AUSTRALIA dominated almost six of the eight quarters but in the final period at Croke Park on Saturday night, such was the passion and understanding for what is required to prosper in this game, that Ireland almost produced an unlikely victory.

Knockbeg College2-8 St. Mary’s College0-11

Sligo IT 2-12, UCC 0-11

THE expected result, but it came in unexpected circumstances. The Datapac Sigerson favourites survived a scare in Rossa Park and had the Cork IT forwards kicked better, the weekend would have been ignited by a shock.