Moate Community School goalie Darren O'Connell passes the ball forward during his side's opening round win over St Benildus College. However, Moate CS were then knocked out of the Leinster Colleges championship by St Pat's, Navan. Photo: Ann Hennessy

Marist march on as Moate CS are knocked out

By Kieran Galvin Marist College, Athlone have advanced to the quarter-finals of the Leinster Colleges SF 'A' championship - but Moate CS have been knocked out of the competition. The Marist had a comprehensive 3-9 to 0-3 win over Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar in their all-Westmeath clash last Friday. The Athlone side made light of a scarcely playable pitch in Ballynacargy and won in emphatic style. Meanwhile, Moate CS were eliminated by the famed Meath football nursery, St Pat's of Navan. St Pat's had home advantage in the second round clash and they duly triumphed on a 2-11 to 1-7 scoreline. According to most observers, the margin of Navan's victory didn't do justice to Moate's performance. Moate, Leinster semi-finalists last year, had defeated St Benildus College in the opening round. Earlier in the week, Athlone Community College defeated Salesian College, Celbridge - while St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge crashed out at the hands of Knockbeg College. All that means Marist College and Athlone CC are left to fly the Westmeath flag in the last eight of this prestigious competition. Elsewhere, Leinster and All-Ireland champions St Mary's, Edenderry defeated Portmarnock CS 3-5 to 1-4. Leinster College SF 'A' Round 2 Results Portmarnock CS 1-4 St Mary's, Edenderry 3-5 Col Mhuire, Mullingar 0-3 Marist, Athlone 3-9 St. Pat's, Navan 2-11 Moate CS, 1-7 Dundalk Colleges 1-8 Good Counsel 2-11 Colaiste Eoin 1-16 Patrician Newbridge 0-08 St Mel's Longford 3-7 St. Peter's Wexford 2-14 (AET) Salesian Celbridge 0-4 Athlone CC 1-8 Knockbeg College 3-10 St. Joseph's Rochfortbridge 1-4 *See this week's Westmeath Independent for full reports on the games involving Moate CS, Marist College and Athlone CC.