Aaron Gillane’s outstanding tally of 1-15 helped Mary Immaculate College record a hard-earned victory over DIT at Grangegorman.

Although hosts DIT offered a stubborn challenge, Mary I produced a powerful finish to get themselves over the line.

While Limerick star Gillane was a reliable presence in the Limerick college’s attack, Eoghan Dunne offered a similar threat for DIT.

And it was DIT who held the aces at the interval, with Dunne’s goal on 23 minutes helping them to establish a 1-8 to 0-8 cushion.

Gillane fired to the net on the restart to get Mary I back on track, but, with the sides trading scores, the tie looked destined to go down to the wire.

Yet, whereas Dunne was strangely subdued in the dying moments, Gillane registered five points in succession to give his side victory.

Scorers – Mary Immaculate: A Gillane 1-15 (0-13fs), T Grimes, L Meade, C English, M O’Loughlin 0-1 each; DIT: E Dunne 1-7 (0-5fs), N Walsh, E Dillon 0-2 each, D Keogh, A Clarke, B Quinn 0-1 each.

MARY IMMACULATE – E Cahill; E Ryan, D Prendergast, S Downey; C Morgan, D Browne, T Grimes; T Monaghan, L Meade; A Gillane, P Hickey, C English; G Cooney, C Guilfoyle, R McCormack. Subs: M O’Loughlin for McCormack (h-t), C O’Brien for English (52), B Buckley for Grimes (62).

DIT – J Treacy, S McClelland, S Brennan, D Eggerton; D Keogh, D Kelly, C Ryan; P Maher, A Clarke; L Blanchfield, G Whelan, N Walsh; E Dillon, E Dunne, B Quinn. Subs: Q Saunders for Walsh (54).

REF – J O’Brien (Laois).