Patrician Newbridge 1-16 Moate CS 3-8: Patrician Newbridge just about hung on to their status as title contenders in a pulsating preliminary round tie at home.
They led 0-8 to 0-4 at the break and, after Séamus Hanafin was fouled as he approached goal in the second period, he struck the penalty into the top right corner.
Newbridge tacked on two more points and the visitors looked a well beaten side. However, Moate, managed by Westmeath star Dessie Dolan, gradually got a grip at midfield and a low ball by the excellent Brian Kelly finished in the net in the 55th minute. Soon afterwards Declan Mullen hit successive goals closing the gap to a single point. However, a Hanafin free in additonal time sealed the win.
PATRICIAN: E Callaghan; D McDonnell, K O'Donnell, T Barron; S Lawlor, R Maguire, C O'Shea; D Regan, C McDonnell (0-1); C McInerney-Aspell (0-1), S Campbell (0-1, free), D McKenna (0-4); S Dowling (0-1), S Hanafin (1-4, 1-0 pen 2 frees), R Cahill (0-4).
MOATE: P Dunne; A Cushin, J Ledwith, C Egan; O Robbins, E Dalton (0-1, 45), J Dalton; B Kelly (1-1), D Keane; D Mullen (2-0), D Malynn (0-4, 2 frees), J Gilligan; B Allen, C Martin (0-1, free), J Geoghegan (0-1). Subs: P O'Flaherty for Egan, G Guilfoyle for Gilligan, M Donoghue for Robbins, K Maguire for Geoghegan.
