ROUND-UP: Tipp players with Mary I and UL progress to Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals

Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup Quarter-Final

University of Limerick 1-21

University College Cork 0-16

UL booked their place in next week's Fitzgibbon Cup semi-finals following a strong second-half performance that saw them overcome UCC's challenge on a 1-21 to 0-16 scoreline at Maguire's Fields.

Brian Ryan's side were two points down at the break but outscored their Cork opponents by 1-12 to 0-5 in the second half to set up a mouthwatering last-four clash with University of Galway.

It was a tight opening quarter that saw UCC hold a one-point advantage, leading 0-5 to 0-4. Aidan O'Connor scored twice for UL, while Mark Fitzgerald and Gearóid O'Connor landed a point apiece.

The game was levelled for a second time by Colm O'Meara and then Adam English put UL in front for the first time since the first minute with a fine score. The same man made it a two-point game with 20 minutes on the clock.

However, three Shane Barrett points and one from William Buckley brought UCC back into the lead heading up to half time. It could have been a greater lead after Barrett was fouled for a penalty but sent his shot over the bar.

That strike had the Cork college three points to the good but an O'Connor free in added time saw the score at 0-11 to 0-9 in UCC's favour.

It took just six seconds for UL to land a blow in the second half with Brian O'Grady bagging his second point but Barrett (2) and Rob Downey soon had UCC four clear.

However, UL were soon chasing them down once more with English, Fitzgerald and two O'Connor frees squaring the game up at 0-15 apiece with 44 minutes played.

O'Connor then hit three in a row to put daylight between the teams heading into the final stages. Rodgers then got in on the act to make it a four-point advantage, before O'Connor landed another from play.

Any hopes of a late comeback for UCC ended when Rodgers latched on to Cian Galvin's long delivery and flicked a shot beyond the onrushing Brion Saunderson and into the net. Paddy O'Donovan then landed another score to see UL home to the victory.

Gearoid O'Connor was a big part of the late win for UL as the Tipperary senior continues his search for a third Fitzgibbon Cup winners medal in a row in the next few weeks, hitting some vital frees and points from play late in the game for his side who were made to battle all game long by UCC.

For the Cork college, Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields) was impressive at midfield and got through a mountain of possession and managed to notch the first score of the game for UCC early in the first half, while Mark Carey (Nenagh Éire Óg) had an assured performance in the half-back line in what was his first appearance of the competition.

Scorers: UL:Gearoid O'Connor (0-8, 0-6f), Adam English 0-4, Mark Rodgers 1-1, Aidan O'Connor, Mark Fitzgerald and Brian O'Grady 0-2 each, Colm O'Meara and Paddy O'Donovan 0-1 each.

UCC:Shane Barrett (0-7, 0-4 frees, 0-1 pen,), William Buckley, Rob Downey 0-2 each, Darragh Flynn 0-1f, Darragh Stakelum, Brian Hayes, Joe Fitzpatrick, Eoin Downey all 0-1 each.

UL:Conor Hanley Clarke (Kilmallock); Fergal O'Connor (Effin), TJ Brennan (Clarinbridge, Galway) Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones Na Siona, Clare); Killian Sampson (Shinrone, Offaly), Mark Fitzgerald (Passage East, Waterford), Colin Coughlan (Ballybrown); Brian O'Grady (Kilteely Dromkeen), Brian O'Sullivan (Kanturk, Cork); Adam English (Doon), Mark Rodgers (Scariff, Clare), Colm O'Meara (Clonlara, Clare); Sean O'Hanlon (Turloughmore, Galway); Gearoid O'Connor (Moyne Templetuohy, Tipperary), Aidan O'Connor (Ballybrown). 

Subs used: Diarmuid Haniffy (Oranmore-Maree, Galway) for O'Meara (HT); Paddy O'Donovan (Effin) for O'Hanlon (HT); Cian Galvin (Clarecastle, Clare) for Sampson (38), Ross Hayes (Crusheen, Clare) for O'Sullivan (48).

Cian Galvin (Clarecastle, Clare) for Conneally (HT); Patrick O'Donovan (Effin) for O'Connor (35); Ian Byrne (Glenmore, Kilkenny) for Hanniffy (60, inj).

UCC:Brion Saunderson (Midleton, Cork); Ger Millerick (Fr O'Neills, Cork), Shane Kingston (Ballinora, Cork), Mark Carey (Nenagh Eire Og, Tipperary); Joe Fitzpatrick (Dunnamaggin, Kilkenny), Robert Downey (Glen Rovers, Cork), Cormac O'Brien (Newtownshandrum, Cork); Darragh Flynn (Ballygiblin, Cork), Darragh Stakelum (Thurles Sarsfields, Tipperary); Peter McGarry (St Mary's Clonmel, Tipperary), Shane Barrett (Blarney, Cork), Brian Keating (Ballincollig, Cork); William Buckley (St Finbarr's, Cork), Brian Hayes (St Finbarr's, Cork), Cathal McCarthy (Sarsfields, Cork).

Subs used: Fionn Coleman (Blackrock, Cork) for Buckley (39); Eoin Downey (Glen Rovers, Cork) for Fitzpatrick (39); Eddie Stokes (Doon) for Keating (50); Robbie Cotter (Blackrock, Cork) for Carey (55); James Dwyer (Ballincollig, Cork) for Flynn (60).

 Referee: Thomas Walsh (Waterford)