Athlone CC 1-11 St Mel's Longford 2-03:ATHLONE COMMUNITY College made it through to the second round of the Leinster Colleges senior football A championship with a comfortable win over one of the college game's strongholds, St Mel's, Longford, in Athlone yesterday afternoon.

The eventual winners were powered by an impressive midfield pairing of Pádraig Corbett and James Shaughnessy and were full value for their 0-5 to 0-0 lead with five minutes of normal time remaining in the first half. St Mel’s looking sluggish when they made rare attacking movements.

Then, against the run of play, a fortuitous goal from Brian Walsh and a well-taken second from close range by Stephen McLoughlin had the Longford school a point to the good by the 28th minute.

However, points from David Brookes and Ray Connellan, from a free, edged the home side ahead by 0-7 to 2-0 by the break.

On the resumption of play, two converted frees from Emmett Kenny increased Athlone CC’s lead, before Ciarán Farrell scored St Mel’s only point from play midway through the second half.

When David Brookes was fouled as he attacked the St Mel’s goal in the 46th minute, Emmett Kenny dispatched the resultant penalty to the net to give the Athlone side some breathing space.

The result was never in doubt from that moment on, with the sides both scoring two points apiece in the closing stages.

ATHLONE CC: M Keenan; J Donohue, J Woods, E Kelly; B Shaughnessy, C Daly, C Sheerin; P Corbett (0-1), J Shaughnessy; O Milton (0-1), E Kenny (1-5, 1-0 penalty, 0-3 frees), D Brookes (0-1); S Blackweir (0-2), R Connellan (0-1, free), M Ryan. Subs: D Cunniffe (for Ryan, 30), D Donnelly (for Keenan, half-time), G Warde (for Cunniffe, 50), C Hermbusche (for Kelly, 50).

ST MEL'S:S Farrell; S O'Connell, D Lennon, E Clarke; D Mahon, C Clarke, K Murray; A Dalton (0-1, free), C Casserly; D Mimnagh (0-1), M Kelly, C Farrell (0-1); S McLoughlin (1-0), B Walsh (1-0), R McGowan. Sub: A Madden (for McGowan, 24).

Referee: D Brazil (Offaly).