St Patrick's 1-12 Galway 0-10As the wind and rain tried their best to ruin the match, St Patrick's College and Galway IT produced an entertaining game at Drumcondra yesterday.

St Patrick's took a three-point lead early on through Eddie O'Donoghue and Richie Power. Power's presence and midfield runs caused endless problems for the visitors.

Soon after, Power, having lost possession of his hurley, managed to hold off two Galway players and flick the ball out to Brian Dillon who took full advantage of the wind and scored from just past the halfway line.

Moments before half-time with two points between the teams, Richie Hogan sneaked in a goal and then put one over the bar from the touchline while Ger Arthur ended the first half with a point of his own.

Seven points down and the wind now with them, Galway had everything to play for in the second half.

Mark Flaherty took his tally to six points as the westerners outscored their opponents in the second half, but it was O'Donoghue's contribution for St Patrick's which included another fine point from the touchline that kept them clear for the victory.

ST PATRICK'S: J Codd; C Lawlor, M Heffernan, J Robinson; Paddy Hogan (0-1), Ronan Maher, Brian Dillon (0-1); R Power (0-1), J Fitzpatrick; S Howard (0-1), E O'Donoghue (0-4), B Doyle; G Arthur (0-2), R Hogan (1-2), M Walsh. Subs: S Reilly for Walsh, J Sheenan for Howard.

GALWAY IT: E Ward; C Dolan, S Kennedy, F O'Grady; N Rogers, C Horan, B Reagan (0-1); S Ford, P Callanan; S Brown, K Walsh, C Heinze; M Flaherty (0-6), C Flannery (0-1), A O'Shaughnessy (0-2). Subs: D Barry for Walsh, M Bevans for O'Grady.

Referee: A Legrew (Kildare).