Good Counsel, New Ross 3-17 St Mel's, Longford 0-6:GOOD COUNSEL College turned in a sparkling display in a comprehensive victory over a disappointing St Mel's College at Timahoe yesterday afternoon.

St Mel's had their two first-half points inside 10 minutes through Conor Quinn and Mark Quinn, but at no stage did they lead as Good Counsel, through the dominance of Matthew O'Hanlon and Declan Murphy in midfield, and the outstanding James Breen at full back went on to take total control.

Helped by a 30th-minute goal from Graham Cullen, the winners led 1-11 to 0-2 at the interval.

GOOD COUNSEL COLLEGE, NEW ROSS: S O'Gorman; D Larkin, J Breen, M Curtis; M Crowdle, M Furlong, L French; Matthew O'Hanlon (0-1, free), D Murphy (0-2, frees); G Aylward (0-2), E Mythen, W Walsh (0-1); G Cullen (1-1), Michael O'Hanlon (1-2), S Bradley (0-8, four frees). Subs: I Duggan (1-0) for Cullen, L O'Hara for Aylward, D Doyle-Murphy for French, D Crowdle for Mythen.

ST MEL'S COLLEGE, LONGFORD: T Devlin; D Keenan, G Connell, D Bratten; C Clarke, S Monaghan, P Reilly; J Keegan, D Kehoe; P Thompson, D Quinn (0-3, frees), P McCormack; T Madden, C Quaine (0-2, free), M Quinn (0-1). Subs: S Kiernan for Reilly; S Goldrick for Kehoe; M Hughes for M Quinn; M Farrelly for Madden; S Goldrick for Farrelly.

Referee: J Flynn (Laois).