Limerick overcome Gearóid Hegarty dismissal to edge out Waterford

Limerick began their defence of the Munster SHC with victory over Waterford, but didn't have it all their own way at Semple Stadium.

Seamus Flanagan’s 21st-minute goal proved decisive, as 14-man Limerick triumphed late on despite the dismissal of Gearóid Hegarty, in what was a case of opportunity missed for Davy Fitzgerald's Déise side.

Unsurprisingly, it was the All-Ireland champions who started the brighter, Aaron Gillane opening the scoring from an angle having been picked out by Kyle Hayes.

Waterford had Mark Fitzgerald to thank that it didn’t soon get worse, the young defender producing an excellent hook on Flanagan as he bore down on the Déise goal.

Limerick soon doubled their advantage on three minutes as Hayes picked out Tom Morrissey in acres, and he made no mistake in splitting the posts.

Colin Dunford, making his first championship start in five years, was the catalyst for Waterford’s first score - the Colligan man catching Billy Nolan’s puckout and drawing the foul, allowing Stephen Bennett to fire over for the first time, but certainly not the last time.

Waterford’s next puckout proved full of error, and former Hurler of the Year Hegarty ensured they were punished with his first score.

Peter Casey then shrugged off the challenge of Tadhg De Burca to slot over his first and Limerick’s fifth, and one got the impression that John Kiely’s side were already beginning to dominate.

Calum Lyons and Conor Prunty fired wide from distance as Waterford struggled to make any immediate impressions, and they were cursing their luck again moments later - a diagonal ball from Dessie Hutchinson picked out Jack Prendergast, but Nicky Quaid rushed out to smother his effort and deny the Déise the first green flag.

De Burca then picked