A dominant first-half display propelled Tony Considine's Kilmallock side to a 0-19 to 1-9 victory over Midleton at the TUS Gaelic Grounds this afternoon.

The Balbec have never lost a Munster senior hurling championship final - winning out on three occasions (1992, 1994 and 2014) and will feel confident of preserving that record against either Ballygunner or Loughmore-Castleiney on January 9. Man-of-the-match Micheal Houlihan was the Kilmallock scoring star with 0-11 (seven frees), seven of which came in the opening period at the end of which they led by 0-12 to 0-3.

Midleton's Tommy O'Connell with Kilmallock's Oisin O'Reilly. ©INPHO/Ben Whitley.

Kilmallock laid down an early marker when Paudie O'Brien and Houlihan pointed within 70 seconds of the start. The visitors had gone 18 minutes without a score since Sean O'Meara restored parity for them at 0-2 each, conceding nine on the spin as the Limerick champions threatened to run away with the game.

On the restart, Houlihan fired two frees before Cork star Lehane responded with three points in succession for Midleton, but Kilmallock remained in the ascendancy at the second water-break, 0-15 to 0-7. Although centre-back Tommy O'Connell fired home a late goal, it was mere consolation as Considine's men had built up too much of a cushion.

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