O'Loughlin Gaels 3-16 Rathdowney-Errill 0-14:APPEARING IN their first Leinster championship since 2003, the Kilkenny champions delivered a stern warning that the Kilkenny dominance of the championship is about to remain.

The city club registered a goal after 20 seconds in this one-sided clash at O’Moore Park yesterday. From the throw-in they tore into attack and Niall McEvoy centred for Danny Geoghan to shoot past the home goalkeeper.

Martin Comerford then added a brace of points before John Purcell replied with two great points for the home club. The visitors then rifled over points at their ease before Alan Delaney converted a Rathdowney-Errill free in the 25th minute.

On the call of half-time Martin Comerford centred for Mark Bergin, feeding the unmarked Brian Dowling who blasted goal number two and at the interval the visitors led 2-10 to 0-6 and the game as good as over.

The home team shot two early points but hopes of a recovery were dashed when Alan Geoghan placed Mark Bergin for goal number three.

Rathdowney-Errill half forward Alan Delaney was then sent off and a bad cause became much worse although the excellent John Purcell fired over five points from play the visitors strolled to a home game against Ballyboden St Enda’s in the provincial semi-final in two weeks’ time.

O’LOUGHLIN GAELS: S Murphy; B Kelly, A Kearns, E Kearns; A O’Brien, B Hogan, N Bergin; P Dowling (0-1), S Cummins; N McEvoy (0-2), M Bergin (1-6), D Geoghan (1-1); B Dowling (1-2), M Comerford (0-3), D Loughnane (0-1). Subs: J Nolan for Loughnane (ht). B Murphy for Kelly (36 mins), E Grant for Hogan (inj 58 mins).

RATHDOWNEY-ERRILL: N Brennan; E Fitzpatrick, L Mahon, B Campion; B O’Shea, P Mahon, J Fitzpatrick; Shane Dollard, James Corrigan; A Delaney (0-3), E Holohan (0-4), E Meagher; J Phelan, LTynan, J Purcell (0-7). Subs: E O’Neill for Meagher (47 mins). N Delaney for Corrigan (45 mins). P Purcell for Phelan (45 mins).

Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly).