Dublin eased through to the last four of the national hurling league thanks to a facile 1-25 to 0-16 defeat of Limerick at Croke Park.

The winners, who will face either Cork or Wexford for a place in the final, were on top from start to finish, with Mark Schutte producing a superb exhibition of attacking play, including the only goal of the game a minute after the restart.

While Ger Cunningham's men now go forward into the remainder of the season with confidence, tonight's performance and result compounded what has been a miserable Spring campaign for TJ Ryan's charges.

Dublin led by 0-4 to 0-1 early on before Limerick lost captain Donal O'Grady to injury on 12-minutes.

Schutte and Shane Dowling swapped scores as Dublin led by 0-7 to 0-5 twenty minutes into the game.

Dublin added three quick points to lead by double scores before Dowling sent over two Limerick scores.

The home side then won a penalty after a foul on Dotsy O'Callaghan but David Treacy opted to take his point which helped Dublin on their way to a 0-14 to 0-8 interval advantage.

Schutte's goal on the resumption and a point put Dublin ten-points clear. James Ryan and Paudie O'Brien hit the next to points for the Treaty but Dublin would not be troubles, as their run of scores continued to the finish.

Dublin - G Maguire; C O'Callaghan, P Kelly, P Schutte; S Durkin, C Crummey (0-1), C Keaney; J McCaffrey (0-2), N McMorrow (0-2); R O'Dwyer, L Rushe (0-1), D Sutcliffe (0-2); D O'Callaghan (0-2), M Schutte (1-5), D Treacy (0-9, 7f, 0-1pen). Subs: P Ryan for C O'Callaghan, C Cronin for J McCaffrey, C Boland (0-1) for M Schutte, D Plunkett for R O'Dwyer, C McBride for D Sutcliffe.

Limerick - N Quaid; S Walsh, R McCarthy, S Hickey; P O'Brien (0-1), W McNamara, D Morrissey; P Browne, J Ryan (0-1); D Breen, D Hannon, D O'Grady; G Mulcahy (0-4), S Dowling (0-8, 7f, 1'65), S Tobin. Subs: C Lynch (0-1) for D O'Grady, S O'Brien for S Hickey, D Reidy for S Tobin, C King for J Ryan, T Morrissey (0-1) for G Mulcahy.

Referee - D Kirwan.

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