INDEPENDENT.IE SIGERSON CUP QUARTER-FINAL: UUJ 0-14 ST MARY'S 1-6

By Orla Bannon

Sigerson Cup hosts UUJ are through to the semi-finals after leading from start to finish against Belfast rivals St Mary's.

Donegal star Paddy McBrearty kicked five points, four from frees, with four Tyrone players Ronan McNamee, Conan Grugan, Frank Burns and Richie Donnelly all scoring in the second half against the wind to stave off a St Mary's fightback.

UUJ were 0-7 to 0-2 ahead at half time, but Down's Jerome Johnston made a huge impact when introduced at the break for St Mary's and scored 1-2 from play. St Mary's closed to within two points when Kevin McKernan scored but a star-studded UUJ side finished strongly.

Jordanstown, playing at home, had the wind in the first half and made an electric start with four unanswered points inside the opening seven minutes. McBrearty hit two frees before fit-again Monaghan star Kieran Hughes scored the first point of the game from play.

Tyrone forward Ronan O'Neill hit two first-half frees, but UUJ were well in control with Frank Burns' long-range point followed by an excellent point from the wing for Ritchie Donnelly. Frank Burns scored again at the start of the second half to stretch Jordanstown's lead out to six points before Johnston hit 1-1 in quick reply.

He scored St Mary's first point from play in the 36th minute and then landed the game's only goal in the 45th minute, running with the ball from deep and jinking inside to blast the ball high into the roof of the net.

Monaghan's Ryan McAnespie scored straight from the kickout to steady the home side but McKernan's point reduced their deficit to 0-9 to 1-4 after 46 minutes.

Conan Grugan got the end of a well-worked move to score from close range for UUJ and McBrearty scored a superb point, his only one from play, catching a high ball and turning smartly onto his left to score from 40m into the wind.

With time running out, McKernan forced a great save from UUJ 'keeper Sean Fox who dived low to his right to beat away his goal-bound effort in the last few minutes.

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**Scorers for UUJ: **P McBrearty 0-5 (4f), R Donnelly 0-2, F Burns 0-2, R McNamee 0-1, C Grugan 0-1, K Hughes 0-1, R McAnespie 0-1, E Rafferty 0-1 ('45')

Scorers for St Mary's: J Johnston 1-2, K McKernan 0-2, R O'Neill 0-2 (2f)

UUJ: S Fox (Tyrone); R Johnston (Antrim), R McNamee (Tyrone), K Clarke (Cavan); R McHugh (Donegal), F Burns (Tyrone), S Sheridan (Armagh); N McKeever (Antrim), M Argue (Cavan); C Grugan (Tyrone), E Rafferty (Armagh), R McAnespie (Monaghan); P McBrearty (Donegal), K Hughes (Monaghan), E Regan (Mayo). Subs: R Donnelly(Tyrone) for Rafferty (15), M Johnston (Antrim) for McKeever (BC, 23), D Savage (Down) for Argue (52), S Heavron (Derry) for Regan (55), G McKinless (Derry) for Burns (BC, 59).

ST MARY'S: R Burns (Down); A McKay (Armagh), D McBride (Tyrone), P McAleer (Antrim); H Loughran (Tyrone), N McParland (Down); C Byrne (Tyrone); P Carragher (Armagh), K McKernan (Down); A Nugent (Armagh), K McGeary (Tyrone), C Meyler (Tyrone); P McBride (Antrim), M Fitzpatrick (Antrim), R O'Neill (Tyrone). Subs: C McCann (Tyrone) for Nugent (20), J Johnston (Down) for Fitzpatrick (HT), R Johnston (Down) for McKay (BC, 35), N Toner (Derry) for Byrne (42), D Cavanagh (Tyrone) for O'Neill (52).

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)

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