Simonstown 3-11
Na Fianna 0-8

Simonstown issued a statement of intent in the hoganstand.com Meath SFC yesterday when bringing Na Fianna's unbeaten Group C run to an end at Pairc Tailteann.

The Navan side required maximum points to book their place in the knock-out stages and Colm O'Rourke's players duly obliged with a comprehensive 12 point victory.

Already qualified for the business end of the competition, Na Fianna had nothing but pride to play for but it's fair to say that manager Fergal Foran has a lot of creases to iron out ahead of their last eight clash with Gaeil Colmcille.

Despite lining out minus the services of the injured Sean Tobin, Simonstown took full advantage of the strong wind that was blowing into the O'Mahonys end during the first-half and they went in at the break with a healthy 1-8 to 0-1 cushion.

Half-forward Mark McCabe found the back of the Na Fianna net while captain Padraic McKeever accounted for four first-half points.

Brian McGrath (2), Brían Conlon and Shane O'Rourke also made the Simonstown scoresheet in that profitable period while 27 minutes had elapsed on the clock before Jamie Queeney got the south Meath outfit off the mark.

Dalton McDonagh doubled Na Fianna's tally shortly after the resumption but two quick-fire goals from Niall Kane and McKeever, who finished with 1-6 to his name, put the outcome beyond any doubt and Simonstown's reward is a quarter-final clash with St Peter's, Dunboyne.

Simonstown - R Burlingham; S Gallagher, N McMahon, S Moran; B McGrath (0-2), B Conlon (0-1), N Kane (1-0); S O'Rourke (0-1), C Nash; J Lyons, S Kenny, M McCabe (1-0); P McKeever (1-6), C Sheridan, E Donoghue. Subs: M Brennan, S Barry, B Hoey (0-1), M Gardiner.

Na Fianna - S Geraghty; J Baldwin, C Cosgrave, J Geagan; M Collins, A Neary, C Ryan (0-1); O Lewis, B Queeney (0-1); D Queeney, C Downey, E Devine; B Clancy, D McDonagh (0-3), J Queeney (0-3). Subs: D Barrett, H Silke, P Slevin, B Slevin.

Referee: David Coldrick.

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