St Patrick's on track

Any doubts that St Patrick's, Navan might struggle to retain their Leinster Colleges' senior football title were dismissed last Friday with the 18-point win over St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge.

Their next game comes on Friday when they host Scoil Dheaglain, one of six second-round fixtures to be decided this week and a game unlikely to worry team mentor Colm O'Rourke too much.

Full back Kevin Slattery is one of the key figures back from last year, and now acting as captain, his influence is likely to prove crucial as they press towards the Leinster final.

Jospeh Sheridan came on as substitute in last year's final but is now their pivotal scorer at full forward. He claimed 1-4 against St Joseph's, with Simon O'Connor adding 1-2 alongside him. Last year's beaten Leinster finalists, St Mel's, Longford, are in action for the first time when they face St Benildus, winners last Friday over Salesian Celbridge. Another interesting clash is the meeting on Thursday of Good Counsel - 1999 All-Ireland winners - and Maynooth Post Primary.

A comfortable win over Farranferris last week has earned St Colman's a passage into the quarter-final of the Munster senior football Corn Ui Mhuiri. Tomorrow they play St Brendan's, Killarney for a semi-final place against Colaiste Na Sceilge on February 18th.