Rhode have no intention of relinquishing their grip on the Dowling Cup if their SFC first round demolition of Tullamore is anything to go by.

Playing host to the championship opener as part of the village's 'Gathering' celebrations last Saturday evening, the green and golds romped to a 2-16 to 0-7 victory. With Paul McPadden and Glen O'Connell to the fore, the game was over as a contest at half-time with the champions leading by 0-10 to 0-1. They had extended their advantage to 10 points, 0-16 to 0-6, before late goals from Niall Darby and O'Connell completed the rout.

The game of the weekend was in Geashill where Clara pipped fellow championship hopefuls Edenderry on a 3-12 to 2-14 scoreline. A draw looked to be on the cards when Sean Doyle brought Edenderry level from a free in the final minute of normal time, but Clara weren't to be denied as Barry Cushen popped up with an injury-time winner.

Elsewhere, Phil O'Reilly got his reign as Ferbane manager off to a winning start when the West Offaly men edged out a wasteful Gracefield by 1-9 to 0-11. Willie Mulhall registered 0-7 for Walsh Island in a comfortable 1-16 to 0-9 victory over Tubber, Ballycumber were 1-12 to 0-10 winners over parish rivals Erin Rovers, while Stephen Wynne's last-gasp point earned St. Rynagh's a 1-4 to 0-7 draw with St. Brigid's. Tweet

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