Offaly 4-5 Louth 0-8 A poor Louth side proved no match for Offaly in Tullamore where the home side won their first round fixture in this grade for the first time in nine years.With half-a-dozen senior panellists in their line-up, Offaly took control from the throw-in and enjoyed the tonic of an early Jimmy Coughlan goal that laid the foundations of a 1-4 to 0-2 interval lead.

Three home goals shared by Niall McNamee (two) and Thomas Deehan within seven minutes of the resumption ended the game as a contest, and thereafter Offaly were content to freewheel to the extent they failed to score during the final 24 minutes.

Five Louth points, four from frees, was the best that they could manage during this spell.

It would be difficult to assess Offaly's potential from this performance against weak opposition, but there was a promising balance in the side.

Louth were outclassed for most of a free-ridden game in which Offaly had Mark Cole sent off in the closing minutes.

OFFALY: M Kavanagh; C Kiely, S Casey, D Donoghue; C Gavin, S Sullivan, M Cassidy (0-1); W Crampton, M Cole; R Guinan, D Egan, P Sullivan; J Coughlan (1-0), N McNamee (2-2), T Deehan (1-2). Subs: J Kelly for Coughlan, B Derby for P Sullivan, M Davis for Donoghue, R Fox for Crampton.

LOUTH: S McCoy; D Finnegan, P Malone, G Kellet; J J Quigley, O Zambougla, D Macken; J Kermath (0-1), P Keenan; R Carroll, D Clarke (0-3), C Sheridan; D Reid (0-2), M Brennan, M McGeown. Subs: N Shevlin (0-1) for Kellet, J Doyle for Finnegan, E Kelleher for Carroll, J Fagan (0-1) for Keenan, P Matthews for Reid.

Referee: B Daly (Westmeath).