Finn Harps moved into third place in the eircom First Division table following this impressive victory at Jackman Park.
Strikes from the impressive Conor Gethins, Declan Boyle and Declan Divin lifted Harps into the play-off zone.
Tommy Barrett netted a consolation in the 90th minute, but it was all to little-to-late for Limerick who now drop down to fourth.
The first action of the game came when Lims captain Pat Purcell was booked for a late seventh minute challenge on Stephen Parkhouse just outside the box but Gethins directed the resulting free-kick wide of the target.
At the other end John Tierney saw his low shot from a Kevin Waters flick-on charged down by Declan Boyle inside the box.
Harps almost edged ahead midway through the half when Gethins shot from a Mike Funston throw-in on the left was deflected inches wide of the near post by Paul Finucane’s outstretched leg.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 24th minute after Gethins got the better of a challenge with Lims keeper Dave Ryan.
John O'Loughlin began the move inside his own half playing the ball through the static home defence and when Ryan's attempted clearance rebounded off Gethins the Harps striker followed the ball into a empty net to notch his ninth goal of the season.
Wayne Colbert saw his 20 yard volley blocked amid appeals for a penalty and a Tierney cross from the left was headed over by Waters as the Shannonsiders pressed for an equaliser.
Gethins outstripped the Limerick defence again in the 36th minute and laid the ball off for Declan Divin who blasted inches over the bar from the edge of the box.
Gethins was again involved minutes later taking advantage of Purcell's weak defensive header but his attempted lob was kept out by Ryan.
Harps doubled their advantage in the 44th minute via Boyle after Limerick conceded a needless corner.
Gethins floated over the corner-kick from the left and Boyle rose highest at the far post to plant a powerful header
into the roof of the net.
Limerick midfielder Anthony Hayes broke into the penalty area shortly after the break but his effort was deflected out at the expense of a corner by Shaun Holmes.
But Harps then went three ahead in the 52nd minute when man-of-the-match Gethins played a one-two with Declan Divin who made no mistake with a close range finish.
Ross Cosgrave hit the post with a 75th minute drive as Lims tried in vain to reduce the deficit but the visitors wasted a number of scoring opportunities at the other end.
Limerick midfielder Barrett found the net in the 90th minute with a brave diving header from a Padraig Moran cross.
Limerick 37: Ryan, Keady, Buckley, Finucane, Purcell, Hayes, Colbert (Cosgrave 53) Barrett, McCarthy (Moran 59) Waters, Tierney (Kelleher 65)
Finn Harps: Gallagher, Asokuh, Minnock, Boyle, Holmes, Funston, Loughlin, McLaughlin, Parkhouse (Brown 85) Gethins, Divin.
Referee P Sutton (Clare)
Limerick 37 1-3 Finn Harps
