Lough Lene Gaels of Westmeath looked set for an easy victory over Kildare's Coill Dubh when Gary Briody and John Kennedy scored goals late in the first half to give them a 2-5 to 0-4 interval lead at Mullingar. However, Tom Carew moved to centre half back for the second half for Coill Dubh and turned the game. A Carew goal and one from Chris Byrne helped push them into the lead, but Lough Lene seized victory with three quick points from Joey Williams, Brendan Williams and Gary Briody.

LOUGH LENE GAELS: M Briody; JJ Fitzsimons, M Murtagh, M Kennedy; B Williams (0-3), M Williams, C Williams; G Briody (1-1), P Williams; D Cunningham, F O'Farrell (0-2), J Williams (0-3); S Fitzpatrick (0-1), J Kennedy (1-1), A Murray (0-1).

COILL DUBH: D Byrne; A Crosse, Colm Byrne (0-1), J O'Donnell; D Hayden, M Casey, J Dowling; J Byrne, N Casey; N O'Callaghan, T Carew (1-1), A McAndrew; Chris Byrne (1-1), D Anderson, R Byrne (0-7). Subs: S Gordon for M Casey; D Behan for D Anderson.

Referee: P Neary (Kilkenny).

Kilmessan (Meath) were given a walkover by Longford Slashers.