Leinster Colleges SFC A quarter-finals/ St Joseph's 0-14; St Mel's 1-10: Defending champions St Mel's, Longford, lost by the minimum to Luke Dempsey's St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge, yesterday at the Longford Slashers' grounds in a cracking encounter, with some dubious refereeing decisions costing St Mel's a deserving draw.

The home side led by one point at the half-time interval with Colin Smith setting the ball rolling in the fifth minute with a well taken long-range free. David Glennon replied with the next three points, one from play.

St Mel's other first-half points came from Mark Smith with an excellent point from play and also points from CiaráWilliams, Seán McCormack and James O'Reilly. For the visitors, Michael McAdden and Adrian Murray notched first-half scores.

With less than 15 seconds gone after the changeover, Thomas Dalton struck the game's opening goal as St Mel's moved 1-6 to 0-5 clear. A minute later, David Glennon converted the opening point of the second half for St Joseph's. Points then followed for Mel's from Mark Smith (free) and Williams.

The visitors then registered the next three points on the trot with Adrian Murray, Danny Mooney and the chief scorer, David Glennon, firing them over.

But St Mel's went clear once again by three points in the 43rd minute when Mark Smith converted an excellent 20-metre free from near the sideline.

However, Rochfortbridge went ahead when David Glennon landed three points on the trot and Gareth Hickey notched their 13th point.

St Mel's brought it back to a draw again on the stroke of full-time when sub Thomas Gallagher slotted over from play. After an exciting encounter, both sides would have settled for a draw.

However, almost four minutes into injury time, Joseph's were awarded a 20-metre free for no apparent reason - which David Glennon converted - sending the visitors into the semi-finals and a date with St Patrick's of Navan.

ST JOSEPH'S: S Gallagher; J Lynch, S Hannon, H Burke; R Foley, T Gonoud, M McAdden (0-1); G Hoey, B Cassidy; G Hickey (0-1), D Glennon (0-9, five frees), A Murray (0-2, two frees); A Devine, B Smyth, D Mooney (0-1). Subs: K Reid for Devine (23 mins); D Price for Cassidy (27); K Mooney for Reid (43); M Conroy for McAdden (49).

ST MEL'S: D O'Connor; C Keenan, J Balfe, A Corcoran; S Dowd, C Maguire, P Kelly; J McCormack, S McCormack (0-1); T Dalton (1-0), C Smith (0-2, one free), P Foy; C Williams (0-2), J O'Reilly (0-1), M Smith (0-3, two frees). Sub: T Gallagher (0-1) for O'Reilly (46).

Referee: G Kinneavey (Roscommon).