Colleges Football Leinster Quarter-final/St Mels, Longford 1-11 Maurist 1-8: Badly hit by the handicap of having to play without their suspended full forward Eoin McCormack, Athlone outfit Marist made their exit from the Leinster Senior A championship when losing out to Longford kingpins St Mel's at Pearse Park.

Having said that, St Mel's were without the injured Mark Smith, but with other quality forwards in Ciarán Williams and Eugene Clarke they were good enough to advance to meet Good Counsel, New Ross, in the semi-final.

Williams scored the vital goal for the winners with 12 minutes gone in the game, and also fired over two points in the first half, while Clarke converted five frees.

While Marist trailed by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break, they did stage a comeback with the aid of the strong wind in the second half and at one stage had narrowed the gap to four points.

But St Mel's then stepped up another gear with a brace of scores in a minute. Outstanding defender Paul Kelly made victory safe when he fisted the ball over the bar in the 55th minute.

Marist were rewarded with a late goal from a twice taken Conor Cosgrove penalty after his first spot kick was well saved by St Mel's goalkeeper Cillian Burns.

ST MEL'S: C Burns; F Brady, P Foy, A Corcoran; P Kelly (0-1), C Maguire, S Ormsby; N Morrissey (0-1), D O'Connor; D McGoldrick, N Mulligan, D Keenan (0-1); C Casey (0-1), C Williams (1-2), E Clarke (0-5, all frees). Subs: D Sexton for McGoldrick (22 mins); C Mimnagh for Sexton (45 mins); J Connolly for Corcoran (59 mins).

MARIST: J Martin; A Burns, P Larkin, S Doolin; K Tuohy, M Gavin, S Fagan; N Grehan (0-1), E O'Flaherty; M Fox, R Blaine, B Kelly (0-4); C Cosgrove (1-2, goal from pen), D Costello, N Lynch. Subs: J Cassells (0-1) for Costello (28 mins); P Mulvihill for Lynch (41 mins); J Buckley for Mulvihill (58 mins).

Referee: S McCormack (Meath).