Substitute O'Brien's late match winner propelled UL into the lead for the first time in this game, after Ger Cunningham's side had battled back from a nine-point deficit.

LIT were in firm command in the early stages as goals from Limerick duo Sean Tobin and Donie Reale helped their side to a 2-7 to 0-4 lead in the 23rd minute.

UL cut the gap to six points by half-time, and gave a solid display on the restart with a fourth point from Galway's David Burke levelling the sides with 40 seconds remaining.

O'Brien's goal edged UL ahead for the first time, with LIT's woes being compounded in injury-time by Willie Hyland's dismissal.

Burke picked up the man-of-the-match award after the game, with UL captain Kieran Joyce of Kilkenny receiving the Fitzgibbon Cup from Comhairle Ardoideachais Vice Chairman Gerry Tully.

Scorers - UL: P Cronin, D Burke (0-1f), A Quinn (0-3f) 0-4 each, P Kelly 0-3 (0-2f), T O'Brien 1-0, B Beckett, B Carroll 0-1 each

LIT: D Reale 1-1, S Tobin 1-0, J McInerney (0-3f), B Gaffney (0-3f) 0-3 each, P Browne, P O'Brien, S Collins, JB O'Halloran 0-1 each

UL: T Lowry; P Stapleton, M Walsh, S Hickey; B Bugler, PJ Delaney, K Joyce; D Burke, P Cronin; B Carroll, B Beckett, P Kelly; K Morris, P Murphy, A Quinn.

Subs used: M Boran for Murphy (26 mins), T Connors for Boran (half-time), T O'Brien for Carroll (57).

LIMERICK IT: M Ryan; E Glynn, C Cone, C Cooney; JB O'Halloran, J McInerney, J O'Keefe; S Lambert, P O'Brien; S Collins, W Hyland, P Browne; B Gaffney, S Tobin, D Reale.

Referee: Michael Wadding (Waterford).