Leinster Club HC Quarter-finalO'Loughlin Gaels 0-21 Coill Dubh 0-12 Kilkenny champions O'Loughlin Gaels overcame a spirited challenge from Coill Dubh at Allenwood yesterday to reach the Leinster club hurling semi-final.

O'Loughlins took time to find their form during the opening half. Two scores from corner forward Brian Dowling helped them into an early three-point lead, but Coill Dubh closed the gap to a point thanks to a free converted by Tom Carew.

However, with Maurice Nolan, Brian Dowling and Alan Geoghegan in good scoring form before the break O'Loughlins led by 0-12 to 0-5 at half-time.

Coill Dubh had the breeze for the second half but a point from Martin Comerford increased their opponents' lead. Despite the free-flowing game neither side managed a goal.

O'LOUGHLIN GAELS: K Cleere; B Kelly, B Hogan, B Murphy; A O'Brien, A Comerford, S Dowling; S Cummins (0-2), A Geoghegan (0-3); M Comerford (0-2), J Lawlor, N Skehan (0-3, 1 free; J Comerford (0-1), M Nolan (0-5), B Dowling (0-5). Subs: N Bergin for S Dowling, N McEvoy for Skehan, B Power for Murphy.

COILL DUBH: D Byrne; A Cross, Colm Byrne (0-3, 3 frees), Chris Byrne; G Hanniffy, A Flaherty, Trevor Carew; J Byrne (0-1), D Behan; N O'Callaghan, Tom Carew (0-5, 4 fres), D Doyle (0-1); M O'Callaghan, A McAndrew (0-2), D Hughes. Subs: N Casey for Doyle, D Hayden for Hughes, E Carew for M O'Callaghan.

Referee: F Smith (Meath)