The midfield mastery of Jimmy McGuinness and the accuracy of Paddy Bradley, who finished with a total of nine points, were the key factors that saw the Jordanstown college deservedly book their place in the semi-final of the Sigerson Cup at the expense of a wasteful Galway side in Clones on Saturday.

Bradley's accuracy got the Belfast college off to the perfect start with four points in the opening 12 minutes and, in the second half when the pressure mounted, he still produced the clinical finish that always gave his side the edge.

UUJ led at half time by 0-6 to 0-3, but came under increasing pressure in the second half as Galway found the range through Maurice Sheridan and Michael O'Colleran.

Approaching the hour mark, Jordanstown led by seven points and, even though Galway produced a fighting finish that yielded three points in injury-time, they could not engineer that vital opening for the goal they so badly needed.

UUJ: M Conlan; C McGinley, E McNulty, P McGurk; R Johnston, A O'Rourke (0-1), D McCrossan; J McGuinness, P Loughran; M O'Rourke (0-1), K Brady (1-1), J Toal; P Bradley (0-9), L Doyle, K Hughes. Subs: T Donnelly for Toal; P O'Farrell for McGurk; J Donaghy for Loughran; S King for Hughes.

NUI GALWAY: D Morris; B Donoghue, C Davey, R Gibbons; R Leonard, D Mitchell, M O'Colleran (0-4); B Considine, D Rooney (0-1); K O'Neill, BJ Padden, M Sheridan (0-4); P Gardiner, D Dolan (0-2), B McMahon. Subs: G Cox for Gardiner; D O'Shaughnessy for Considine; M Keane for O'Neill; MA Lidean for Gibbons; M Clancy for McMahon.

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).