JORDANSTOWN, the holders, served notice that they are in the right frame of mind to retain the intervarsity soccer championship with a comprehensive, 6-0 win over St Mary's, Belfast, at the Farm, Cork, yesterday.
Jordanstown, with a smattering of Irish League players in their ranks, were altogether too powerful and too well balanced for St Mary's as the second day of competition was once again spoiled by heavy rain and high winds.
Jordanstown scored twice in the first half with goals from Jim McCluskey, a striker who plays in the Irish League with Distillery. Midfielder Chris Morgan, of Crusaders, was a major force, and further goals came in the second half from Pat Cavanagh, Barry Rooney, Trevor Gannon and an own goal.
The stage is now set for a fascinating contest today between Jordanstown and Coleraine to who will advance to the semifinals. Coleraine went to the top of their group by beating Trinity 1-0, to stand just a point above Jordanstown in the league table.
Coleraine's winner came after 55 minutes, a spectacular affair with Sean Gallagher hammering home a left foot volley. Their meeting with Jordanstown in what amounts to an Ulster final promises much.
UCC maintained a 100 per cent record with a comfortable win over the University of Limerick, three goals in the first half effectively deciding the issue.
The best goal of the game came early in the second half when Jamie Lennon took Alan Ford's pass in his stride to solo his way clear and score.
University College, Galway, were the biggest winners of the day with their striker, Gareth Beatty, helping himself to a hat-trick as they beat the College of Surgeons 8-1. Beatty plays regularly for Galway United.
The Surgeons' only goal came from Norwegian-born Thomas Heggelund and they established some sort of a landmark when they bade adieu to their centre-half, John Chute, from Kerry, who was playing in his seventh Collingwood.