NUIG 2-12 Cork IT 1-12:A BRACE of goals from Séamus Hennessy and substitute John Conlon in the final quarter paved the way for NUIG to secure top position in their group and a place in the quarter-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup when they overcame a spirited performance from Cork IT at Dangan yesterday.

The Cork side, needing to win to have any chance of staying in the competition, dominated the game for the opening 40 minutes and led by 1-10 to 0-6 entering the closing 20 minutes, with Patrick Horgan (who scored 1-7 in total) netting for them after a fine run by Brian Corry. However, the Galway side switched John Lee to centre back and Hennessy to midfield and it had an immediate effect and goals from Hennessy and Conlon led to a remarkable revival.

A seven-point contribution from Finian Coone was also a feature. The closing five minutes were hectic as Cork fought back gallantly, but it was all in vain.

NUIG:D Touhy; D Nash, N Casey, D Connolly; P Kelly, S Hennessy (1-0), P Gordon (0-1); J Lee, D O'Donovan (0-1); S Quinlan, K Keehan, F Coone (0-7, 0-2frs, 2 '65s); G Kelly (0-1), D Barrett, J O'Gorman (0-1). Subs:B Daly (0-1) for Barrett (38 mins), J Conlon (1-0) for O'Gorman (51 mins).

CORK IT:J Condon; C Murphy, E Dillon, J O'Callaghan; L Desmond, R Cashman, S White; S McDonnell, B Lawton; P Gould (0-1), B Corry (0-2), C Fennelly; P Horgan (1-7, 5 frees, 1 '65), C Cusack (0-2), T Murphy. Subs:C Naughton for Lawton (38 mins), T Murphy for McDonnell, A Mannix for White.

Referee:M Haverty (Galway).