UUJ 2-8 St Mary's (Belfast) 1-8: UUJ qualified for the quarter-finals of the Ryan Cup, but it was a close shave at St Paul's Complex in Belfast yesterday. The winners edged out their city rivals St Mary's TC by a goal but the losers had strong claims for a penalty in injury-time.

Barry McGoldrick seemed to be held but referee Garrett Duffy reckoned he had a chance to play the ball and blew the Derry man for over-holding.

UUJ controlled the first half after which they led by 2-4 to 0-4 with Thomas McCann and Darren Hughes rifling home the goals. McCann's strike was a solo effort as he sliced through the St Mary's defence and fired home from close range while Stefan Forker, with a great angled cross-field pass, found Hughes in the right corner and the Monaghan man netted.

It was a different story after the restart as St Mary's pounded the UUJ defence constantly. John Kelly and Paul Keenan controlled midfield, causing both of their opponents to be replaced.

Keenan hit a post two minutes after the restart and minutes after a super save by their goalkeeper Bernard Mullan, Niall McSherry flicked a centre into the Jordanstown net to make the score 2-6 to 1-6 with 19 minutes left.

Both teams scored only two points before the final whistle.

UUJ: G Kelly; G Haughey, C Murney, D McCaul (0-1); A Girvan, D Hughes (1-0), B Beggs; J Colgan, N McKeever; R Mulgrew (0-1), T McCann (1-1), C Cavanagh; C Donnelly (0-3, all frees), P Downey, S Forker (0-2). Subs: C Murray for McKeever (36 mins), D Mulholland for Haughey (43 mins), D Murphy for Colgan (58 mins).

ST MARY'S: B Mallon; B Og Maguire, M Digney, R Green; B Canavan, S O'Neill, M Murray; J Kelly, P Keenan (0-3); M McKenna, B McGoldrick (0-1), N McSherry (1-0); G O'Neill, CJ McGourty (0-4, all frees), P Carvill. Sub: P McAleer for Green (22 mins).

Referee: G Duffy (St Gall's).