Champions Limerick inflicted a heavy defeat on Tipperary in this semi-final at Mitchelstown.

Tipperary failed to take advantage of a strong breeze, going into the break 0-3 to 0-2 in arrears. Limerick ruled the roost in the second half with a string of points from the outstanding Colm Hickey and a 53rd-minute goal from Peter Lawlor.

Limerick: S O'Donnell; M O'Riordan, B Geary, P McCarthy; C Mullane, S Lucey (0-1), P O'Dea; J Stokes, J Galvin; E Keating, P Lawlor (1-0), S Lavin; C Fitzgerald, J Lydon (0-1), C Hickey (0-7). Subs: J McElligott for O'Dea; D Laing for Lydon; D Bourke for O'Riordan.

Tipperary: B Enright; N Curran, T Russell, N Sheehan; P Morrissey, S Maher, D Hackett; K Mulryan, N Fitzgerald; J Shanahan (0-1), C Morrissey; T O'Connor, S Stapleton, T Doyle (0-2); D O'Brien. Subs: O O'Connor for N Fitzgerald; A Fitzgerald for Stapleton; C Maher for Hackett.

Referee: A J Cronin (Cork).