UCC eased into the semi-finals of the Fitzgibbon Cup with a comfortable victory in trying conditions at Pairc Ui Rinn yesterday.

A first-half hat-trick by John Murphy, who brought his tally to five in the competition, sponsored by Bus Eireann, was the highlight of UCC's runaway victory. They played into the teeth of a biting wind from the start, but still led by 3-5 to 1-4 at the break and then managed to hold their opponents scoreless on the resumption.

Murphy, who was sent off for two yellow card offences in the first round, picked up another booking yesterday, but that didn't detract from his magnificent set of goals. The first came after seven minutes, when he rounded Gavin Breen near the endline and then beat Cork goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack from close range.

His second, after 15 minutes, was almost identical, and he completed his hat-trick in fine style when he doubled on Eoin Bennett's cross for a cracking goal four minutes before the break.

UCC: J Murphy; J Olden, J Browne, N Murphy; J Murray, R Flannery, B Harte; S Fitzpatrick, E Murphy (0-1); J Enright (0-6) capt, J Kingston, S Killeen (0-1); E Bennett (0-1), B Phelan, J Murphy (3-0).

CIT: D og Cusack; G Breen, M O'Brien, D Fahey; J O'Donovan, P Sexton (0-2), R Curran; P Mulcahy, D Barrett; G McCarthy, A O'Connor, R O'Donovan; W Deasy, D Gardiner (1-0), S O'Sullivan (0-2). Subs: P Enright for Breen, G Coleman for R O'Donovan, J Hogan for Deasy.

Referee: W Barrett.