Rhode 2-6 Rathnew 1-3: A goal at the start of each half, the first from Mark Cole and the second by Pascal Kelleghan, set Offaly champions Rhode up for their six-point win over Rathnew at Aughrim yesterday

Rathnew, who were chasing this game from the throw-in, suffered a double whammy at the beginning of the second half as in addition to Kelleghan's goal they had interval substitute Barry Mernagh sent off after just two minutes.

Rhode were the better team on the day and they finished the stronger with a Brian Darby point sandwiched between two by their top scorer Niall McNamee.

RHODE: C Masterson; M Cassidy, S Sullivan, B Darby (0-1); J Kilmurray, D Bannon, E Byrne; A McNamee, F Dunne; M Cole (1-1), P Sullivan, D Kelleghan, P Kelleghan (1-0), D Hope, N McNamee (0-4). Subs: G Hickey for Kelleghan.

RATHNEW: T Murphy; A Clarke, D Power, M Coffey (0-1); S Byrne, L Glynn, C Murphy; D Byrne, J Stafford (0-1); A Mernagh, T Doyle, R Duignam (1-0); N Mernagh, T Gill (0-1), S Doherty. Subs: B Mernagh for Doherty, J McDonald for C Murphy, M Doyle for D Byrne.

Referee: S Doyle (Wexford).