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UCC triumphed this afternoon. ©INPHO/James Crombie
winners

UCC prove too strong for CIT in Sigerson Cup quarter-final tie

UCC will now face NUI Maynooth in a repeat of their 2012 semi-final tie.

UCC 1-13
Cork IT 1-5

IT WAS EASIER than expected for UCC as they reached the Sigerson Cup semi-finals for the fifth consecutive year by seeing off Cork IT at the Mardyke today.

A rip-roaring start was the platform upon which last year’s defeated finalists were able to construct this victory, with Michael Quinlivan’s fifth-minute goal followed by points from Conor Cox and David Nation to leave the visitors with an uphill task.

With such an advantage, UCC were always going to be difficult to overhaul and so it proved. Tipperary’s Quinlivan was in sparking scoring form – he would finish with 1-4, all from play – while Cork panellist Alan Cronin was excellent at centre-forward, always providing an outlet and then using possession well.

Not even the injury-enforced loss of midfielder David Nation affected the Billy Morgan-managed side as Seán Kiely slotted in effectively alongside Ian Maguire and by half-time they led by 1-6 to 0-2, Cathal Vaughan with both the CIT points.

CIT needed a strong start to the second half but instead it was UCC who got it, points from Cox, Cronin and Luke Connolly putting them 10 points ahead. Though CIT responded immediately with an excellent Donal Óg Hodnett goal, six points was the smallest that they managed to manipulate the margin to and UCC finished well.

Scorers for UCC: Michael Quinlivan 1-4, Conor Cox 0-3 (frees), Paul Geaney 0-2, David Nation, Ian Maguire, Luke Connolly, Alan Cronin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Cork IT: Donal Óg Hodnett 1-1 (0-1 free), Cathal Vaughan 0-3 (two frees), Brendan O’Sullivan 0-1.

UCC (Cork unless stated): Brian Kelly (Kerry); David Culhane (Kerry), Eoin O’Mahony, Fergal McNamara (Kerry); Eoin Healy, Conor Dorman, Brian Shanahan; David Nation, Ian Maguire; Luke Connolly, Alan Cronin, Brian O’Driscoll; Conor Cox (Kerry), Michael Quinlivan (Tipperary), Paul Geaney (Kerry).

Subs: Seán Kiely for Nation (13, injured), Seán Keane (Kerry) for O’Driscoll (49), Gary O’Sullivan (Kerry) for Cox (59).

CORK IT (Cork unless stated): David Hanrahan; Eoin Byrne, Brian O’Regan, Pa Kilkenny (Kerry); Seán Finn, Peter Daly, Jason Collins; Brendan O’Sullivan (Kerry), Keith O’Connor (Clare); James Walsh (Kerry), Cathal Vaughan, Darragh Treacy (Limerick); Thomas Hegarty, Shane McCarthy, Donal Óg Hodnett.

Subs: Jerry O’Connor for Treacy (30), John Corkery for McCarthy, John O’Donoghue for O’Regan (both half-time), Stephen Cahill (Limerick) for Byrne (46), Daniel Daly (Kerry) for Hegarty (50), Conor O’Sullivan for Corkery (57).

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork).

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