Over 38,000 packed into Semple Stadium on a scorching first Sunday of May 1998 to get a glimpse of four Munster sides in a league double header.
White and blue outnumbered the other three tribes beforehand. Waterford had captured the Crystal League in early February and took down Tipperary and Kilkenny on their way to the semis. Reigning league champions Limerick, under new manager Eamon Cregan, qualified with five wins and had six points to spare against Waterford the previous May.
Shane Ahearne stood alongside Gerald McCarthy, Greg Fives and John Galvin on the line and he sensed that they were ready for a breakthrough. “Gerald had been with us in 1997 and we felt that we had a good team coming. We got a bit unlucky in the Munster championship match against Limerick up in Thurles. Ray Whitty was on the goal and he left in two soft goals. We took him off before half time and we brought on Brendan Landers. It’s not often that it happens. That was 1997 and there was no backdoor. We just felt we were coming good enough in 1997 but we were gone very suddenly. In 1998, there was good momentum built up, we had been on the Neutron diet and fellas were feeling great. The previous year of training was starting to tell on fellas into the second year with Gerald. We had a few good results and got Limerick in the semi final. The 1998 semi final was the announcement of our arrival on the scene.”
Jimmy Cooney was in charge of the whistle and little did he know what 1998 would bring. It was also the last year that league matches were played over sixty minutes. Paul Flynn scored the first of nine points from a 65’ following an accidental clash between Joe Quaid and Jack Foley. He harvested 5-33 during that spring campaign and delivered three from play in the first half. Waterford were relieved however when TJ Ryan’s goal was ruled out for a tug on Mark O’Sullivan.
The play was frenzied yet Sean Cullinane and Fergal Hartley held it together at the back. Cullinane’s clearance picked out the flying Flynn to lash over. Hartley then sidestepped Ollie Moran and cleared the crossbar from 60 metres away.
On 16 minutes, Billy O’Sullivan collected possession under the New Stand. He looked up and spotted Ken McGrath sneaking behind the Limerick cover. O’Sullivan’s precision pass meant that the number eleven didn’t need to break stride before dispatching across Joe Quaid to the net. There was hardly a better goal scored throughout 1998. 1-9 to 0-7 at half time and Limerick were in damage limitation mode.
They threw on Ciaran Carey, Ger Hegarty and Eoin O’Neill to salvage the situation. Waterford carried on regardless. Hartley was simply awesome and set up further points for Dan Shanahan and Anthony Kirwan. Carey, wearing number 18, went on solo run harassed by Shanahan and Peter Queally. Shanahan hooked the Limerick substitute and Tony Browne kicked the ball clear. A gorgeous flick by Ken McGrath kept the ball moving towards O’Sullivan who added to it. Flynn got out in front. The first defender broke his stick off him and the second threw it at him before he split the posts (1-14 to 0-8). “The best passage of hurling I have seen in the nineties,” shouted Marty Morrissey on commentary.
Mike Houlihan lashed over a free in reply. At the other end, Flynn’s attempt was half blocked and fell into the path of Derek McGrath who nipped in ahead of Stephen McDonagh. The sliotar got stuck under his stick however and Limerick cleared the danger. Brendan Landers acted fast to flick away a dangerous 65’ from Houlihan.
A battle hardened Limerick clawed their way back. At six points down, TJ Ryan was fouled 25 metres out. Gary Kirby’s bullet soared to the top corner. Flynn reacted with a free but Limerick were starting to flow. TJ Ryan’s lofted sideline floated into the square and was batted down to the waiting Barry Foley. The ball hopped and he let fly first time off his right side. Brendan Landers barely saw it. 1-15 to 2-11.
Waterford wouldn’t back down and Ahearne reflects on a crunching hit made by captain Stephen Frampton as a crucial moment. “The two of them hit the ground and the ball spun loose. I remember Stephen telling me afterwards: ‘I was on the ground and every bit of me was aching but I knew I had to get to that ball first’. Stephen got up and cleared it. Such a cheer came down from the stands that it was nearly the winning of the game.”
The management team only made one substitution but they made it count as Micheal White entered the action. The 20 year old had failed to score in the league campaign up to that point. With the hour almost elapsed, the man with the red helmet made his mark. White flicked over the head of Stephen McDonagh who swiped at thin air. He grasped the sliotar and fired high, beyond the reach of Quaid, to the far corner. The keeper tossed his hurley into the back of the net with disgust. He knew the game was up.
Ahearne tuned in for the highlights later on. “I remember Marty Morrissey saying that night that it was as good a display of hurling he had seen in many a year from any team. We arrived on the scene with that display.”
Gerald McCarthy lauded their mental fortitude in his post-match remarks. “Questions were asked, we made defensive mistakes and were punished. It looked dangerous for us but I was delighted we had the heart and conviction to see it through. Limerick didn’t score after that goal.” It set them up for the season ahead. “This win will give us great confidence because Waterford hurling hasn’t had anything like this in years.”
35 years to be exact. Although Cork put manners on them a fortnight later, the all-whites were on the up and an unforgettable summer soon followed.
Scorers:- Waterford – P. Flynn 0-9 (4fs, 1 65’), K. McGrath 1-2, M. White 1-0, A. Kirwan, T. Browne 0-2 each, F. Hartley, D. Shanahan 0-1 each.
Limerick – G. Kirby 1-3fs, B. Foley 1-2, M. Houlihan (2fs), TJ Ryan 0-2 each, J. Moran, O. Moran 0-1 each.
Waterford: B. Landers; T. Feeney, S. Cullinane, M. O’Sullivan; S. Frampton, F. Hartley, B. Greene; T. Browne, P. Queally; D. Shanahan, K. McGrath, D. McGrath; B. O’Sullivan, A. Kirwan, P. Flynn.
Sub: M. White for D. McGrath.
Limerick: J. Quaid; S. McDonagh, A. Browne, J. Foley; D. Clarke, M. Foley, C. Smith; M. Houlihan, S. O’Neill; J. Moran, O. Moran, B. Foley; TJ Ryan, G. Kirby, D. Quigley.
Subs: C. Carey for O. Moran, G. Hegarty for Quigley, E. O’Neill for J. Moran.
Referee: J. Cooney (Galway).
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