Maynooth shock UUJ to go through to Sigerson semis

Weekend hosts NUI Maynooth caused the shock of the 2010 Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup so far with a two-point win over UUJ, while DCU, UCC and Athlone IT also advanced to the last-four following today's quarter-final clashes.

Sigerson Cup favourites UUJ crashed out of the competition to NUI Maynooth this afternoon in controversial circumstances after the visitors claimed a 2-12 to 1-13 win at Jordanstown.

Almost seven minutes of injury-time were played by referee Paudie Mullan before the Antrim whistler signalled for full-time, much to the delight of the travelling contingent.

Maynooth withstood a strong start to this game by UUJ, as well as the 38th minute dismissal of Dublin senior player Ger Brennan, to earn a famous win.

Adrian McGuckin's charges were well primed and started at blistering pace to race into an early 0-5 to 0-0 lead by the 12th minute.

UUJ may have started well but they spurned plenty of good scoring chances, including goal opportunities for Donal Morgan, Jason McAnulla and Conor McManus in the opening quarter.

Maynooth used their limited opportunities well, and bounced back into contention when David Quinn claimed the game's opening goal for the visitors in the 20th minute.

Quinn's three-pointer helped cut the gap to two points, and despite the loss of Brennan through a second yellow card they kept up the momentum on the restart.

UUJ held a two-point lead late on but Offaly's Nigel Dunne showed great composure to dispatch a penalty to the net to push his side into a 2-9 to 0-12 lead in the 57th minute, after Monaghan's Dessie Mone had brought down Quinn.

Caolan O'Boyle scored a subsequent goal for the hosts, but it was a case too little, too late as NUI Maynooth sealed victory with a late insurance point from Aidan Walsh.

Maynooth will face DCU in the semis after Niall Moyna's capital side claimed a 0-15 to 0-9 win over Cork IT at the DCU Sportsground. Dublin's Paddy Andrews impressed with three second half points for the hosts.

Despite their six-point winning margin, it took DCU a while to settle and it was not until the ninth minute that they opened their account with a score from Roscommon's Cathal Cregg.

In a keenly-contested encounter, the sides were level on three occasions in the opening half, with Kerry's Barry John Walsh and Cork trio Daniel Goulding, Colm O'Neill and Andrew O'Sullivan all on target for Cork IT. However, DCU held a 0-7 to 0-5 lead at the break.

With Andrews leading by example and Sligo's David Kelly also taking some fine scores on the restart, DCU led by 0-11 to 0-6 with 17 minutes remaining.

Cork IT rallied through O'Neill, Goulding and O'Sullivan but failed to find much of an edge over their opponents.

The game detioriated near the finish with a melee involving 14 players - Paul Kerrigan was sent to the line for Cork IT - as DCU held out for victory.

At Ballyforan, Athlone IT qualified for their first Sigerson Cup semi-final since 2002 following a narrow 1-9 to 1-8 win over IT Sligo.

Cavan's Ray Galligan bagged seven points for the eventual winners, despite his side not scoring until the 20th minute after IT Sligo had opened up an early two-point advantage.

A brace of Galligan points and a further score from Ger Dennigan tied the game at 0-3 apiece at the break.

IT Sligo edged in front thanks to a David Givney point, 38 seconds after the restart, but Athlone rallied thanks to a 37th minute goal from Offaly's John Reynolds.

This pushed the hosts to a 1-4 to 0-5 lead, and although IT Sligo claimed a point back, a trio of Athlone points pushed them four-points clear with 10 minutes remaining.

IT Sligo battled hard, but a 61st minute point from Galligan gave his side a 1-9 to 0-8 lead late on. Sligo were not finished and a goal a minute later from Givney cut the gap to the minimum.

But time ran out as referee Derek Fahy whistled for full-time from the resulting kick-out - much to the jubliation of the Athlone side.

UCC will provide the semi-final opposition for Athlone after their comfortable 0-14 to 0-10 triumph over GMIT at the Mardyke.

Kerry's Declan Casey and Cork's Barry O'Driscoll both claimed three points each, as the hosts made a strong start to this contest.

UCC never looked troubled as they led by 0-8 to 0-6 at the interval, with Donegal's Stephen Griffin (0-5) doing his utmost to keep the visitors in touch.