Mount Temple were forced to fight all the way to secure a quarter-final place at the expense of Scoil Eoin in a tightly contested game at Naas yesterday.

Number eight Daragh Ffrench got the only try of the game in the first half and Ian Kelly's conversion gave the winners a 7-0 lead.

However, Scoil Eoin rallied and persistent pressure earned them a couple of penalties which were converted by Ronan Lawler to cut Mount Temple's lead to 7-6 at half-time.

Mount Temple had the better of the second-half exchanges but it took some time for them to convert this into scores. Substitute Alan Louth was denied a touchdown in the corner for Mount Temple but their ability to breach Scoil Eoin's defence eventually resulted in a penalty which was converted by Kelly.

Athy lost their momentum towards the end of the game and rarely threatened the Mount Temple line and the stronger team held on to reach the closing stages of the competition.

Mount Temple: S Finnegan; P Brennan, I Kelly, C Scott-Keogh, D Hashish; R Maybury, D Moore; G Kells, M Finglas, N Leonard, T O'Mahony, D Milne, J Kennedy, J Fitzachary, D Ffrench. Replacement: A Louth for Brennan.

Scoil Eoin, Athy: B Whelan; D O'Brien, K O'Brien, B Behan, M O'Connor; R Lawler, J Finn; L Quinlan, P Conway, F Cosgrave, J Kingston, E Keating, B Ryan, R Behan, P Carbery. Replacement: J McStay for O'Connor.

Referee: M Lanigan (ARLB).