Armagh 2-16 Limerick 1-6 The outcome was never in much doubt at Kilmallock as Armagh led 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time after Limerick had the benefit of the strong breeze.

The visitors made the perfect start with points by Tony Kernan (free) and Finnian Moriarty and they struck for their opening goal after 11 minutes when Aidan Forker raced forward to be first to reach a breaking ball from a Tony Kernan pass.

Limerick had to wait for 19 minutes for their first score, a point by Cillian Fahy,

It was 1-4 to 0-1 when Limerick midfielder Tommy Lee rounded off a splendid move with a goal but Armagh were more than happy to be three points in front at the break. Armagh scored 1-6 in that period, equal to Limerick's fulltime tally.

Second goal

Armagh’s second goal came from

Mark Shields

after 49 minutes which made it 2-10 to 1-4 and Limerick could manage only two more points, one from

Garrett Noonan

and a Seanie Buckley free.

Michael McKenna was a constant thorn in Limerick’s side and he scored five points, all from play, with Tony Kernan getting four, three frees.

Limerick again found scoring difficult and managed only 1-2 from play as Armagh ran out impressive winners. LIMERICK: B Scanlon (0-1, 45); R Browne, J McCarthy, C Moran; I Corbett, P Browne, C Fahy (0-1); T Lee 1-0, G Hegarty; D Tracey, D Neville (0-2, frees), S Buckley (0-1, free); M Lyons, C Sheehan, M Brosnan. Subs: P Nash for Lyons (28 mins), D Ward for Brosnan (53 mins), G Noonan 0-1 for Lee (55 mins), P Moran for C Moran (60 mins), J Mullins for Neville (61 mins), J O'Riordan for Hegarty (69 mins). ARMAGH: N Geoghegan; A Mallon, C Vernon, M Murray; A Forker (1-1), F Moriarty (0-1), M McConville; A Findon, P Carragher; C Rafferty (0-1), M McKenna (0-5), M Shields (1-1); T Kernan (0-4, three frees), E Rafferty (0-1), A Murnin. Subs: C O'Hanlon (0-2) for Murnin (45 mins), S Harrold and E McVerry for Carragher and Forker (both 52 mins), P Morrisson for Geoghegan (63 mins). Referee: J Hickey, Carlow.