More intelligent use of possession helped St Mary's, Mullingar to a deserved win at Pairc Chiarain, Athlone. Two well-taken points by Stephen Cummins in quick succession put them into a one-point lead with 21 minutes played and they led by a point at half-time.

In the second half, Marist battled boldly but had no answer to their opponents' slicker passing and superior fitness. Marist did stage a mini-revival with points from P J Ward and Brian Kerr which brought them to within two points of St Mary's, but the eventual winners then upped the tempo and points by Alan Hickey and John Shaw saw them through.

Scorers: St Mary's - S Cummins 0-4; C White 0-3; J Wallace, J Shaw, A Hickey 0-1 each. Marist: PJ Ward 0-3; D Houlihan, B Kerr, N Kelly 0-1 each.