Cork IT 0-11 St Mary's 0-5:CORK IT were made to work hard by the Belfast side in Newbridge yesterday. The champions were reduced to 14 when Paul Kerrigan was sent off in the 47th minute and when CJ McGourty slotted a free a minute later, CIT led by just 0-7 to 0-5.

Despite Mary’s launching attack after attack, Cork IT, nowhere near their best, reeled off four points in the final six minutes to dig themselves out of a hole.

CORK IT: L Sheehan; N Galvin, R Carey, R O’Dwyer (0-1); S O’Donoghue, A Walsh, C O’Driscoll; S O’Hare, P O’Flynn; G Sayers (0-1), P Kerrigan, A O’Sullivan; D Goulding (0-7, 5 frees), BJ Walsh, C O’Neill (0-2). Subs: S McCarthy for BJ Walsh (43mins); J Fitzpatrick for McCarthy (53mins)

ST MARY’S: T Harney; M Slane; K O’Boyle, M Digney; C Campbell, B Canavan, B Óg Maguire; J Kelly, M McKenna; M Murray, K Mossey, M Began; P McAleer, K Niblock (0-2), M Pollock (0-1). Sub: CJ McGourty 0-2 (frees) for McAleer (25mins).

Referee: C Reilly (Meath).