Both teams had to overcome stern tests in the semi-final with UCC rebuffing hosts UCD and UL denying Maynooth in a penalty shoot-out.
UCC had the dream start when they found themselves in front in the opening minutes through Michael Carroll’s effort.
UCD controlled possession throughout the game but lacked the incisiveness to pry apart a regimented Cork defensive shape. However, UCD keeper Tom Murphy was the busier shot stopper in the second half, having to repel a number of counter attacks from UCC.
University of Limerick had a much different task in their last-four game with Maynooth by behind behind for the parts of the game and conceding the bulk of the possession to the Kildare side.
Maynooth took the lead early in the first half when UL failed to deal with their defensive duties and Killian Maloney eventually ended up putting the ball through his own net. Ed O’Dwyer brought the teams back onto level terms with a curling effort.
Maynooth pressed on in the second half but struggled to maintain pressure in the final third. Cian Byrne did restore the advantage for them with 20 minutes to go however they never looked certain to wind the clock down and paid the price when Darren Loughnane’s looping cross beat everyone and dropped into the net in the final few moments.
Extra time could not separate them and penalties and with Zak O’Neill and Darragh Kelly both missing the first two penalties for Maynooth it left Conor Whittle to put Limerick into the final.
The Spillane Cup, the subsidiary competition for beaten the quarter final sides, will have an all Dublin final after the semi-final results saw DCU get the better of NUI Galway with goals from Jake Molloy and Ryan Smith either side of Evan Hudner’s strike for Galway.
Niall Barr, Sean Holland, Segun Balungon and Cian McAlaster got the goals to give Trinity College a comfortable 4-0 win over Mary Immaculate in the other semi-final.
Results
Wednesday 20th February
RUSTLERS Harding Cup Semi-Finals
University College Dublin 0-1 University College Cork
University of Limerick 2-2 Maynooth University – UL win 4-2 on penalties
RUSTLERS Spillane Cup Semi-Finals
Dublin City University 2-1 NUI Galway
Mary Immaculate College 0-4 Trinity College Dublin
Fixtures
Thursday 21st February
RUSTLERS Harding Cup Final
University College Cork v University of Limerick, UCD Bowl (2.30pm)
RUSTLERS Spillane Cup Final
Dublin City University v Trinity College Dublin, AUL Complex (11am)
