LIMERICK have replaced previous incumbents Cork at the helm in Division 1A of the National Hurling League.
It follows the neat win by John Kiely’s side over Ben O’Connor’s outfit in front of a fine crowd at the Gaelic Grounds.
There’s now a strong chance that the pair will again clash in the 100th anniversary final of the competition on Easter Sunday.
For certain, the counties will meet in the Munster Championship Leeside on April 21.
In the weekend win, timely goals arrived for Limerick through Shane O’Brien, Cathal O’Neill and Aidan O’Connor, who grabbed an impressive 1-11.
Limerick fielded 12 to Cork’s seven from the respective line-ups of last summer’s Munster final at the same venue.
To confirm a Limerick/Cork final, the former need to secure a draw or better in the concluding round at home to Galway the weekend after next.
Limerick: Nickie Quaid; Seán Finn, Mike Casey, Barry Nash; Diarmaid Byrnes, William O’Donoghue, Kyle Hayes; Adam English (0-2), Cian Lynch (0-1); Gearóid Hegarty, Aidan O’Connor (1-11), Cathal O’Neill (1-2); Aaron Gillane (0-1), Shane O’Brien (1-0), David Reidy.
Substitues: Colin Coughlan, Tom Morrissey, Hugh Flanagan (0-01), Darragh Langan, Donnacha Ó Dálaigh, OisÃn O’Farrell.