This McGrath Cup quarter-final was switched from Feenagh to the county venue but the change gave no inspiration to the students who include Kerry Under-21 star Paddy Curran and three Kerry minors.

Limerick were always in control and while the gap was narrowed to five points, two minutes from the end, it was one-way traffic throughout.

Ian Ryan, a late replacement in the Limerick team for Tom Collins, opened the scoring with a pointed free after four minutes but with defences generally on top there was no further score in the first quarter.

A terrific movement, which involved four players, culminated in Limerick's second point, scored by Ger Collins, and points by Johnny Murphy and Andrew Lane quickly followed.

The Shannonsiders had their fifth when Garrett Noonan finished a one-two with Dermot Phelan.

Tralee had their first major scoring opportunity when they were awarded a penalty after 20 minutes but Curran saw his effort saved by Sean Kiely.

Curran made some amends by pointing in the 29th-minute but Andrew Lane put over a '45' for Limerick to leave them 0-6 to 0-1 in front at the interval.

Limerick had the first two points of the second half from Ian Ryan, before Sean Courtney notched Tralee's second.

A point by newcomer Dermot Phelan was followed by a well-taken goal by the same player, thirteen minutes after the restart.

Suddenly Limerick fell asleep and Tralee picked off four points in a row from Courtney, Gerry Coffey, Curran and Jamie Doolan.

Having awoken from their slumber, Limerick fired over points from substitute Michael Crowley and Phelan in reply, but with two minutes remaining, Paul O'Donoughue buried a goal for Tralee to leave only five points between them.

Still, Limerick finished the game off when Stephen Lavin blasted in a second goal and while Courtney pointed a last-minute free, it was a case of too little, too late for the students.