UCC shock DCU to advance in Sigerson Cup

Beaten league finalists UCC dethroned reigning Sigerson champions DCU this afternoon, while competition hosts UCD also progressed through to tomorrow's semi-finals.

Kerry's JB Spillane bagged the vital score for the Leeside outfit with 13 minutes left on the clock to give his side a 1-11 to 0-10 lead, and Billy Morgan's charges remained ahead until the final whistle.

DCU looked more composed in the opening stages and held an early 0-5 to 0-3 advantage thanks to some hard graft from Donegal's Michael Murphy, Michael Lyng of Cavan and Roscommon's Cathal Cregg.

But UCC bounced back to claim a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at half-time, with Cork's Barry O'Driscoll and Kerry duo Daithi Casey and Stephen O'Brien firing over vital points.

Scores from James McCarthy and Murphy edged DCU ahead on the restart, before UCC took command entering the final quarter thanks to Spillane's goal. They held out with a Paddy Andrews goal shot coming back off the post late on.

Inaugural winners UCD advanced to meet UCC in tomorrow's semi-final - throw-in 3.30pm at Belfield - thanks to an 0-18 to 2-3 win over NUI Galway in the last of today's quarter-finals.

The sides were level on just one occasion in this game with UCD always looking likely winners.

Malachy O'Rourke's charges led by 0-2 to 0-0 after eight minutes' play thanks to points from Laois' Donie Kingston and John Heslin of Westmeath.

A brace of Cathal Kenny scores saw UCD go 0-4 to 0-1 in front in the 13th minute, but NUIG were handed a lifeline when Neil Douglas netted in the 19th minute to tie the contest at 1-2 to 0-5.

However, this was as good as it got for NUI Galway as UCD were soon dominant in all areas of the pitch.

Rob Kelly, John Fitzpatrick, Ciaran Lyng, Shane Redmond, Kevin McGourty and Heslin strung together points before the break as UCD turned around with an 0-11 to 1-2 advantage.

Heslin and John O'Loughlin were among the UCD scorers as they moved 13 points clear on the restart.

NUI Galway staged a late rally with a Mark McHugh point and a Greg Higgins goal, but it was too little, too late for John Maughan's side.