UCC 0-13

Sligo 0-8

Sigerson Cup holders UCC are two steps away from retaining their title after they advanced past the challenge of IT Sligo at the Mardyke yesterday.

While the hosts trailed by 0-4 to 0-3 after a trio of Sligo points early in the first half, the visitors then endured 24 scoreless minutes and a five-point gap pertained by the time they managed to get back on track.

Sligo did come to within three points twice in the closing stages, but points from UCC's Luke Connolly and Conor Cox ensured that they will meet IT Carlow in Friday's semi-final.

As hosts of the finals weekend, UCC will fancy their chances of making it three titles in six years.

Victory here was achieved without the injured pair of Ian Maguire and Paul Geaney and, while they didn't always play to their full potential and should have been out of sight but for the decision to go for goals rather than points, they did enough.

UCC were 0-9 to 0-4 ahead soon after half-time following a fine David Culhane point, before James Shaughnessy ended Sligo's drought.

UCC: M Martin; D Culhane (0-1), B McGuire, P O'Connor; C Dorman, B O'Driscoll, T Clancy; S Kiely, G O'Sullivan; S Keane, L Connolly (0-2, one free), É Ó Conchúir (0-1); T Hickey, C Cox (0-5, four frees), D Harrington (0-3). Subs: A O'Donovan (0-1) for Kiely (52 mins), R Murphy for Ó Conchúir (52 mins).

IT SLIGO: A McCallig; S Doak, D McConnon, E Flanagan; M McWeeney, R Gorman, M Foody; B Gallagher (0-1), S McManus; E Doherty, N Walsh, C Mulryan; J Shaughnessy (0-4, two frees), D McKenna (0-3, two frees), S Coen. Subs: C Thompson for Walsh (40 mins), S Henry for Gallagher (47 mins), R Connolly for Coen (49 mins), C Clinton for Shaughnessy (57 mins).

Referee: P O'Sullivan (Kerry).