QUB 0-18 UUJ 1-6: Even by the arctic standards of the venerable competition, yesterday's freezing conditions at Dublin City University's grounds were extreme.
However, at the end of a chilly hour's combat, it was Jordanstown's improbable fate to get burned. Having managed to score only seven points throughout virtually the entire match, Queen's University hit the turbo boost and added three points in the closing three minutes to overturn what had looked a hopeless situation.
"It didn't look as if it was going to come," said winning coach James McCartan, "when all of a sudden we got level and went one up, came from nowhere.
"Obviously we're delighted, but it's hard on Jordanstown. I'm not being patronising, but it was a titanic struggle and we just shaded it."
Two points down in the 59th minute, Queen's reduced the margin with a free from replacement Gavin Donaghy. By now they had a remorseless rhythm and half back Kevin Gunn got up for the equaliser in injury-time.
With extra-time seconds away another replacement, Michael Ward, popped up with the winner to earn the heart-felt gratitude of the spectators, who faced certain death from exposure had the match gone on a minute longer.
One final Jordanstown attack was halted by Kevin McGourty winning possession deep in his own defence. His immediate reward was a clatter by Philip Mooney who was promptly red carded in the last significant action of the match.
This was a tense, tight marking semi-final dominated by a raking wind that blew at a slight angle down the field, pinning down the team facing it but proving a difficult ally for the other side. Queen's kicked 10 wides with wind advantage in the first half and Jordanstown replied with six in the second.
Space was constricted and neither side dominated centrefield. McGourty dropped back for Queen's, but the effect was mixed with his marker Paul McGuigan getting into attacking positions and scoring a point.
Still, Queen's dominated possession and territory with their half backs, particularly Gerard O'Kane and Kevin Gunn, maintaining a solid platform. Micheál O'Rourke and Brian Mallon did most of the scoring, but with the chances created should have been comfortably ahead at the break - instead of just three points to the good, 0-5 to 0-2.
"There was no point in me going on about the wides at half-time," said McCartan about his interval talk. "It was going to be a different game in the second half with us playing against the wind. We wouldn't get as many chances so we'd have to be more economical."
And so they were for the third quarter, extending the lead to four points with a flowing move finished by Aidan Carr. Then the goal arrived. In a low-scoring match dominated by the weather a goal was always going to have the potential to turn things upside down.
Michael McNamee's dropped in a shot from the left wing and Joe O'Kane had the misfortune to tip the ball into his own net.
Having taken the lead, Jordanstown went up a gear. Mark Lynch at centre forward pulled the strings and they began to move away.
Fergal Murphy saved well from Raymond Mulgrew in the 53rd minute when a second goal would certainly have broken Queen's.
"I'm not sure how we did it, though," reflected McCartan. "We're a good, honest tackling team and when we lose possession we try and get it back. We haven't got too many stars on our team and credit to the guys. They kept going.
"With about seven minutes to go I was thinking the quickest place to get a taxi into the centre of town - Quinn's bar or somewhere like that. It wasn't looking too good."
QUB: F Murphy; R O'Neill, D McCartan, J O'Kane; C Vernon, G O'Kane, K Gunn (0-1); C O'Brien, P Turley; B Mallon (0-3, two frees), A Carr (0-1), M O'Rourke (0-2, one free); J McGovern (0-1), E McCartan, K McGourty. Subs: G Donaghy (0-1) for Vernon (41 mins), M Ward (0-9) for McGovern, R Dillon for E McCartan (both 51 mins), P O'Hea for Donaghy (65 mins).
UUJ: B Connell; R Murray, P Donnelly, F Moriarty; P McGuigan (0-1), E Clarke, P Mooney; B McKenna, P Doherty; M Murphy, M Lynch (0-2, one free), M McNamee (1-0); P Cunningham (0-1), J Bradley, C Devlin (0-2, both frees). Subs: R Mulgrew for Doherty (37 mins), R Convery for Murphy (59 mins).
Referee: C Reilly (Meath).
