UL exacted sweet revenge for last year's Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final defeat when edging past neighbours LIT in this heated semi-final contest.

Stephen Bennett's goal on 58 minutes rubber-stamped their progression to the decider, LIT reduced to 14-men in the process as full-back Niall O'Connor received a straight red card for throwing his hurl at Bennett.

LIT's final bid appeared bust when Jason Forde pilfered UL's first goal on 33 minutes. John McGrath and David McInerney split the posts in the ensuing passages of play to move the visitors 1-13 to 1-7 clear.

UL were reduced to 14-men thereafter, Jack Browne dismissed on a straight red card for his pull on Paul Killeen. The next three points went the way of LIT as Davy Fitzgerald's troops narrowed the deficit to four.

Jason Forde and Kevin O'Brien steadied the ship for UL and they were out the gap when Bennett blasted to the net.

The winners had started in confident fashion, but were reeled in by a superb Willie Ryan goal and a flurry of David Reidy frees. Points from Cathal McInerney, John McGrath and Kevin O'Brien moved UL 0-10 to 1-6 in front at the interval. They would not be caught on the home stretch.

Scorers for UL: J Forde (1-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 sc); J McGrath (0-4, 0-4 frees); D McInerney, C McInerney (0-3 each); S Bennett (1-0); K O'Brien (0-2); T Heffernan, C Martin, D Morrisssey (0-1 each).

Scorers for LIT: D Reidy (0-8, 0-7 frees); W Ryan (1-0); P Kileen, M Fitzgerald (0-2 each); P Flaherty, S O'Brien (0-1 each).

UL: P Maher (Tipperary); J Browne (Clare), D McInerney (Clare), G Ryan (Clare); D Quinn (Tipperary), B Troy (Kilkenny), B Stapleton (Tipperary); D Morrissey (Limerick), T Kelly (Clare); J McGrath (Tipperary), C Martin (Kilkenny), J Forde (Tipperary); K O'Brien (Limerick), C McInerney (Clare), T Heffernan (Tipperary).

Subs: S Bennett (Waterford) for Heffernan (48 mins).

LIT: A Murphy (Limerick); M Kiely (Limerick), N O'Connor (Limerick), S Gleeson (Clare); W Ryan (Tipperary), B O'Connell (Limerick), K Bennett (Waterford); S O'Halloran (Clare), S O'Brien (Limerick); P Flaherty (Galway), M Fitzgerald (Kildare), J Campion (Laois); D Reidy (Clare), P Killeen (Clare), D Dempsey (Limerick).

Subs: P Fitzgerald (Clare) for Campion (52).

Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath).