Cork SHC Semi-finals: Cloyne qualified for their second consecutive Cork hurling final after a narrow victory over a wasteful UCC at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday. Cork senior player Diarmuid O'Sullivan struck a fortuitous goal from an 85-metre free 11 minutes from the end of a contest which failed to ignite, but Cloyne, beaten by Na Piarsaigh in the final 12 months ago, won't mind.

Thirteen first-half wides robbed the students of any chance of making use of the strong wind after Cloyne hit them with an early barrage of scores, racing into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead by the 13th minute.

O'Sullivan was part of a dominant half-back line, keeping close tabs on Tommy Walsh as fellow defenders Maurice Cahill and Michael Naughton also figured prominently. In attack a slick moving forward division opened up the UCC rearguard.

The students, however, steadied themselves in the second quarter, but some dreadful shooting let them down and it was through the free-taking of James Fitzpatrick that they were able to be just one point adrift at the interval, 0-7 to 0-6.

They were tied at 0-9 apiece after the third quarter with O'Sullivan and Fitzpatrick continuing their exploits from frees before the Cloyne goal swung the contest their way.

College reduced the deficit to a point as the game entered injury-time but a Paudie O'Sullivan free near the finish settled matters, leaving the students to count the cost of their 18 wides.

CLOYNE: D Óg Cusack; E O'Sullivan, K Cronin, D Motherway; Domhnall O'Sullivan, M Cahill (0-1), Diarmuid O'Sullivan (1-3, frees); I Quinlan (0-2), M Naughton; P Cahill (0-1), C O'Sullivan (0-1), J Cotter; P O'Sullivan (0-2 frees), C Cusack, V Cusack (0-2). Subs: J Nyhan for Cotter (44 mins), L O'Driscoll for M Cahill (56 mins).

UCC: R O'Neill; C Hickey, D McSweeney, captain, J Tennyson; S O'Neill (0-1, 65), T Lordan, S Cronin; T Kenny (0-1), K Hartnett (0-1); T Walsh (0-1), M Rice, E Hanley (0-1); R O'Brien, J Fitzpatrick (0-7, six frees), P O'Brien. Subs: D Cody for Hickey (19 mins), E Collins (0-1) for R O'Brien (half-time), B Beckett for P O'Brien (55 mins), R Doherty for Hanley (57 mins).

Referee: J Sexton (Ballyhea).