St Bernard's were scoreless in the final term, but the Menages could do only enough themselves to equal the Snow Dogs.
A strong third term put Healy's Heroes in a position to win the game, but SKOB finished the stronger.
Fired by six goals from Jimmy Forrest, and a best on ground effort from Luke Bisset, the Xavs got home in a sqeaker at Xavier College.
The Menages overcame a quarter time deficit to defeat SKOB by 11 points in a low scoring early morning affair at Xavier.
On a day when things never came easily, the Red 'n Blacks took it to league leader St Kevin's for three quarters, giving themselves a chance to emerge with the points.
Kevs poleaxed the previously unbeaten Xavs team at Barker's Road.
