Limerick to meet Cork IT in final

Tipperary 0-05 Cork IT 1-10.

Limerick 3-11 Tralee IT 0-08.

Two second-half goals from corner forward Colm Hickey saw holders Limerick through to next Sunday's McGrath Cup final, on a 3-11 to 0-08 scoreline against Tralee IT today.

The Hospital-Herbertstown attacker bagged a brace as Liam Kearns' side booked a Clonmel date with Cork IT, following their second win in six days.

Limerick's greater physicality proved key at the Gaelic Grounds, seeing them to a 1-06 to 0-03 half-time lead. Tralee free-taker Michael Collins opened the scoring with a first-minute free, and he tagged on another two in a poor half-hour.

Hickey, Conor Mullane and Michael Reidy all pointed before Johnny Murphy netted a decisive Limerick penalty for a 1-03 to 0-01 lead. Murphy, Sean Buckley and Jimmy Donovan also found the target for Limerick as the half came to a close.

The second half was more of the same from last season's Munster finalists as Hickey netted twice past Tralee net-minder Sean Murphy, and Kerry U21 captain Collins was again the students' more scoring threat.

In Clonmel, a seventh-minute goal from Eoin O'Connor set Cork IT up for a 1-10 to 0-05 semi-final defeat of Tipperary, conquerors of Kerry last week.

Cork goalkeeper Kevin Murphy pulled out a brilliant save from Eamonn Hanrahan in the closing stages to see the students through, after they had led 1-06 to 0-03 at the break.