LEINSTER COLLEGES SF A QUARTER FINALS St Mary's, Edenderry 1-11 St Benildus, Dublin 1-8:ST MARY'S Secondary School, Edenderry remained on course for back-to-back Leinster titles when they had just enough in the tank to get past Dublin's St Benildus College in a closely contested quarter-final in Ballyfore on Saturday.
St Mary’s were denied All-Ireland glory in the most heartbreaking of circumstances last year and are clearly determined to go a step further this year.
They were forced to work very hard by a battling St Benildus side but they were still good value for their win. The Dublin students got an early breakthrough with a great Colm Egan goal but it was all St Mary’s after this.
They replied instantly with a penalty goal from the in-form Anton Sullivan and with Seán Hurley in fine form at midfield, they led 1-9 to 1-3 at half-time.
In the second half, St Benildus got on top in most sectors but their forwards, despite a good display from Fergal Duffy, failed to really extend a resolute St Mary’s defence. In particular, St Benildus never looked like getting in for the goal they were crying out for and, while they got the deficit back to three points in injury-time, the Offaly side held on.
ST MARYS, EDENDERRY: S Geoghegan; C Grehan, D Kelly, B Kenny; T Hickey, J Kavanagh, D Flynn; S Hurley (0-6, four frees), P Farrell; C McNamee, S Cullen (0-2), A Sullivan (1-2, 1-0 pen); S Doyle, E Farrell, C Hurley. Subs: E Hotlon (0-1)for Flynn (18 mins), P Foy for C Hurley (53 mins).
ST BENILDUS: M O'Connor; K McGrath, A Clabby, A Carroll; A Dolan (0-1), S Fitzsimons, D Quinn; D O'Curry (0-1), C Egan (1-0); C Butler (0-1), F Duffy (0-4, three frees), A McMahon; G Whelan (0-1), B Ó Riain, S Butler. Subs: David Byrne for McMahon (39m), Darragh Byrne for Egan (45m), E Barber for Ó Riain (55m).
Referee: P Fox(Westmeath).
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