Con O'Callaghan's 88th minute free secured UCD a place in the Sigerson Cup final at the expense of UUJ in an extra-time thriller this evening. 

Two periods of extra-time (the second one consisting of two five-minute halves) were needed to separate the sides in Inniskeen with Dublin star O'Callaghan - a surprise late addition to the UCD team - having the final say as John Divilly's side ran out 0-18 to 1-13 winners after 90 minutes of action.

UCD progress to their third successive decider in which they will face NUIG (who overcame DIT in Mullingar) in a repeat of the 2003 showpiece.

Deadlocked at 0-3 apiece at the first break and 0-12 apiece at the end of normal-time at Grattan Park, Mark Bradley's goal for UUJ in the opening additional period made it a three-point game for the first time - 1-12 to 0-12.

See the key moments from tonight's double extra-time epic between UU and UCD in the @ElectricIreland Sigerson Cup semi-final at Inniskeen.. #SIgerson18 #FirstClassRivals https://t.co/TCEmsaN6F4

- HE GAA (@HigherEdGAA) February 14, 2018

UCD responded with scores from O'Callaghan and Conor McCarthy (2) to level matters once more before Evan O'Carroll pushed the Dublin students one ahead from a '45'.

Laois man O'Carroll's placed ball effort looked to have snatched victory for the 2016 champions but there was still two five-minute halves to come after Rory Brennan landed a dramatic equaliser for the Belfast students - 1-13 to 0-16.

UUJ's tails were up but they couldn't muster a winner as UCD found more scores from substitute Brian O'Seanachain and O'Callaghan to eke out a win.

UCD - C Manton; L Fortune, C O'Shea, P Healy; S Coen, C Mullally, J Feehan; B O'Sullivan, J Barry; L Casey (0-2), C McCarthy (0-6, 3f), B Byrne; C O'Callaghan (0-2f), E O'Carroll (0-5, 3f, 2'45), E Lowry (0-1f). Subs: B O'Seanachain (0-1) for L Casey, T Hayes for E Lowry, L Silke (0-1) for B Byrne, P O'Connor for J Feehan, L Moran for P O'Connor.

UUJ - S Fox; M Magee, M McKernan (0-1), M McEvoy; R Brennan (0-2), R McNamee (0-2), G McKinless (0-1); T O'Brien (0-1f), J Munroe; R McAnespie, M Bradley (1-0), E McHugh; L Brennan (0-3, 1f, 1'45), N Madine (0-1), F Burns (0-2). Subs: D Mulgrew for N Madine, D Gallagher for F Burns, D Tallon for R McAnespie, F Burns for R McNamee, R McAnespie for E McHugh.

Referee - S Hurson.

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