UUJ 2-12 DIT 0-10

14-man UUJ kept their hopes of a first Ulster Bank Sigerson Cup title since 2001 alive by beating first-time semi-finalists DIT this afternoon at a wind-swept Carlow IT.

Goals were the difference as Jordanstown sent DIT packing and booked a final spot, with Thomas McCann and Paddy Cunningham in especially good form for the northern side.

Nothing could separate the sides in the opening ten minutes and they were level on two occasions, with Dublin star Mark Vaughan kicking the first of his three first half points after just 42 seconds.

However Derry's Mark Lynch and Darren Hughes of Monaghan were quick to respond for UUJ.

Despite a strong wind advantage in the opening half, DIT could not do much with this and although Vaughan was certainly a strong presence, the Dublin side were left exposed on occasion in defence.

Two McCann goals were the real difference during the opening half-hour as UUJ raced into a 2-05 to 0-07 interval lead.

The Antrim sharpshooter slotted both goals impressively to the back of the DIT net.

Vaughan, Aidan Kilcoyne and defenders Eoghan Naughton and Liam Fleming kept DIT in touch with fine points, with Vaughan sending over a superb sideline kick in the 14th-minute.

Scores were harder to come by in the third quarter as a heavy rain left underfoot conditions slippery, with UUJ out-scoring their opponents by two points to one.

During that period UUJ were reduced to 14 players with the dismissal of Darren Hughes. He received a second yellow card for a challenge on DIT's Shane Ryan.

DIT staged a late rally thanks to points from Vaughan and substitute Paul Flynn, but in reality UUJ were always on top and Mickey Moran's charges were certainly deserving of their win.

Scorers - UUJ: T McCann 2-01 (0-01 '45'), P Cunningham 0-04 (0-01f), A Moran 0-03, M Lynch 0-02 (0-01f), D Hughes, C Cavanagh 0-01 each. DIT: M Vaughan 0-05 (0-01 sl, 0-03f), L Fleming, C Ward, P Flynn, A Kilcoyne, E Naughton 0-01 each.

UUJ: M McAlister; C Harrison, D McCaul, D Morgan; P McGuigan, K Lacey, P Donnelly; D Hughes, R Mulgrew; C Cavanagh, T McCann, B McKenna; M Lynch, P Cunningham, A Moran.

Subs used: S Mulligan for McKenna (59 mins).

DIT: E Somerville; M Burke, E Naughton, D Hughes; M Hannon, D Reilly, L Fleming; J Coughlan, R Glavin; M Vaughan, C Ward, P Flynn; A Kilcoyne, B Ennis, J Donegan.

Subs used: S Ryan for Donegan (23 mins), D Munnelly for Ryan, K McMenamin for Ward, S McCormack for Ennis (all 44), E Gaffney for McMenamin (50).

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois).