The Carlow side raced into a 1-4 to 0-0 lead by the 14th minute, their goal coming from man of the match Donie Kingston. They remained the dominant side as they opened up a 1-6 to 1-2 interval lead. The St. Mel's goal just before half time from Michael Quinn.

Knockbeg stretched their lead on the resumption through Brian O'Neill and remained in control against a Longford side that failed to take scoring chances.

At Dr Cullen Park, St. Pat's of Navan were behind by 210 to 0-11 against Patrician Newbridge with ten minutes to go. However Navan supremo Colm O'Rourke had one last trick up his sleeve, switching nephew Peter from mid"eld to full forward from where he shot two glorious points and with three minutes remaining palmed home the equalizing goal. A minute later Pat's were in front, put there by a Stephen Moran goal to set up an mouth watering Leinster "nal duel with Knockbeg .

SScorers. KNOCKBEG: D.Kingston 1-6, B. O'Neill 1-1, K. Delaney, K.

Murphy and A. Doran 0-1 each.

ST. MEL'S: M. Quinn 1-2.R. Flaherty and D. McGoldrick 0-1 each.

ST. PAT'S: P O'Rourke 1-3, B Sheridan 0-6 6f, S Moran 1-2, J Power, J Regan 0-1 each.

PATRICIAN NEWBRIDGE: R Cahill 2-0, S Hana"n 0-6 6f, P Kelly 0-2, D McKenna, G Duffy 0-1 each.