LEINSTER COLLEGES SFC A: St Patrick's, Navan 3-7 Knockbeg College 1-9:DEFENDING CHAMPIONS St Patrick's, Navan, had to withstand a sustained challenge from Knockbeg College, Carlow, at Dr Cullen Park yesterday, before advancing. A 60th-minute goal from substitute Dylan Regan sealed the victory.

Regan was only minutes on the pitch when he finished a superb move involving Cathal Smith and man-of-the-match Alan Forde, to put his side 3-7 to 1-8 in front.

Knockbeg started strongly but were hit by two goals in three minutes. On 12 minutes Ciarán Fitzsimons rounded off a flowing move with a cracking goal. Two minutes later Cathal Smith’s penalty hit the butt of the upright and came back to him for the number 14 to goal.

Knockbeg full forward Paul Kingston scored 1-6 and proved an ideal target man.

Navan, fielding five of last year’s winning side, led 2-5 to 0-4 at half-time, but Knockbeg cut the arrears to one point with seven minutes remaining (2-5 to 1-7).

They were awarded a penalty on 53 minutes and Kingston’s shot was brilliantly saved by Robert Burlington, but the loose ball ran to Kingston who crashed it to the net.

In a thrilling finish Regan’s goal saw Colm O’Rourke’s side through.

ST PATRICK'S: R Burlington; N Coughlan, O Fitzpatrick, E Murtagh; R Ó Coileáin, L Bourke, C Shaw; C Sheridan, D Curran; C McGrane, A Forde (0-2), F McEntee (0-1, f); N O'Brien (0-1), C Smith (1-2, 2f), C Fitzimons (1-1). Subs: B Dardis for Curran, P Kennelly for McGrane (both h-t), G Power for Shaw (46 mins), F Ward for McEntee (55 mins), D Regan (1-0) for Fitzimons (58 mins).

KNOCKBEG COLLEGE:C Wall; B Nolan, C Lennon, E O'Hora; P Doyle, E Mahon, D Dunne; M O'Halloran, P McEvoy; M Wall, D Aylesbury (0-1), T Daly; M Campion (0-1), P Kingston (1-6, 4f), B Regan. Subs: D Booth (0-1) for Regan (23 mins), P Manning for O'Hora (half-time), P Shaw for M Wall (36 mins), W Fitzpatrick for Dunne (60 mins).

Referee:A Lagrue (Kildare).