Athlone CC 1-8 Salesians, Celbridge 0-4:A superb final quarter from Athlone ensured their superiority was rewarded on the scoreboard as they cruised to an eight-point win against Salesians.
In control from the start thanks to Eoin Mac Cormaic’s goal in the fourth minute, Athlone struggled to make their dominance tell until the closing stages of a game that was in the balance at half-time.
Athlone had played the better football in the opening half but paid the price for seven wides.
Trailing by 1-1 to 0-2 at break, Salesians started the second half brightly with a free from Kevin Flynn but failed to score from play in the entire game.
ATHLONE CC: E O’Slevin; M Flannery, M McMahon, K O’Beirne; C Mulroy, B O’Shaughnessy (0-1), E Fallon (0-2); R Connellan (0-1), S Farrell; M Darling, R Daly, Keith Dolan; E Mac Cormaic (1-2, 0-1f), J Quinn, Kenny Dolan (0-1). Subs: K Bannon (0-1) for Darling (37 mins), E Kearney for Keith Dolan (58 mins).
SALESIANS: C Reddington; S O’Regan, E Conaty, B Flynn; B Nolan, R Cheasty, J Costello; N Kenny, K Hayes; C Mooney (0-2fs), T McGoldrick, K Flynn (0-2fs); N Mooney, S Ryan, J Treacy. Subs: L Geaney for Hayes (51 mins), K O’Callaghan for K Flynn (59 mins). Referee: G McCormack (Dublin)
