GMIT 2-16 UUJ 1-10:THIS SAFE and solid Galway-Mayo IT display at the Innisfalls club ensured they will be rewarded with a home Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-final tie. Despite a plucky performance from underdogs University of Ulster, Jordanstown, GMIT were cool enough to eke out a victory.

Early on UUJ’s enthusiasm was disturbing GMIT and with Paddy Henry superb in attack the Ulster college led by 0-7 to 0-3 in the 19th minute.

GMIT, though, struck for two clinical goals before the interval courtesy of Daniel Loughnane and James Liddy, and all that needed to be determined thereafter was the margin of their success.

Ahead 2-5 to 0-8 at the break GMIT had extended their lead to eight points when UUJ’s Simon McCrory netted a 50th-minute penalty.

Despite leaking a goal GMIT finished with a flourish as four points on the spin from Colin Egan (2), substitute Tomas Flannery, and Jason O’Gorman closed the deal.

GMIT: J Keane; T Martin, C Flannery (0-1, free), K Waters; C Duggan, G Mahon, S Hynes; A Lawless (0-1), W McNamara; C Egan (0-4), A Lynch, D Loughnane (1-0); K Feeney (0-6, four frees), J O’Gorman (0-3), J Liddy (1-0). Subs: G O’Halloran for Waters (41 mins), T Flannery (0-1) for Liddy (47 mins), D Maher for Mahon (49 mins).

UUJ: E Gillan; S Dobbin, F Neeson, N McAuley; S McCrory (1-0, pen), N Curry, J Downey; O McCloskey (0-1), P Murphy; B Ennis, F Corvan (0-3), D Hamill (0-1, free); P Henry (0-4, three frees), B Cashman (0-1), A Clarke. Subs: C Rocks for Clarke (41 mins).

Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).