GAELIC GAMES:Waterford did well to win but Limerick deserved to take something out of the game, writes NICKY ENGLISH

THURLES SAW the most dramatic championship game of the summer so far. There was a huge contrast between the first and second half, which was played at pace with great scores, inevitable mistakes in poor conditions and the result in doubt all the way until the final whistle.

Waterford did well to snatch victory with John Mullane’s late goal but Limerick deserved to take something out of the game. It was appropriate that the winning goal took a deflection of Tom Condon because the Limerick corner back symbolised his team’s afternoon.

He did some excellent things, getting in hooks on Mullane and not giving him any peace, but there was also a naivete to his play that helped the Waterford man end up with 2-2. Limerick showed absolute desire in the second half. Manager Donal O’Grady said they couldn’t have given any more and he was right. They showed good method and unveiled good new players, most obviously Kevin Downes.

They started nervously but warmed to the task even if they remained prone to mistakes and inexperience led to some bad wides. Still, they could have had a free at the end but referee Barry Kelly was consistent in letting the incident go because he played on all through the game, giving very few frees.

Waterford were slicker and more experienced and, to be fair to manager Davy Fitzgerald, they also introduced some new players. Paudie Mahony was excellent from frees and play and Brian O’Sullivan was also good, if not as economical.

In the first half the older hands were dominant: Brick Walsh, Kevin Moran, Stephen Molumphy and Tony Browne. But there was still the sense that if Limerick could get ball into the full forwards, Downes would cause trouble and that’s exactly what happened.

It eventually took radical surgery to combat Downes in the form of Walsh having to go back on to the edge of the square.

After a number of years being more noted for point-scoring, Mullane revived memories of his hat-trick in the 2003 Munster final by scoring 2-2 but I still thought Condon didn’t do badly on him.

The conditions were the worst you can get. A heavy mist that made the ball hard to control and caused players to slip all over the place made the match a big contrast with Saturday. The hurling reflected that but this was still a good day out for two teams with potential, who’ll be around for a while yet.

Ultimately the qualifiers mightn’t be a bad experience for Limerick even if they’d no doubt prefer to be in a Munster final. Their full-back line was in difficulties and I don’t think Séamus Hickey is as comfortable there as farther out the field. Stephen Lucey’s return will be welcome.

The first half is when they lost it because their scoring wasn’t consistent enough. You could also see the gap in technical ability between the two teams, maybe a reflection of Limerick’s season in Division Two, and that’s important on a day like yesterday when you need control.

Limerick’s touch wasn’t as sharp as Waterford’s and they frequently needed too much time on the ball. But, with this game under their belt, the qualifiers won’t hold too many fears for them.

In contrast, Saturday night in Wexford Park was a different matter. I’d hoped that it would be competitive with Wexford at home but they were a disappointment in what was a disappointing game.

What it told you about Kilkenny was limited because they weren’t particularly tested and the crowd never became a factor apart from maybe after Jim Berry’s goal just before the break, which made for a hopeful half-time interval for the home support.

Kilkenny weren’t near top gear and yet coped comfortably with what Wexford threw at them. Henry Shefflin on his comeback wasn’t over-extended but his leadership was obvious from his work rate to the reliability of his free-taking.

There was more to Kilkenny. Richie Power came in under the radar a bit and was excellent. Michael Fennelly came back strongly after injury and the effect was a much improved performance, which I’m sure will have pleased Brian Cody and will make it easier to go back training this week.

However, they still have concerns. The fact that Noel Hickey didn’t play full back and was moved to the corner, bringing JJ Delaney back, demonstrates the worries in defence. Jackie Tyrrell was constantly under pressure from Rory Jacob and instead of being considered, as he often is, for a more central switch he was taken off before the end, which is really unusual.

They’ll have to take on board that they looked leaky under minimal pressure but, crucially, Wexford weren’t able to get enough ball in to take advantage.

Otherwise Colin Fennelly still doesn’t look like a corner forward but Kilkenny have so many options in the half forwards that they’re switching players onto the inside line.

There were on the other hand positives: David Herity in goal pulled off some excellent saves and another newcomer Paul Murphy was very good at wing back. And of course Tommy Walsh has to come back.

In ways Colm Bonnar had Wexford playing too scientifically, attempting cross-field passes and trying to open up Kilkenny that way rather than get Stephen Banville in on the square and hit a few high balls in, in the traditional manner of Tony Doran and more recently Billy Byrne. Given Kilkenny’s hesitancy at the back on Saturday night it would have been worth trying.