Limerick will face Cork in the last four after battling to a magnificent 0-27 to 1-22 victory over Kilkenny at Semple Stadium.

This extraordinary match was in the melting pot throughout but was decided by late points from Tom Morrissey and Aaron Gillane as John Kiely's men sealed a date with the Rebels in a fortnight.

It's the first time since 1973 that Limerick have beaten Kilkenny in the championship - Brian Cody was playing that day - but the losing Leinster finalists will feel aggrieved to have been asked to play three huge games inside two weeks ... not much of a reward for pushing Galway so far! They fought to the bitter end and seemed to have snatched victory when Richie Hogan netted in the 64^th minute but, ultimately, they lost by the finest of margins.

Having trailed by seven points to three after 16 minutes, the winners stepped on the gas in the second quarter, slotting twelve of the next 17 points to lead by 0-15 to 0-12 at the end of a breathless opening period, Incredibly, nine different Limerick men registered from play before the break, while Colin Fennelly, Richie Hogan and inspired goalkeeper Eoin Murphy were carrying the fight for Cody's men.

The Cats led by four points to two after twelve minutes, TJ Reid clipping over a couple of frees, while Hogan and the impressive James Maher also pointed for the Noresiders, Seamus Flanagan and Gillane, whose kicked effort was deflected over by Murphy, supplying the first two Limerick scores.

Hogan slotted a brilliant brace either side of a Kyle Hayes reply to make it 0-6 to 0-3. Fennelly stretched the gap but the Treaty hit back with points from Graeme Mulcahy and Diarmuid Byrnes before Gillane and Maher swapped scores - 0-8 to 0-6 after 20 minutes.

Declan Hannon and Gillane brought the Shanonsiders back on terms and Hayes executed a wonderful catch and finish to cancel out a Reid free as the sides remained deadlocked on 0-9 apiece. Gearoid Hegarty nudged Limerick ahead for the first time eight minutes from the break and Maher replied before Murphy made another terrific save - this one from Hegarty at the expense of a point. Mulcahy and Morrissey pushed Limerick three ahead and Darragh O'Donovan registered the fourth successive Treaty point as they moved 0-14 to 0-10 ahead with 33 minutes played.

Limerick's Darragh O'Donovan celebrates after scoring a sideline cut. ©INPHO/Tommy Dickson.

O'Donovan notched his second after Conor Fogarty economically fired over the Cats' eleventh point and Fennelly closed the first-half scoring as the Treaty men led by three at the short whistle.

Reid's free reduced the arrears at the start of the second half and both sides started to struggle in the lashing rain. Hegarty and Hayes pointed as the Treaty edged four in front with 44 minutes gone. Liam Blanchfield cancelled out Gillane's score, which again went over the bar courtesy of a stunning Murphy save.

Morrissey replied to a converted Reid '65' as the winners stayed four ahead with 50 minutes played. Richie Leahy (two) and Reid had the Black & Amber back within a point at the three-quarters stage but Mulcahy doubled Limerick's lead again with 16 minutes remaining.

Another Reid free three minutes later brought Kilkenny right back within one again but Limerick led by three with an hour played, Peter Casey and O'Donovan adding to their tally. Leahy and substitute John Donnelly pulled back points and the Cats hit the front six minutes from time when Hogan flashed the sliothar to the net - 1-21 to 0-22.

Morrissey pointed twice either side of a Hogan point and Limerick led again with four minutes left courtesy of Casey and Shane Dowling. Leahy equalised in the 67^th minute but Morrissey pointed on the run at the end of a brilliant, determined run on the stroke of 70 minutes as Limerick went back in front again.

Gillane's late free closed the scoring on a famous day for Limerick hurling.

Limerick - N Quaid; S Finn, M Casey, R English; D Byrnes (0-1), D Hannon (0-1), D Morrissey; D O'Donovan (0-3, 1sl), C Lynch; G Hegarty (0-3), K Hayes (0-3), T Morrissey (0-4); A Gillane (0-5, 2f), S Flanagan (0-1), G Mulcahy (0-3). Subs: P Casey (0-2) for S Flanagan, S Dowling (0-1) for G Hegarty, W O'Donoghue for D O'Donovan.

Kilkenny - E Murphy; P Murphy, P Walsh, P Deegan; J Holden, C Buckley, R Lennon; C Fogarty (0-1), J Maher (0-3); M Keoghan, R Hogan (1-3), P Lyng; B Ryan, C Fennelly (0-2), TJ Reid (0-7, 5f, 1'65). Subs: L Blanchfield (0-1) for P Lyng, R Leahy (0-4) for M Keoghan, J Donnelly (0-1) for C Fennelly, G Aylward for B Ryan.

Referee - J McGrath.

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