Shane O’Regan (1-6) was Cork's star turn tonight at Pairc Ui Rinn, where they defeated Limerick by 1-20 to 0-16.

The winners entertain Clare next Wednesday night for a place in the inaugural provincial final at this slightly tweaked age group.

The Shannonsiders hung in well and remained on the Rebels’ tails until the killer blow was delivered by Watergrasshill clubman O'Regan on 47 minutes when he reacted quickest to strike the game’s only goal.

Cork produced a lot of good hurling in the first half but wastefulness in front of the posts meant their half-time lead was a slender one – 0-10 to 0-8.

With 3,354 taking in the summer sun and some entertaining fare, O’Regan’s second point had the Rebels ahead by 0-2 to 0-1 after seven minutes, Craig Hanifin slotting a free to extend the gap before Daire Connery’s excellent point made it 0-4 to 0-1.

Captain and midfielder Ronan Connolly had registered the Treaty County’s opener and Rebel custodian Ger Collins executed an exceptional save to deny Dylan O’Shea, with Paul O’Brien knocking over the resulting ‘65’, followed swiftly by another ‘65’ and a Jack Ryan equaliser on 17 minutes after Collins’ puck-out was intercepted.

O’Regan’s third point from play nudged the Leesiders back ahead but Mark McCarthy brought the sides level for the third time.

Douglas clubman Brian Turnbull chipped in with a quickfire brace as Denis Ring’s men – who were never behind - moved two clear. O’Brien and Hanifin swapped frees, Connaire floated over the score that made it 0-9 to 0-6. Hanifin’s third stretched the gap three minutes from the break but the visitors finished the first half strongly, Connolly and Rory Duff firing over a couple of late points.

Hanifin pointed his fourth within seconds of the restart and he cancelled out an O’Brien free before McCarthy replied, the Treaty boys refusing to roll over. O’Regan quickly added his fourth but again Limerick hit back, this time through Paul O’Riordan.

The Rebels’ wides tally soared to ten by the 40th minute, their opponents showing greater economy as Connolly popped one over at the other end to reduce the arrears to the minimum. Mungret ace O’Brien arrowed over the score that made it 13 points each with 43 minutes played, but Turnbull – one of the survivors from last year’s All-Ireland U21 final - replied and the outstanding O’Regan whipped over his fifth from play as the home side led by two with a quarter of the game remaining to be played.

The defining moment arrived 13 minutes from the end when full forward O’Regan flashed the sliothar to the net after Evan Sheehan’s initial shot had been saved.

O’Brien’s brace of frees – his sixth and seventh of the night - brought the gap back to just three points with eight minutes of normal time remaining,

Turnbull and O’Regan gave the winners some breathing space, however, substitute Liam O’Shea lofting over the 18th Cork point on the hour and adding another in the fourth of six added minutes, Connery brilliantly chipping over a sideline cut with the last action of the game.

Cork - G Collins; C O’Callaghan, J Keating, E Roche; R Walsh, S O’Leary Hayes, R Downey; T O’Connell, B Roche; S Kennefick, C Hanifin (0-5, 3f), D Connery (0-3, 1sl); B Turnbull (0-4), S O’Regan (1-6), E Sheehan. Subs: G Millerick for R Walsh, S Twomey for S Kennefick, D Hanlon for C Hanifin, L O’Shea (0-2) for E Sheehan, B Murphy for B Roche.

Limerick - J Gillane; C Flahive, C Barry, J Considine; M O’Grady, M O’Brien, R Duff (0-1); R Connolly (0-3), D Woulfe; P O’Riordan (0-1), E Sheehan, J Ryan (0-1); M McCarthy (0-2), D O’Shea, P O’Brien (0-8, 6f, 2'65). Subs: E McEvoy for D Woulfe, S O’Connor for E Sheehan, D Moloney for C Flahive, C Carroll for P O’Riordan, C Nicholas for J Ryan.

Referee - T Walsh.

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