Substitute John Hanley inspired UCD to a hard-earned win over Sligo IT in a thrilling Sigerson Cup quarter-final at the IT grounds yesterday.

The Roscommon under-21 player was sprung from the bench at half-time and his clever play had an unsettling effect on the Sligo defence in the closing minutes of the game.

Hanley gave the visitors the lead after 50 minutes and he secured victory for his side with another crisp stripe on the stroke of full-time.

A tremendous point from a free 50 yards out on the sidelines from the accurate boot of Ciaran McManus a minute earlier finally broke the home side's brave resistance.

UCD opened the scoring with a Joe Fallon point after two minutes before Rory Gallagher replied for the home side.

Such was Sligo's dominance in the first half that UCD failed to score between the seventh and 24th minutes during which the home side bagged six points.

Sligo's goalkeeper Damian Sheridan capped a superb afternoon with a tremendous double save to deny Joe Fallon four minutes from half-time.

An equally smart save by UCD goalkeeper Gerry McGill kept a Dara McGrath shot out late in the second half as Sligo staged a courageous fightback.

UCD: G McGill; B O hAannaidh, M Breathnach, N McGuire; D O hAannadih, P Nevin, R Kelly; N Crawford, D Haniffy; C McManus (0-2), B McDonald, S Lucey; J Fallon (0-5), C Moran (0-1), JP Casey (0-3), Subs: J Hanley (0-2) for Lucey, M Wright for Kelly (both half-time); J Lynch for Crawford (43 mins).

Sligo IT: D Sheridan; J McKeon, P Kelly, S O'Neill; D Higgins, B Boyle, A Higgins (0-1); B Devanney, D McGrath; S Flannery (0-2), R Gallagher (0-5), J McPartland; D Sloyan (0-2), L Dowd, G Blake (0-1). Subs: D Hendy for Kelly (50 mins); M Brehony for McPartland (54); B Og Murphy for Devanney (56).

Referee: P McEnaney (Monaghan).