A REMARKABLE football year for University College Cork could have an ending to match on December 4.

IT took over 80 minutes of absorbing action before the contest was settled in Cloughduv yesterday with UCC’s greater energy and ball retention skills proving decisive in this Munster Club SFC quarter-final.

THEIR progress this season has taken many by surprise, including some in their own camp, but UCC have gained confidence throughout the SFC and that was reflected in their controlled display to overcome Avondhu in Saturday night’s semi-final tie in Páirc Uí Rinn.

MEMORIES of the 1996 Cork SFC final meeting between Clonakilty and UCC will be revived after the students last night set up a quarter-final clash in this year’s championship with the West Cork side.

AN exciting second-half performance that yielded a gem of a goal by super sub Cian Ó Duinnin saw Ballingeary cruise past St Michael’s at Kilmurry yesterday and on to an interesting tie with Nemo Rangers in the next round.

UCC claimed the notable scalp of Carbery in their opening assignment of the Cork SFC with an excellent success in Cloughduv last night.

After ousting competition favourites DCU and the final’s hosts UCD, the Billy Morgan managed team rounded matters off by taking the scalp of the formidable northern outfit.

UCC 0-10 UUJ 0-7

UCC’s practice of slaying major forces in this season’s Sigerson Cup was maintained when they ousted the host college UCD in an enthralling semi-final clash in Belfield yesterday afternoon.

LAST year’s finalists UCC endured a testing Sigerson Cup opener in the Mardyke yesterday afternoon before prevailing against GMIT and advancing to a repeat of last season’s final in the last eight against DCU.

JOHN O'DONOGHUE, T.D., Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism yesterday announced the establishment of a new Agency - Horse Sport Ireland - which will be responsible for devising and implementing strategies for the development and promotion of an internationally competitive Irish sport horse industry (breeding, sport and leisure sides).