Gillane and O’Neill step up, Limerick still the team to beat as injuries mount up | Five Things We Learned as Limerick best Waterford

LIMERICK moved one step closer to a fourth successive final with a win over Waterford in round two of the Munster championship.

With the dust firmly settled on a titanic Munster championship clash, Limerick return to action this weekend as they continue their search for a fourth consecutive Munster final berth.

The manner of their 0-30 to 2-21 win over Waterford solidified their credentials as the team to beat, as hurler of the year Cian Lynch limped off inside ten minutes.

It was an exhilarating contest as the Deise, the pretenders to the throne, fronted up to Kiely’s all-conquering side before succumbing to a third quarter surge.

Waterford did reply with a brace of quickfire goals but the damage was done at this stage as Limerick made it two from two.

Sign up for the weekly Limerick Post newsletter

Sign Up

Reflecting on a classic encounter, below are five things we learned.

Gillane and Byrnes step up in place of clubmate

For many, Limerick’s worst fears were realised in the tenth minute as Cian Lynch pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury. The two-time Hurler of the Year limped off the field with Waterford two clear after a blistering opening period.

But in his absence, a pair of his clubmates made little of his departure as Diarmaid Byrnes and Aaron Gillane took the game by the scruff of the neck. The duo combined for 0-19 of Limerick’s total with seven of those coming from play. Gillane, who was also without All-Star forwards, Peter Casey and Seamus Flanagan, as well as Lynch, was a constant outlet in the forwards as a number of Deise backs couldn’t keep tabs on the double All-Star.

At the other end, Diarmaid Byrnes was able to combine his defensive stability with efficiency in front of goal. He has now tallied 0-12 over the first two weeks, an incredible output from a defender.

Gillane was subsequently crowned Hurler of the Week, following Byrnes who received the same honour after the Cork win.

Limerick get the job done in All-Stars absences

As noted, Gillane and Byrnes were vital in Limerick’s victory over the Deise but the win underlines Limerick’s ability to get the job done without some of the their key players. Prior to the game, Limerick were without three current All-Stars in the form of Kyle Hayes, Casey and Flanagan. Hayes who started in the forward ranks as a result of their absence in round one, was ruled out through injury as Limerick were forced to reshuffle once more.

Lynch’s injury meant that Gillane, Gearoid Hegarty and Tom Morrissey were the sole survivors from Limerick’s All-Ireland winning forward unit from last August. But their replacements more than showed their worth. Conor Boylan and Graeme Mulcahy were named from the start and while neither got on the scoresheet, both provided huge workrate. Lynch’s replacement Cathal O’Neill hit over 0-3 while substitutes Pat Ryan and David Reidy scored from the bench.

Limerick will certainly be hoping to have those aforementioned All-Stars back as soon as possible but in their absence, Limerick are still the team to beat.

Cathal O’Neill’s furthers his reputation

Scoring 1-1 in a matter of moments to seal a crucial round one victory in the Munster U20 Hurling Championship tie with Clare, there would have been mixed emotions for that set up leaving the Gaelic Grounds that night.

O’Neill’s performance, that saw him yield 2-3 over the hour, continued his blistering start to 2022 and almost ensured it would be his last U20 game of the year as was proved when he was introduced from the bench against Cork eleven days later in the senior championship opener.

O’Neill clipped over two points that day, two superb strikes, one on the loop and the other from way out. A starting berth deserted him against Waterford but the game wasn’t ten minutes old when he was introduced in the place of Cian Lynch.

Replacing Limerick’s talisman is no easy feat but the Crecora Manister man went to work right away and hit a point almost immediately, adding another brace in the remaining hour to firmly establish himself as a go to player when on the field.

With all the injuries, O’Neill looks set for a starting berth against Tipp in a fortnight and few would rule him out adding more to his already impressive scoring rate.

Certainly a huge loss to the 20s but John Kiely cannot be but pleased with his integration into the senior ranks.

All-Ireland progression almost secured

Presented with arguably the toughest of starts (playing themselves aside) Limerick have navigated through the opening rounds of the Munster championship expertly as they sit atop the table two points clear after a pair of rounds.

Those results have Limerick with one foot in the Munster final with a pair of rounds to go. Obviously defeats to Tipperary and Clare will see Limerick in real danger of missing out on third place even but their start has been hard to ignore.

A win over Tipperary will see Limerick move to six points while only one of Cork or Waterford can match that tally with those sides to meet in round five.

Clare, all of a sudden look in pole position to finish in the top two as they know wins over Cork and Waterford will guarantee that prior to their round five clash with Limerick.

But for John Kiely and co, with potential banana skins avoided, a place in the Munster final has to be the minimum aim now, starting with Tipperary on May 8, a team on the decline but cannot be underestimated.

Not the last we will see of Waterford

Three points was the difference when the titanic affair came to an end on Saturday night and while the scoreline seemed to flatter the Deise, the warning signs are on the wall for Limerick with regards Liam Cahill’s outfit.

An bust midway through the first half had Waterford five clear with the conditions at their back. But instead of capitalising on their advantage, the Deise hit a number of wides as they allowed Limerick to find their rhythm. As a result, Limerick were ahead at the break which took the wind out of the Waterford sails as they trailed by seven with ten minutes to play.

But in a couple of short minutes, they showed exactly why they are the pretenders to the throne as Stephen Bennett first found the net from a free before playing his part in a beautifully worked goal finished by Jack Prendergast.

It would be amazing to see Waterford failing to emerge from Munster such has been their 2022 form with many suggesting that Saturday was the first of three potential meetings.

And after that clash, few neutrals would begrudge it.

The post Gillane and O’Neill step up, Limerick still the team to beat as injuries mount up | Five Things We Learned as Limerick best Waterford appeared first on Sporting Limerick.