The Kildare champions impressively moved through the gears in the second-half after a dismal first period – severely affected by the conditions – saw the sides muster just a solitary score between them.
Declan Cryan's men took the game by the scruf
f of the neck to completely overpower the Mals in the final 20 minutes. They were massively helped on the way by the introduction of Michael Fahey and John McAndrew to their front line. Both substitutes left their mark on the game, scoring 0-2 and creating plenty of openings as the black and white shirts took full advantage of the gale force wind at their backs.
The Louth border side could have no real complaints about the outcome. Their failure to capitalise on conditions in the first half ultimately proved to be their undoing. In the build up to the clash, boss Padraig O'Neill emphasised the importance of taking their chances but in the opening period he saw his side hit a total of six wides.
Collie Rooney, clinical in their quarter final win against Glenmore with five points, was the biggest culprit but the failure by Kevin Rogers – who hit 0-7 against the Kilkenny outfit – to impose himself on the game also hindered their hopes of advancing to the final.
The half forward struggled against a rugged Maynooth back line, coming alive briefly in the second-half to level the scores with a fantastic effort. Against such opposition however, a fleeting appearance is not good enough.
A ferocious wind played havoc with both sides' efforts in the first period with Maynooth forward Conor Canning grabbing the only score of the opening half after good approach play by Vincent Hanrahan.
With players also losing their feet at regular intervals, the wides tally continued to mount, eventually reaching 13 by the half-time whistle.
Maynooth, holding a clear physical advantage in many areas of the field, imposed themselves on the game but struggled to find distance, never mind accuracy, with their efforts while the Mals were left to rue their wastefulness with Darragh Greene squandering their clearest opening on the stroke of half-time.
The home side emerged with a spring in their step after the interval and Rogers restored parity with a wonderful curling effort against the elements in the 34th minute. However it proved to be a false dawn for the border outfit as the Kildare side opened the throttle.
Canning restored the lead to the minimum with his second effort of the day after a Mals attack was well snuffed out by full-back Adam Gunn. Fahey then showed great strength to pluck a pass from the air to fire over and when brothers John and Alan McAndrew combined for another score, the omens didn't look good for the home side.
County player, Karl Ennis, forever probing from the left wing, increased the lead to four points in the 48th minute when he took advantage of the hapless Liam McCann's kick out that got held up in the wind.
His brother Pierre, who revelled in a deeper role in the second-half added another shortly after before Karl put the result beyond doubt in the 53rd minute. Fahey increased the lead to seven points before Pierre Ennis put the seal on the in with a late goal.
Scorers: Maynooth, Pierre Ennis (1-1), Micheal Fahey, Conor Canning, Karl Ennis (0-2 each), Alan McAndrew (0-1).
Naomh Malachi, Kevin Rogers (0-1).
Maynooth: Paul Flood; Peter Warren, Colin O'Neil, Adam Gunn; Sean Kennedy, Alan McAndrew, Karl Ennis; Michael Bennett, Hugh Purcell; Kevin Com-erford, Cillian Carr, Conor Canning; Vincent Hanrahan, Pierre Ennis, Paddy Comerford. Subs: Micheal Fahey for V Hanrahan, 41 minute; John McAndrew for P Comerford, 41 minute; Derek Fleming for H Purcell, 58 minute; John Comerford for P Warren, 58 mins; David Com-erford for K Ennis, 59.
Naomh Malachi: Liam McCann; Brian Rogers, Aidan Murphy, Christopher Smith; Peter McShane, Ronan Greene, Sean Smith; Ruairi Daly, Eamon Agnew; Gerry Hamill, Darragh Greene, Jason Clarke; Kevin Rogers, Ronan McElroy, Colin Rooney. Subs: Feidhlim Daly for G Hamill, 54 minute; Pierce Caherty for R McElroy, 59 minute. Booked: Ronan Greene, 29 minute.
Referee: Brian O'Shea (Dublin).
