Limerick remain on track for their third title in a row

Limerick ... 2-20 Antrim ... 2-6 Limerick will be bidding for their third successive All-Ireland title next month following their 14-point victory at Parnell Park yesterday.

Just three points up at half-time they pulled away shortly after the restart when posting 2-2 in a three-minute spell.

Their 14th straight victory in the championship came just four days after they won a thrilling Munster final, with man-of-the-match, Eoin Foley, moving from wing back to partner Niall Moran in midfield.

And he was again to have a major bearing on the game as his long balls into the Limerick forwards put the Antrim defence under all sorts of pressure.

With just 10 minutes gone, Antrim trailed 0-5 to 0-1, with Limerick clearly intent on going for the kill early on.

And a fine sideline point from corner forward Kevin Tobin meant that Antrim were clearly in danger at that stage.

However, 18 minutes into the first half Ciarán Herron dropped in a 65 which dropped just under the Limerick posts. In the ensuing confusion, Limerick failed to clear their lines and Sean Delargy was alert to pounce for a fine opportunist goal.

By half-time Limerick led by 0-9 to 1-0 but within 20 seconds of the restart, Limerick had found the back of the Antrim net.

The goal came after full forward Andrew O'Shaughnessy had cut through the Antrim defence with Mark Keane eventually sticking the ball home.

Limerick continued their assault with a long point from Foley and then Antrim conceded a penalty after Niall Moran had been illegally hooked as he advanced on the Antrim goal.

Foley stepped up to put the ball beyond Antrim goalkeeper Gerard Magee, who had a magnificent game for the Glensmen.

Antrim had to wait a full 18 minutes for their first score of the half, came from Liam Watson, while midfielder Micheal McClements delivered a late consolation goal.

LIMERICK: T Houlihan; D Reale, B Carroll, E Mulcahy; M O'Brian, P O'Dwyer, M Cahill; E Foley (1-3, one pen, one free), N Moran (O-1); C Fitzgerald (O-1), J O'Brian, K Tobin (O-2); P Kirby, A O'Shaughnessy (O-2), M Keane (1-10, 7 frees). Subs: P Tobin (O-1) for Fitzgerald 44 mins, R Hayes for Cahill 51 mins, M Clifford for Reale 52 mins, T Carmody for Kirby 55 mins.

ANTRIM: G Magee; B Mc Auley, P Martin, G Bell; M Scullion, K Elliot, S Campbell; M McClements (1-O), K McGourty (O-1); B Quinn, C Herron, L Watson (O-3,frees); S Delargy (1-0), K Stewart (O-2), D Mc Auley. Subs: M Herron for McGourty 37 mins, C Tumelty for Elliott 55 mins.

Referee: E Morris (Dublin)