SIGERSON CUP QUARTER FINALS: DCU 0-15 Cork IT 0-9A CLINICAL second-half display earned DCU a spot in the semi-finals following this hard-earned home win over Cork IT.

Dublin’s Paddy Andrews impressed with three second-half points for the hosts, who now look forward to a semi-final date against NUI Maynooth on February 26th.

Despite their six-point margin of victory it took DCU a while to settle and it wasn’t until the ninth minute that they opened their account with a score from Roscommon’s Cathal Cregg.

The sides were level on three occasions in the opening half, with Kerry’s BJ Walsh and Cork trio Daniel Goulding, Colm O’Neill and Andrew O’Sullivan on target for CIT before DCU went in 0-7 to 0-5 ahead 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 that vital edge.

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

DCU: M Boyle; P McMahon, K Gavin, K Nolan; J Cooper (0-1), B Cullen, D Mooney; D Sheridan (0-1), H McGrillen; P Flynn (0-1), R Flanagan, C Cregg (0-2); P Andrews (0-4), B Sheridan (0-1, free), D Kelly (0-4). Subs: R Cullivan (0-1) for McGrillen (h-t); M Lyng for Flanagan (36mins).

CORK IT: L Sheehan; N Galvin, R Carey, R O'Dwyer; S O'Donoghue. A Walsh, C O'Driscoll; P O'Flynn, S O'Hare; G Sayers, P Kerrigan, A O'Sullivan (0-2); C O'Neill (0-3), BJ Walsh (0-1), D Goulding (0-3, two frees). Subs: J Fitzpatrick for Sayers (36mins); B McGuire for O'Dwyer (53mins); R Leahy for Galvin (55mins).

Referee: Paul Finnegan (Louth).