Maynooth 1-7 Oldcastle 0-6 Hugh Purcell's 54th minute goal proved to be the decisive score as Maynooth proved too strong for hosts Oldcastle in this Leinster Club IFC quarter-final clash at Millbrook on Sunday afternoon. Purcell connected with Pierre Ennis' '45' for the only goal of the game that left it 1-6 to 0-5. Seconds earlier Oldcastle 'keeper Sean Fox turned the Maynooth full-forward's goal attempt over his own end line but had little chance of keeping out the match-deciding score. A Patrick Gilsenan pointed free cut the deficit to a goal heading into the first of four minutes of stoppage time. The Meath men were unable to conjure up any further scores and Pierre Ennis posted the insurance point from a free close to the left-hand touchline in the last meaningful action of the game. Oldcastle - who beat Longford hosts Newtowncashel the previous weekend - were left to rue registering eight second-half wides when wind-assisted. In arrears by 0-2 to 0-6 at the interval, Oldcastle pared the deficit to the minimum with points from Nickie Galligan and substitute Ronan Farrelly (two) by the 52nd minute. That was as good as it got for Seamus Kiernan's men before the north Kildare men reasserted themselves in the latter stages to secure a semi-final meeting with Louth opponents St Malachy's at Dundalk next Sunday. Maynooth were making their first appearance in this competition since regaining their senior status a few weeks back after a break of one season. With the breeze at their backs, Declan Cryan's men hit the front when Pierre Ennis pointed within 25 seconds of the off with assistance from team captain Michael Bennett. Four minutes later, Ennis added a second this time from play. His brother Karl doubled the Maynooth account with a brace of points (one free) to leave it 0-4 to 0-1 after 13 minutes. In between the latter brace of scores, Niall Mangan got Oldcastle off the mark with a pointed free. That score only succeeded in providing temporary respite for Seamus Kiernan's men. Points from Pierre Ennis (free) and Vincent Hanrahan left it 0-6 to 0-1 22 minutes in. When a Nickie Galligan goal attempt was blocked by a Maynooth defender, Vincent Reynolds landed the subsequent '45'. Nearly eight second-half minutes elapsed before Galligan fisted over Oldcastle's first score from play. A brace of points from substitute Ronan Farrelly left just the minimum between the teams by the 52nd minute. Then Maynooth struck for those match-winning scores. Maynooth - P. Flood; J. Brennan, C. O'Neill, P. Warren; S. Kennedy, A. McAndrew, K. Comerford; M. Bennett, H. Purcell (1-0); K. Ennis (0-2, 1 free), F. Molloy, C. Canning; V. Hanrahan (0-1), P. Ennis (0-4, 2 frees), N. Naughton. Subs - A. Gunn for Brennan (28), J. McAndrew for Molloy (43), J. Comerford for Warren (47), M. Fahey for Naughton (51), P. Comerford for Hanrahan (56). Oldcastle - S. Fox; S. Farrelly, S. Rahill, T. Rahill; B. Curran, R. McHugh, C. Caffrey; E. Gilsenan, V. Reynolds (0-1, '45'); P. Gilsenan (0-1, f), T. Farrelly, P. Rahill; N. Mangan (0-1, f), N. Galligan (0-1), A. McCann. Subs - R. Farrelly (0-2) for P. Rahill (26), R. Pakenham for Curran (44), C. McPartland for Mangan (55). Referee - P. Kneel (Louth). Tweet

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