the sixth time they have played since the turn of the millennium.
Indeed Limerick have won each of the last six championship ties dating back to 1991.
Below we look back on the most recent five ahead of Saturday’s game.
Limerick 1-18 : 0-7 Waterford (Munster Senior Football semi-final)
13 June 2004 in the Gaelic Grounds
Limerick made it to back to back Munster finals with a comprehensive 1-18 to 0-7 win over Waterfrod in the Munster semi-final in the Gaelic Grounds.
Limerick raced out of the blocks and were 0-5 to 0-0 to the good after seven minutes with Muiris Gavin (2), Owen Keating, Michael Reidy and Conor Fitzgerald.
Limerick added five more before Waterford finally got off the mark in the 26th minute to leave the tie at 0-10 to 0-1.
Conor Mullane’s goal prior to the half all but sealed the result as Limerick took a 1-13 to 0-2 lead into the dressing rooms.
The sides traded nine scores in a quieter second half with Limerick assured of victory long before the final whistle. Muiris Gavin finished with 0-9 to his name as the Shannonsiders looked forward to a rematch with Kerry in the Munster final.
Limerick 1-17 : 1-9 Waterford (Munster Senior Football semi-final)
6 June 2010 in the Fraher Fields
For the second time in six years, a Limerick win over Waterford guaranteed progression to a second consecutive Munster final.
Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s side were full value for an eight point win over the Deise in Dungarven.
Ger Collins bagged Limerick’s decisive goal after only eight minutes, fisting Stephen Kelly’s delivery to the net for an early 1-1 to 0-1 lead.
Waterford found themselves level after a quarter of an hour with Gary Hurney blasting past Brian Scanlon.
Two each from Stephen Lavin and Ian Ryan helped settle Limerick as they took a 1-8 to 1-4 lead into the interval.
The sides exchanged scores after the break but Waterford could not get within touching distance of the Shannonsiders who had four unanswered late on including one from corner back Mark O’Riordan.
Waterford finished the game with 13-men as Limerick faced into a third Munster final against Kerry in seven years.
Limerick 0-14 : 1-9 Waterford (All-Ireland Qualifiers Rd 3)
16 July 2011 at the Gaelic Grounds
Limerick made it three in a row in the championship with a hard fought 0-14 to 0-9 win over Waterford in the third round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.
In a tense affair, the sides went score for score early on with Limerick leading 0-4 to 0-3 midway through the half.
Waterford felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty with Limerick taking full advantage, kicking four on the spin to move five clear.
Waterford replied with three on the bounce to leave it poised at 0-9 to 0-7 at the break.
Waterford were level within five of the restart but a brace from Stephen Kelly had Limerick back out two clear.
The Deise were then given a blow with Gary Hurney sent off for an off the ball incident with Tom Lee.
Ger Collins had Limerick a goal clear before late points from John Riordan and a seventh for Kelly secured passage into the 4th round of the qualifiers.
Limerick 2-12 : 0-7 Waterford (Munster Senior Football quarter-final)
20 May 2012 in the Gaelic Grounds
It was a tale of two halves in the Gaelic Grounds as Limerick eased into the Munster semi-finals with a third successive win over the Deise in as many years.
At half time, there was just a point between the teams as Limerick held a narrow 1-5 to 0-7 lead.
JJ Hutchinson and Mark Ferncombe had Waterford into an early lead with the sides deadlocked at 0-3 apiece after 15 minutes.
Seamus O’Carroll stuck the all-important first goal after 19, blasting to the net after being set up by Eoghan O’Connor.
But Limerick failed to kick on with Waterford’s response leaving just a single point betweeen them.
The game turned two minutes into the second half as Waterford missed a penalty. The Deise would not score again with the wind taken from their sails.
Ian Ryan extended the lead to four with Stephen Kelly slotting over after being introduced. Ger Collins landed a brace down the home stretch with Ryan sealing the win with a rocket to the net.
That was to be Limerick’s final Munster champions win for seven years.
Limerick 2-24 : 0-10 Waterford (Munster Senior Football quarter-final)
31 October 2020 at the Fraher Fields
Limerick booked their place in a second consecutive Munster semi-final with a comprehensive 2-14 to 0-9 win over Waterford in the Fraher Fields.
The hosts got off to a bright start with the opening score of the game through Conor Murray. However, from here to the waterbreak, it was all Limerick.
Cillian Fahy was at the end of a brilliant flowing movement to pull Limerick ahead as scores from Iain Corbett, Tony McCarthy, Hugh Bourke and Sean McSweeney extended the advantage.
Adrian Enright’s goal approaching the waterbreak gave Limerick a 2-4 to 0-2 lead at the break.
Things slowed down in the second quarter with just three scores to leave the Shannonsiders 2-5 to 0-4 in front at the interval.
Waterford’s inaccuracy in front of goal proved detrimental as six successive wides had Limerick ten clear after 50 minutes.
The hosts didn’t give in but a brace from Davy Lyons down the stretch sealed the impressive win for Limerick.
The post Limerick V Waterford : Last 5 Championship Football Clashes appeared first on Sporting Limerick.
