Tipperary hit four second half goals as they ran out convincing 5-19 to 0-07 winners over Antrim in a one-sided Erin All-Ireland U-21 hurling semi-final at Parnell Park tonight.
Ray McLoughney, Ryan O'Dwyer, and substitutes Danny O'Hanlon and David Sheppard all found the net in the second half as the Munster champions breezed into the 10 September final.
Fr Tom Fogarty's side are still on course to claim the Premier county's first Cross of Cashel Trophy since 1995 - they will face Kilkenny in next month's decider.
Niall Teehan's early goal set Tipp on their way - they led 1-12 to 0-02 at the break with only Joey Scullion, one of the players to impress in Antrim's recent Christy Ring Cup final triumph, and team captain Blain McDermott on target for the underdogs.
Tipp ran up a wides tally of 14 but were never troubled - although Antrim's Randall McDonnell (0-03) did impress.
Talismanic full-forward Darragh Egan, who had a quiet night by his high standards - he scored 0-04 (0-03f) - was sensibly taken off with a full 20 minutes remaining and the final fully in Fogarty's mind.
Scullion, McDonnell and substitute Damien Lafferty all pointed for Antrim, who were at a complete disadvantage given that their Ulster final defeat of Down was nearly a month ago.
In a fillip for the Thurles Sarsfields club, midfielder Stephen Lillis (0-05 (0-04f)) and right corner-forward Richie Ruth (0-04) finished as Tipp's top scorers.
