The Irish Universities Collingwood Cup final will be a North vs South affair after Queens University Belfast and UCD came through their semi-final ties to set up a repeat of the 2018 decider when UCD edged out Queens with a late winner in Belfast.

In today's semi-finals Queens were comfortable 4-0 winners against NUI Galway while UCD were made battle all the way by Maynooth University before coming away with a 2-1 win.

Queens had easily accounted for the Collingwood Cup holders DCU in last week’s quarter final and at the AUL Complex, where the strong wind played its part, the same two goal scorers John McGovern and Ronan Young who did the damage in the previous tie struck again.

McGovern, their Newry City attacker and the Co. Down club’s leading scorer in Irish League games, hit a hat-trick for the second successive week with Young getting on the scoresheet again.

McGovern was on hand to turn a Lorcan McIlroy cut back past NUIG ‘keeper Sam O’Gorman on 24 minutes. Queens were well in control and Young doubled the score with a corner kick that beat O’Gorman just on half time.

Young then fired over a cross from the left to perfectly set up McGovern to head home a third early in the second half. With 15 minutes remaining McGovern completed his hat-trick, bundling the ball home after Young’s free bounced loose in the Galway box.

The UCD and Maynooth affair took place at St Francis FC’s splendid John Hyland Park and produced somewhat of a classic semi-final tie.

The Belfield side eventually ran out 2-1 winners but it took a goal from substitute Liam Kerrigan in the final quarter to clinch the victory.

Starting without any of their SSE Airtricity League of Ireland regulars and with a similar line up to that which knocked out UCC in the quarter final, UCD drew first blood early on.

Adam Lennon nipped in from the right to steer Rossa McAlister’s excellent ball into the Maynooth goalmouth past a helpless Enda Minogue after just nine minutes.

Ciaran Behan and Tobi Jinad had mazy runs into the Maynooth box halted before they could hit the target as UCD pressed for a second.

However, it was Maynooth who grabbed an equaliser when centre back Aaron McBride rose highest in the box to head home a Jack Reynolds corner.

At the other end, the Maynooth ‘keeper had to be in top form saving from Behan and Lennon while Jinad had a shot come back off the crossbar as UCD chased a second before the break.

Jack Keany replaced McAlister early after the resumption and UCD then introduced Liam Kerrigan and Colm Whelan on the hour.

Maynooth still looked capable of going in front and only great defending by Gearoid Mulligan and Michael McHugh kept out Success Edugun and Paddy O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan then fluffed their best chance to grab a goal when he shot well over Carl Williams bar from a perfect position.

Maynooth were to rue that miss as shortly afterwards Kerrigan raced through on a high clearance to cleverly place the ball past Minogue for what turned out to be the winner.

Third Level Football Results | Tuesday 22nd February
IUFU Collingwood Cup Semi-Finals
University College Dublin 2-1 Maynooth University, John Hyland Park, Baldonnell
Queen’s University Belfast 4 v 0 NUI Galway, AUL Complex Clonshaugh

CFAI Perpetual Cup Semi-Finals
IT Sligo 2-3 TU Dublin, Knocknarea Arena
Dundalk IT 8-2 National College of Ireland, Oriel Park

CFAI Challenge Cup Semi-Finals
IT Sligo ‘B’ 0-5 TU Dublin City Campus, Knocknarea Arena

WSCAI Kelly Cup Quarter-Finals
Ulster University 3-2 TU Dublin