An injury-time Enda Smith penalty propelled DCU into tomorrow’s Sigerson Cup final.

Niall Moyna’s charges trailed 1-7 to 0-11 as the clock spilled into time on, having hit just two-points in the previous fifty minutes of football. In a last-ditch raid on the UCD goal, substitute Conor McGraynor was hauled down in the square. Referee Rory Hickey pointed to the spot and Enda Smith stepped forward to strike the gave-saving penalty.

Eoin Keogh saved Smith’s penalty, but the DCU centre-back was quickest onto rebound in rattling the net. Colm Begley converted a free thereafter to seal the result.

DCU had roared into this afternoon's semi-final contest, ahead by 1-6 to 0-3 at the interval.

Roscommon’s Enda Smith was their key contributor of the first period, tallying 1-3 from play. The Boyle forward, set-up by Fintan Kelly, pounced for the opening goal of the contest on nine minutes.

DCU should have added a second approaching the break, UCD full-back David Byrne superbly keeping out Conor Meredith’s drive.

Two John Heslin frees and white flags courtesy of Eoghan Nolan and Ciaran Lenehan kept UCD within sight, the gap further closed at the change of ends through John Heslin, Brian Fenton and Niall Kelly. Jack Barry had edged John Divilly’s side in front on 59 minutes, but drama aplenty ensued to see DCU advance.

Scorers for DCU: E Smith (1-3); C Moynagh (1-1); C Meredith, C McHugh, C Begley (0-1 free), C McGraynor (0-1 each).

Scorers for UCD: J Heslin (0-5, 0-4 frees); N Kelly (0-2); J Barry, N Kelly, C Lenehan, B Fenton (0-1 each).

DCU: T Lowe (Roscommon); J Smith (Dublin), C Boyle (Monaghan), C Daly (Roscommon); D Ward (Monaghan), C Moynagh (Cavan), C Begley (Laois); F Kelly (Roscommon), S O’Brien (Tipperary); D O’Connor (Mayo), C Meredith (Laois), D Wrynn (Leitrim); E Smith (Roscommon), D Smith (Roscommon), C McHugh (Dublin).

Subs: C McGraynor (Wicklow) for O’Connor (HT), R Connor (Longford) for Kelly (HT), N Murphy (Sligo) for McHugh (37 mins), D Mannix (Kerry) for D Smith (46 mins), S Carey (Monaghan) for Meredith (47), M Quinn (Longford) for Keane (bc,52).

UCD: E Keogh (Laois); R Wylie (Monaghan), D Byrne (Dublin), A Ó Muruchu (Wicklow); M Deegan (Meath), C Mulally (Dublin), M Ó Cathalain (Dublin); J Heslin (Westmeath), C Sheridan (Meath); B Fenton (Dublin), J McCaffrey (Dublin), E Nolan (Wexford); N Kelly (Kildare), M Hughes (Longford), R Basquel (Dublin).

Subs: M O’Hanlon (Wexford) for Nolan (bc, 23 mins), C Lenehan (Meath) for Sheridan (25), R McDaid (Dublin) for Deegan (30 mins), S O’Dea (Limerick) for O Cathalain (HT), J Barry for Basquel (45), S Kilcoyne (Sligo) for Lenehan (57).

Referee: R Hickey (Clare)