The 2013 Fitzgibbon Cup champions were pushed hard by the hosts throughout, but the students turned the tide in the second half.

Kerry were much the better side early on and were fully deserving of their 0-6 to 0-3 lead.

Indeed the Kingdom could have been further in front, but for a goal miss from Padraig Boyle, after his effort went across the goalmouth and narrowly wide.

In the 25th minute Kerry were awarded a penalty after a foul on Shane Nolan (0-8), following a Michael O'Leary pass.

Nolan elected to take the penalty, but UCC keeper David O'Gorman pulled off a fine save.

UCC then shot six unanswered points in the closing 10 minutes of the half, to take a 0-12 to 0-6 interval lead.

Adrian Royle and Boyle both netted early in the second half put Kerry level, but the students upped their game once again.

Brian Lawton and Alan Cadogan both brought their tallies to six points each, with all of Cadogan's scores from play, while Rob O'Shea (0-4) and Eoin Finn (0-3) also contributed to the UCC tally on the way to a nine-point win.

Both got goals past Kerry keeper Stephen Murphy, who replaced James Logue before throw-in, but the Causeway goalkeeper also pulled off some fine saves in this game.

Limerick made home advantage count as they claimed a 2-15 to 1-15 win over Waterford at Kilmallock.

An own-goal was the difference, after Shane Fives rounded the ball into his own net in the 51st minute, to swing this game in the Shannonsiders favour.

Waterford began this game brilliantly and a Jake Dillon three-pointer on 22 minutes, handed the visitors a 1-5 to 0-3 advantage.

However, Limerick powered their way back before the break with an Adrian Breen goal to cut the gap to 1-8 to 1-7 at the interval.

Little separated the sides on the restart, but Fives gifted the score that Limerick needed and the hosts never looked back.

Limerick now host UCC in semi-final next weekend.

Cork also advanced to the semi-finals following a 4-15 to 1-13 win over Cork IT at the CIT Sports Stadium.

Goals were key on the way to an 11-point victory for the Rebels, with two of these majors coming from former Cork goalkeeper Darren McCarthy - one in either half.

Cork were in superb form early on and a 16th minute Stephen Moylan goal helped them to a 1-5 to 0-3 lead.

But CIT powered their way back and tied the game at 1-6 apiece, six minutes from the break, with Kevin Kavanagh bagging the students goal.

However, McCarthy’s first three-point helped Cork to a 2-6 to 1-7 interval lead.

Cork exerted control in the third quarter, and although CIT pulled back with scores from Daire Lordan, Seán O’Mahony and John Cronin to cut the gap to the minimum on a 2-11 to 1-13 score-line in the 64th minute, Cork finished strongly.

A goal from substitute Daniel Kearney set the Rebels on their way, with McCarthy’s second goal coming after good team work from Paudie O’Sullivan and Peter Kelleher; while a quartet of unanswered points ensure an 11-point win.

Cork face the winners of tomorrow’s final quarter-final between last year’s finalists Clare and Tipperary.

The sides meet in Sixmilebridge at 2pm.