KILDARE made light work of a desperately uncompetitive Offaly to set-up an O’Byrne Cup semi-final with All-Ireland champions Dublin that has an exciting feel to it, even at this early juncture of the season.

TWO first-half goals within a minute from Alan Mulhall and Ken Casey set up Offaly’s win in the opening round of the O’Byrne Cup at O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday.

Portlaoise (Laois) 1-9 Clara (Offaly) 0-3

CLARA (Offaly) 1-5 PORTLAOISE (Laois) 0-7

THOMAS DEEHAN scored 10 points to inspire 14-man Clara to a deserved victory over Rathvilly and book a Leinster club SFC semi-final against Portlaoise in the process.

JOHN REYNOLDS was the hero as comeback kings Clara repeated their county final heroics by overcoming an eight-point interval deficit to win this Leinster Club SFC game in Newbridge.