UCC clung on to claim the 2014 Sigerson Cup title after a 0-10 to 0-09 win over favourites UUJ at Queen's tonight.

A brilliant performance by the Cork students earned them the title following an enthralling encounter that went right down to the wire, even though it looked as if UCC would win comfortably.

In the last minute, it was centre back Conor Dorman that proved to be the hero for the Munster outfit as he kicked the winning score, although there was great debate as to whether the ball actually went over the bar or drifted wide of the post.

UCC were the far better in the first half as they built up 0-06 to 0-02 lead by the break and Conor Cox was their main scoring threat during the opening 30 minutes.

To their credit UUJ came from seven points down in the second half to level matters and it looked as if they would snatch it at the very end, but UCC showed great resilience to clinch the winning score.

The UCC defence was in outstanding form throughout as Tom Clancy and Dorman were in excellent form, while up front Cox was ably supported by Luke Connolly.

The first scores of the game came from the boot of Cox and he finished with an impressive tally of seven points, five of which came in the first half as UCC held that four-point lead at the break. Mattie Donnelly and Kieran Hughes the scorers for UUJ.

Seven first half wides set the tone for UUJ and this was something they were left to rue.

Cox, Luke Connolly and Michael Quinlivan kicked three points at the start of the second half to put UCC 0-09 to 0-02 in front eight minutes into the second half.

However, Jordanstown sensed a way back into the match as Conor McAliskey and Hughes fired over points, before Ronan O'Neill came more into the game by kicking four of the next five points, while goalkeeper Rory Beggan converted a '45 in between as the sides were level.

Then Dorman took centre stage when he came forward and sent the ball sailing over the bar to ensure a dramatic win for University College Cork.

UCC: B Kelly; D Culhane, E O'Mahony, F McNamara; T Clancy (0-01), C Dorman (0-01), B Shanahan; D Nation, I McGuire; S Keane, L Connolly (0-01), B O'Driscoll; C Cox (0-06, 0-04f, 0-01 45), M Quinlivan (0-01), P Geaney. Subs: S Kiely for Nation (37); E Healy for Keane (46).

UUJ: R Beggan (0-01, 0-01 45); D McNally, C McKaigue, B Tierney; K Clarke, C Walshe, L Keaney; M Donnelly (0-01), N McKeever; K Hughes (0-02, 0-02f), R O'Neill (0-04, 0-02f), D Savage; C McAliskey (0-01), C O'Boyle, J Clarke. Subs: K McKaigue for McNally (Black 25); P Devlin for Savage (43); R Donnelly for McAliskey (50).

Referee: J McQuillan (Cavan).

Video by Jerome Quinn Media for the HE GAA . Tweet

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