St Patrick's CS, Navan 2-13
St Mary's, Edenderry 0-10

Leinster Colleges SFC A specialists of the previous decade, St Pat's of Navan, advanced to another provincial decider when dethroning holders St Mary's, Edenderry in Saturday's replayed semi-final at Cusack Park, Mullingar.

Colm O'Rourke's side may have been fortunate to survive in the initial encounter but they made no mistake when given the second chance although flattered by the nine-point winning margin. Another close finish looked likely when the sides were level on 0-8 each at the three-quarter stage.

But then the two Fiachras, Ross and McEntee, both corner-forwards, netted the goals which enabled the Meath side to cruise through to meet Colaiste Eoin, Stillorgan.

Pat's led by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break after five different players had got on target for them. The margin could have been more for two good chances of goals were spurned. In the early stages Shane Barry had an opportunity but the attempt was kept out by 'keeper Shane Geoghegan. Later Shane Gillespie shot over the bar when he could have done better.

Conor Finnegan returned to full-back after injury for Pat's and further upfield there was some reshuffling with Conor Sheridan and Conor Noonan the new midfield pairing and Barry filled a wing-forward berth.

Ross and Alan Forde were in good form in the Navan attack and the latter increased the advantage to three points immediately after the restart. St Mary's depended too much on outstanding midfielder Sean Hurley for scores and three points from him had the teams level midway through the second period.

The holders could only add two points as their opponents tagged on 2-5. After Forde regained the lead Ross fired in the first goal following a pass from Noonan on 48 minutes.

With points from Forde and Gillespie (play and free) following, Pat's went seven clear and had the final place secure when McEntee grabbed the second goal wehen a Gillespie free was not cleared.

St Patrick's: C Flynn; C McConnell, C Finnegan, B Dillon; N Groome (0-1), D Maguire, P Fox; C Sheridan, C Noonan; C Fitzsimons, A Forde (0-4), S Barry (0-3, 3 fs); F Ross (1-2), S Gillespie (0-3, 1f), F McEntee (1-0). Subs: C Wickham for Dillon (7), M O'Brien for Noonan (58).

St Mary's: S Geoghegan; C Grehan, D Kelly, B Kenny; T Hickey, J Kavanagh, C McNamee; S Hurley (0-6, 5fs), P Farrell; E Farrell, D Flynn (0-1), P Foy (0-1); S Cullen, A Sullivan (0-1), S Doyle. Subs: D Grehan for Farrell (38), L Pender (0-1) for McNamee (41), C Hurley for Doyle (49), E Holton for Kenny (50), P Cribbin for Doyle (52).

Referee: S Carroll (Westmeath). Tweet

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