LIMERICK made it two All Irelands in three years following a 0-30 to 0-19 win over Waterford. 24 points from play across a wide range of scorers simply ground Waterford down over the 70 minutes.
Tom Morrissey slotted the first point of the game following a ruck that seemed to go on for an eternity before Seamus Flanagan extended the lead with a finish from a tight angle.
Stephen Bennett levelled proceedings with two frees for Waterford. Tom Morrissey managed to create half a yard of space to edge Limerick back. Gillane made his mark with a point from an acute angle on ten minutes before slotting a free a minute later to make it 0-5 to 0-2.
A huge moment in the game came in the next attack when Stephen O’Keeffe pulled off two world class saves from Kyle Hayes and Cian Lynch. Mulcahy was fouled after gathering possession from O’Keeffe’s save and Gillane executed the free to make it a 4 point game.
Austin Gleeson cuts the gap to a goal with a fine score in front of the Hogan Stand before Will O’Donoghue got his first score of the evening. Stephen Bennett responded with another Waterford free to make it Waterford 0-4 Limerick 0-7.
Declan Hannon, Gearoid Hegarty and Kyle Hayes landed three points on the bounce for Limerick to make it a 0-10 to 0-4 lead. It looked like Limerick were starting to exert a bit of control but Liam Cahill’s charges had other ideas.
Austin Gleeson laded a sideline cut before two Stephen Bennett frees cut the gap to just three points.
Tom Morrissey the pointed from the sideline with a snapshot over Kevin Moran’s head. A superb piece of movement from Gillane to slot over Limerick’s 13th point. Stephen Bennett kept Waterford ticking over with another free.
Gillane and Hegarty landed scores to make it Limerick 0-14 to 0-08 before Stephen Bennett’s 5th and 6th points from frees. Austin Gleeson followed up with a point from an acute angle to make it 11 points for the Deise.
13 December 2020; Gearóid Hegarty of Limerick in action against Kevin Moran of Waterford during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final match between Limerick and Waterford at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/SportsfileLimerick started the second half with a bang as Seamus Flanagan pointed after a lovely diagonal ball from Hayes. Hegarty, Gillane and Flanagan again landed superb points to extend the gap to 6 points 0-18 to 0-11.
A Stephen Bennett free kept Liam Cahill’s team in touch but Limerick were starting to exert their control on the game. Two Hegarty points extended the lead to 8 points. Hutchinson responded with another point for Waterford score but they were struggling across the field.
Tom Morrisey and Kevin Moran swapped points but Limerick now held a 0-21 to 0-14 lead. Calum Lyons responded for Waterford but Gillane (2 frees) and Hegarty extended the lead to 24-15, a nine point lead.
Waterford would score four of the next eight points but it was going to count for little as Limerick started to grind the Deise down. Diarmaid Byrnes points off his right hand side to put Limerick on 29 points, ten points ahead of Liam Cahill’s side.
Limerick capped off the match with a point from Tom Morrissey, to see the scoreboard to 30 points – an eleven point win. It caps off a superb year for John Kiely’s side.
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