All-Ireland champions Limerick staged a memorable comeback to book their place in the Munster final against Tipperary after this thrilling one-point victory over Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

The holders looked to be losing their grip on their titles when trailing by 2-6 to 0-7 at half-time, having played with the strong wind, but they produced a stunning second-half display. Cork stung Limerick with a fourth-minute goal from Eamonn Collins, who blasted Jason Barrett's probing free past Limerick goalkeeper Timmy Houlihan.

Niall McCarthy added a second seven minutes before the break. Limerick stepped up to score 0-6 without reply to leave just a point, 2-8 to 0-13, between the sides with 20 minutes remaining. McCarthy edged Cork two points clear before Mark Keane levelled entering the final quarter.

Twice Owen Fitzgerald put Cork in front, only for Keane and Damian Reale to cancel out his efforts in a welter of excitement near the finish.

Limerick's winning score came 30 seconds from the end of regulation time, when Keane pointed from a penalty. They then had to withstand fierce Cork pressure in three minutes of added time.

CORK: M Morrissey; E O'Sullivan, M Fitzgerald, D McNamara; R Curran, B Lombard, T Kenny, A O'Connor, J Barrett (0-1), R O'Doherty, M O'Connor, N McCarthy (1-2), C McCarthy (0-1), E Collins (1-0), O Fitzgerald (0-6). Subs: J Olden (0-1) for Curran (inj); P Dineen for M O'Connor, G McCarthy for Collins, J P King for O'Doherty, V Cusack for G McCarthy.

LIMERICK: T Houlihan, D Reale (0-1), B Geary, K Bermingham, M O'Riordan, P Lawlor, K Tobin (0-1), D O'Grady, S Lucey (0-1), E Foley (0-1), S O'Connor, P Tobin (0-1), C Fitzgerald (0-1), N Moran (0-1), M Keane (0- 11). Subs: B Carroll for O'Grady; C Moriarty for Kevin Tobin; M Clancy for Fitzgerald.

Referee: S Roche (Tipperary).