UCC 0-16 GMIT 3-5:UCC SURVIVED a late fight-back to win their opening group game and stake strong claims for a quarter-final spot at a bitterly cold Mardyke yesterday.

The Cork students appeared to be heading for a comfortable victory when Tipperary’s Shane Burke pointed in the 43rd minute to leave them 0-16 to 1-3 in front.

But Limerick star Andrew O’Shaughnessy breathed life into GMIT by scoring two goals in quick succession.

UCC fielded three striking Cork hurlers, goalkeeper Anthony Nash and defenders Shane O’Neill and Kevin Harnett, and it was a rare mistake by O’Neill which let in O’Shaughnessy for his first.

Moments later, O’Shaughnessy brilliantly caught Ciarán Flannery’s long free and cracked in a fierce drive past the stranded Nash to cut the lead to four entering the closing quarter.

UCC: A Nash; T Geaney, D McSweeney, C O’Driscoll; J Jordan (0-1), K Hartnett, captain, S O’Neill; M Wilkinson (0-1), M Cahill (0-1); S Burke (0-2), B Beckett, J Mulhall (0-3); S Moylan (0-2), E Murphy (0-5, 0-4 frees), P Barry (0-1). Subs: D Hanley for Wilkinson (42 mins), J Gorman for Beckett (46 mins), R Foley for Burke (56 mins).

GMIT: E Ward; P Callanan, C Flannery, D Maher; L Howley, G Mahon, captain, B Regan; N Rogers, D Barry; C Egan (1-0), K Greene, P Cormican; C Kavanagh (0-2, 0-1 sideline), A O’Shaughnessy (2-3, 0-3 frees). Subs: J Barrett for Rogers (half-time), E Feeney for Greene (49 mins), J O’Gorman for Hynes (injured 51 mins).

Referee: D Kirwan (Cork).