Champions UCD produced a second-half scoring blitz at Belfield to overcome the challenge of 14-man Cork IT in the Sigerson Cup first round.

Despite being 0-10 to 2-2 down at half-time, John Divilly’s side exploited the 28th-minute dismissal of CIT’s Paul Walsh. The Leesiders had threatened a shock with Daniel Dineen and Kevin O’Donovan firing them 0-8 to 0-1 up on 20 minutes, before Conor Hartley and Conor McCarthy goaled. After the break, UCD edged ahead with Evan O’Carroll’s goal crucial.

Scorers – UCD: E O’Carroll 1-3 (1f), C O’Callaghan, F Clifford 1-1 each, C Hartley, C McCarthy 1-0 each, B McGinn 0-2, L Silke 0-1. Cork IT: D Dineen 0-4, K O’Donovan 0-3, C O’Donoghue, M Buckley, M Bradley 0-1 each.

UCD – T O’Brien; M Dempsey, B Byrne, M O’Connor; C O’Connor, C Meyler, C O’Shea; D Gavin, S Coen; C Hartley, C McCarthy, C O’Callaghan; F Clifford, E O’Carroll, B McGinn. Subs: L Silke for Hartley (h-t), F Connolly for Byrne (52), D Kennedy for Meyler, C Crowley for O’Carroll (both 55), C Moriarty for Clifford, N O’Callaghan for C O’Callaghan (both 57).

CORK IT – C Kelly; M Lordan, A Browne, C O’Donoghue; N O’Donoghue, E Lavers, B Sugrue; P Walsh, R Walsh; K O’Donovan, D Dineen, G O’Brien; M Buckley, J Crean, M Bradley. Subs: B Hyland for Bradley (h-t), S Howard for R Walsh, B Hodnett for Buckley (both 46), D O’Sullivan for Crean (55).

REF – S Mulhare (Laois)