"Disappointing" was how Limerick head coach John Kiely characterised the second-half Munster Championship brawl between Limerick and Waterford, which resulted in a number of red and yellow cards. Kiely urged the GAA to deal with the matter from Sunday.
Tipperary , Ireland - 23 April 2023; (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via GettyLimerick began their defence of their Munster crown with a 1-18 to 0-19 win over Davy Fitzgerald's Waterford, but it was the scenes between the sides in the second half that became a major talking point.
Both sides traded blows, and both sets of players were given cards by the referee before this. However, it was Limerick's Gearoid Hegarty, who was sent off for an early bath after picking up a second yellow card for a barge on Waterford's Conor Gleeson.
A coming together between the teams resulted in Hegarty allegedly being struck in the chest by a member of Waterford's backroom team, resulting in a sending-off also.
Speaking after the win, John Kiely said: "Whatever about Gearoid and his engagement with the Waterford player, I didn’t see that, so I can’t comment on that, so I’m not going to comment on the yellow card.
"When you are on a yellow, you are always at risk of getting caught with another. We understood that ourselves at halftime.
"The piece after that was very disappointing, and hopefully, it will be dealt with accordingly."
Fitzgerald, his opposite number on the touchline, felt Hegarty's red was deserved but also said he did not see the altercation between his member of staff and the Limerick hurler.
"I’m right there in the thick of it. I didn’t see," he said.
"Let me make this clear. Gearoid Hegarty gets a tough time at times. I don’t think Gearoid is a dirty player? Is it a yellow card? It probably was.
"I hope he gets straight back into action and isn’t banned again. I just didn’t see what was there.
"I’m sure if there is anything wrong, it will be dealt with."
Limerick plays Clare on Sunday, April 29, in the next round.
Some Mentor alright from Waterford! He should be banned for interfering not to mind punching Gearoid Hegarty in the chest. Come on Limerick 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/1XdGiKhKad
— Shiv Kelly (@shivkelli) April 23, 2023
Scorers for Limerick: Aaron Gillane 0-7 (5fs), Seamus Flanagan 1-1, Diarmuid Byrnes 0-3 (0-2 frees), Peter Casey and Tom Morrissey 0-2 each, Barry Nash, Gearoid Hegarty, 0-1.
Scorers for Waterford: Stephen Bennett 0-13 (10fs), Austin Gleeson, Dessie Hutchinson 0-2 each, Jamie Barron, Conor Gleeson 0-1 each
Limerick: Nickie Quaid, Sean Finn, Dan Morrissey, Barry Nash, Diarmuid Byrnes, Declan Hannon, Kyle Hayes, Darragh O’Donovan, William O’Donoghue, Gearoid Hegarty, Cian Lynch, Tom Morrissey, Aaron Gillane, Seamus Flanagan, Peter Casey.
Subs: Mike Casey for Declan Hannon; Cathal O’Neill for Seamus Flanagan; David Reidy for William O’Dononghue; Conor Boylan for Peter Casey.
Waterford: Billy Nolan, Conor Gleeson, Conor Prunty, Mark Fitzgerald, Calum Lyons, Tadhg de Burca, Jack Fagan, Darragh Lyons, Jamie Barron, Neil Montgomery, Dessie Hutchinson, Michael Kiely, Colin Dunford, Stephen Bennett, Jack Prendergast.
Subs: Tom Barron for Tadhg de Burca; Austin Gleeson for Colin Dunford; Patrick Fitzgerald for Jack Prendergast; Padraic Fitzgerald for Neil Montgomery.
