Clinical first-half finishing from UCD helped them book their place in the final for the first time at Belfield last night.

The Students got the ideal start with their opening goal after just five minutes when Clive Delaney rifled home an unstoppable, 20-yard shot to the top corner.

Limerick's Oran Weldrick and Derek McCarthy both squandered decent chances to equalise soon after. And then the visitors were hit by a UCD goal barrage in the last 15 minutes of the half.

Ciaran Martyn missed a 32nd minute penalty, before two goals in as many minutes killed the game. Ciaran Kavanagh, at the second time of asking, made it 2-0 after 35 minutes, while Mick O'Byrne added number three in the 37th minute.

To make it a night to forget for Limerick, Brendan Hughes was dent off in the 66th minute, while McCarthy saw his 75th-minute penalty saved, before Robert McAuley headed home UCD's fourth in the 86th minute.

UCD: B Ryan; McLoughlin, Delaney, McAuley, D Ryan; Quinn, McDonnell, Kavanagh, Martyn; Bennis, O'Byrne. Subs: Mahon for McDonnell (66 mins), Kilmurray for Quinn (72 mins), Martin for Bennis (84 mins).

LIMERICK FC: Fitzpatrick; D Dunphy, O'Halloran, Whyte, Finnan; Harmon, Weldrick, Ryan, Hughes, Keating; McCarthy. Subs: Tobin for Harmon (61 mins), Flaherty for Keating (61 mins).

Referee: D McKeon (Dublin).