UUJ just manage to keep their distance

University of Ulster Jordanstown proved to be too strong for UCC in a one-sided semi-final yesterday.

By the time Paul Hanley opened the UCC account at the end of the first quarter, Jordanstown were three points in front. Conor McCarthy levelled the game in the 15th and three minutes later he edged Cork in front.

The sides were deadlocked again when Kevin Hughes pointed in the 21st minute, but the arrival of Michael Walsh preceded a blitz of Jordanstown scores which effectively decided the outcome.

Walsh, who figured on the Down minor team which won the All-Ireland title in 1999, scored two points before the end of the half and the winners held a 0-7 to 0-4 interval lead.

UCC made an encouraging start to the second half, but too many attempts for scores were lofted into Jordanstown goalkeeper Ronan Gallagher.

Having absorbed a series of UCC attacks, Jordanstown lifted the siege and Walsh restored their two-point advantage from a placed ball.

Within two minutes, Jordanstown had increased their lead to five points.

UCC managed three points on the trot late in the half, but Walsh added two more scores to bring his personal tally to five points.

UUJ: R Gallagher; E McNulty, C McGinley, P McGurk; R Johnson, A O'Rourke, D McCrossan; P Loughran, J McGuinness (0-1); M O'Rourke (0-2), K Brady, J Toal; P Bradley (0-4, one free), L Doyle (0-1), K Hughes (0-2). Subs; M Walsh (0-5, one free) for Loughran (22 mins), K Donnelly for McGinley (inj, 40 mins).

UCC: C Kelleher; E Wiseman, P Hanley (0- 1), A Lynch; D Wiseman, E Fitzmaurice, T Kenny; M O Se, D Reidy; L O'Brien, B Sheehan (0- 1), D Niblock; M Cahill, C McCarthy (0-4), I Twiss (0-1). Subs: J Olden for Niblock (49 mins), C Keane (0-1) for O'Brien (50 mins).

Referee: B White (Wexford).