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In The Irish News - Feb 26 1998: Diarmaid Marsden drives Queen's to Sigerson semi-final clash with the Poly

Armagh star Diarmaid Marsden
Armagh star Diarmaid Marsden Armagh star Diarmaid Marsden

QUEEN'S survived two prolonged spells of second-half pressure from Waterford Institute of Technology to go through to secure a Sigerson semi-final meeting with Jordanstown.

In a physical affair at Kilmacud Croke's Silver Park on Dublin's South Side, Diarmaid Marsden took most of the plaudits by scoring 1-

6, 0-3 from frees, to secure a 1-13 to 0-9 win.

But the Belfast University did not have it all their own way. They were forced to combat a late charge from a Waterford side which

refused to lie down but could not penetrate a determined defence.

Waterford were also guilty of wasteful shooting when they held the upper hand at the start of the second half, but the defence was

equally culpable, allowing the northern attack to score 1-10 from play.

Queen's led 1-1 to 0-1 after only two minutes with a lucky goal giving them a dream start. Marsden was to the fore, equalising Noel

Kennelly's early point and putting the ball in the net from Healy's short kick-out immediately afterwards.

Three more points from him propelled Queen's into a 1-8 to 0-4 half-time lead.

And though Waterford gained the upper hand at the start and finish of the second half, they only got within five points of the winners.

As Waterford pushed forward in the last few minutes, they allowed themselves to be caught on the counter as they squandered possession.

Alan Molloy was impressive at the back for the winners and Cormac McAnallen and Aidan O'Rourke were also superb.

QUB: C Rafferty, P Campbell, C McGleenan, A Molloy, E McNulty, C Holmes, A McGrath, C Coleman, J. McNulty (0-1), J McNulty, P McNulty, C McAnallen (0-2), J Considine (0-1), D Marsden (1-6) 3 frees, A O'Rourke (0-3), B Ward.

Sub: P Campbell for Coleman (42).

WIT: P Healy, J Foley, R Stafford, O Leacy, R Breen, D Mitchell, B Walsh, A Moloney (0-1), S Davey (0-1), M Sullivan (0-1), N Kennelly

(0-4), L O'Brien, D Brown (0-1), A Glynn, J Lawlor.

Subs: R Purcell for Mitchell (42), P Murtagh (0-1), for Brown (47), P McHugh for Leacy (52).

Ref: J Woods (Dublin).

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AN injury to Derry star Joe Cassidy cast a shadow over Jordanstown's dogged Sigerson dismissal of Maynooth on a 3-11 to 1-8 scoreline.

The Bellaghy forward was carried off the field five minutes into the second half after a late tackle.

Cassidy suffered bruised ribs and there was a six-minute delay before he was stretchered off the pitch.

On the resumption a fired-up Poly, playing with the strong breeze, pulled away from their Kildare-based rivals to secure a last four spot against northern counterparts, Queen's.

Shane King, Davitt McElroy and Ger Colgan scored their goals.

UUJ: M Conlon, F Crossan, N Farren, S McGuckin, R Johnston, P Diamond, M Coll, D McElroy (1-0), T McEntee (0-1), K Donnelly (0-3), J McEntee (0-3, all frees), K Madden, B McGuckin (0-1), J Cassidy (0-2, one free), S King (1-0)

Subs: G Diamond (0-1) for Coll, G Colgan (1-0) for Cassidy (inj), B Dillon for Crossan.

Maynooth: C Moran, M Greene, D O'Sullivan, F McHugh, B Hennon, D Gavin, C Goggins, Gavin Keane (0-1), F O'Reilly, Ger Keane (0-4, two frees), S Carey, P McMahon (0-1), J McGovern, C Conway (1-1, one free), C McKenna (0-1)

Subs: D O'Brien for McHugh, M O'Brien for Goggins.

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UNKNOWN Scott Jones wrote himself a whole chapter in the FA Cup's glorious history as battling Barnsley ended Manchester United's

treble dream after a 3-2 win for the underdogs in the fifth round replay.

The 22-year-old, only in the Barnsley side because Danny Wilson was without four defenders, scored the goals that earned him a place in

South Yorkshire folklore for years to come.

Barnsley were given the perfect start when John Hendrie took advantage of a flag that never came to smash them in front and Jones

made the impossible look likely when he stabbed home his first senior goal four minutes into first half stoppage time.

Yet Alex Ferguson's understrength side showed the determination of champions as substitute Teddy Sheringham dragged them back into it

with a deflection-aided 13th goal of the season.

Dave Watson and his defence somehow withstood the onslaught as Barnsley flirted with the luck they were denied in the first meeting.

And that was the cue for Jones to prove lightning can strike twice in the same place as he stormed up from the back to power home Neil

Redfearn's corner and earn Wilson's braves a last eight trip to Newcastle.

It was still nail-biting stuff, Andy Cole grabbing number 22 of the season late-on to ensure that Barnsley were whistling for the end

long before it came.

But with Barnsley's red wall creaking but just holding, on the final whistle proved that not even United can win the cup with less than half a side.