Strong-running number eight Rory McArdle inspired St Columba's to a hard-fought victory over Newpark at blustery Kilternan yesterday.
Leading by a Michael Quinn penalty with the break fast approaching, McArdle picked up from the base of a five-metre scrum to make another of his surging runs, this time crashing over for the game's only try.
Winger Quinn landed the difficult conversion to give just rewards to a St Columba's side whose well-drilled pack and pacy set of backs had spent most of the first half camped in opposition territory.
Newpark battled well in the second half with the tactical kicking of outhalf Ben Fogarty and centre Jason Lowe keeping St Columba's on the back foot.
However, it was their southside rivals who bagged two more penalties through the boot of Quinn to march on to the last eight.
St Columba's: J O'Malley; M Quinn, P Black, D Nolan (capt), A White; P Bresnihan, H Gervais; J Smyth, A Wheeler, S Scott, A Wilson, P Cooper, R Skinner, R McArdle, T Warren. Replacements: Sweeney for Black (36 mins), Hamilton for Gervais.
Newpark: J Doran; T Heather, M McCrodden, J Lowe, B Murphy; B Fogarty, C Weinmann; D Gillespie, R Corrigan, M Shiel, S O'Hara, I Henderson (capt), J Sequintos, S Apied, R Lundburg. Replacements: Green for McCrodden (32 mins), McDaid for Murphy (43 mins), Moore for O'Hara, Ryan for Sequintos (both 65 mins).
Referee: D Robb (ARLB).
