UCC had their expected victory over Athlone IT in the quarter-final of the Sigerson Cup at the Limerick Gaelic Grounds, but there was a stage in the second half when the midlanders threatened to spoil the party, having battled back from a six-point deficit to a single score.

The main problem for Athlone was their wayward shooting and it was left to full forward, Fergal Wilson, to keep them in contention with seven pointed frees.

UCC raced into the lead to leave it 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval. Though O'Brien stretched the Cork side's advantage, they fell asleep for a period and paid a price when Wilson tapped over four frees and at 0-9 to 0-8 it was wide open again.

Feeling uncomfortable, UCC stepped up the tempo and dictated to the finish when points from Lee O'Brien, Ian Twiss and Billy Sheehan left four between them at the finish.

UCC: E Kelleher; E Wiseman, P Healy, Denis Reidy; D Wiseman (0-1), E Fitzmaurice, A Lynch; M O'Shea, Damien Reidy (0-1); L O'Brien (0-3), B Sheehan (0-4), T Kenny; M Cahill (0-1), C McCarthy (0-1), I Twiss (0-1). Sub: C Murphy (0-1) for Kenny.

ATHLONE IT: O Farrell; M Comber, B Murphy, W Maguire; A McPadden, J Callaghan, R Forbes; J Gill, S Lohan (0-2); S Kelly, T Mortimer, J Duignan; K Gallagher, F Wilson (0-7), M Connor.

Referee: P Russell (Tipperary).