With the All-Stars' trip robbing the Rebels of the services of goalkeeper Alan Quirke, midfielder Murphy, forward James Masters and defenders Ger Spillane and Graham Canty, who is edging ever closer to his return from a cruciate ligament injury, Billy Morgan might have expected a bigger test from Limerick.

But the Shannonsiders failed to deliver, with memories harking back to last June's disappointing Munster semi-final reversal against Cork. Only Micheal Reidy did his reputation any good with a personal haul of 0-4.

Morgan's reshuffled Cork side accumulated four points inside the opening 12 minutes to signal their intent - key forwards Kevin O'Sullivan, Donnacha O'Connor (0-2) and Kevin McMahon all found their range.

A Michael Crowley goal miss did little for Limerick's confidence, but they did get off the mark in the 15th-minute when Reidy landed a free. Centre back Thomas Cahill doubled the visitors' tally, however a neat interchange between O'Sullivan and McMahon, on the cusp of half-time, saw the latter round Sean Kiely and plant the ball to the Limerick net.

1-5 to 0-3 in front at the turnaround, Cork shipped points to John Cooke and Reidy but managed to build their lead back up, in a scrappy second period, with O'Connor, McMahon and Noel O'Leary bisecting the posts.