St Colman's, Fermoy 1-11 Waterford Colleges 1-11: St Colman's, who are chasing a fourth title in a row, survived with a 58th-minute equalising goal from Jamie Kearney in Clonmel yesterday.

With Padraig Lynch leading the way with four quality points, St Colman's led 0-6 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. After 20 minutes they had seven points on the scoresheet against opponents who had scored twice and had hit seven wides.

The Waterford boys rallied with three late points from full forward Mark Gorman to trail 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time.

Early points from Jamie Kearney and Richard O'Connell tightened the St Colman's grip but when Mark Gorman (three points) and his brother, John, responded for the challengers, it was 0-10 to 0-9 going into the last quarter.

Kearney and Mark Gorman swopped points and in the 55th minute Waterford hit the front for the first time. A fine move started by Gorman and helped by Noel Ó Murchu ended with corner forward Paul Murray grabbing the opening goal to leave the champions trailing 1-10 to 0-11.

A Mark Gorman-pointed free saw a goal separating the sides but within 30 seconds St Colman's equalised when Kearney hit an unstoppable shot to the net.

Both sides missed winning chances in the dying seconds with free-takers Gorman and Lynch shading the uprights at opposite ends of the pitch.

ST COLMAN'S: C O'Keeffe; M Hegarty, S Russell, G O'Connor; B Hogan, P Cotter, K Kearney; E Condon, M O'Connor (0-1); K Dineen, R O'Connell (0-2), J Kearney (1-2); P Lynch (0-6, 2 frees), A Mannix, R Coakley. Subs: J O'Sullivan for M Hegarty; A O'Connor for R Coakley.

WATERFORD COLLEGES: B Scanlon; J Morrissey, J Kindreagan, B McCarthy; M Flynn, J Mullen, M Prendergast; J Nagle, K Landers; M O'Brien, N Ó Murchu, T O'Brien; B Bannon, M Gorman (0-9, 0-4 frees), P Murray (1-1). Sub: J Gorman (0-1) for B McCarthy.

Referee: N Cosgrave (Clonmel).