Rhode (Offaly) 1-12

Simonstown Gaels (Meath) 1-9

Rhode withstood a late fightback by 14-man Simonstown at O'Connor Park to advance to a Leinster club SFC semi-final against Sean O'Mahony's.

The first-time Meath champions had Shane O'Rourke sent off in the 40th minute on a second yellow card after his father and manager Colm was banished from the sideline in the first half, but they refused to wilt and whittled a seven-point deficit down to two before Niall McNamee's fifth point finally settled it.

Before a crowd of 2,097, Simonstown's first foray into Leinster couldn't have started much better as the accurate Sean Tobin helped them to an early 0-4 to 0-1 lead. But Rhode, who hammered Wexford's Gusserane in the first round, eventually settled and points from McNamee and Brian Darby had them 0-6 to 0-4 in front at the break.

When O'Rourke was sent off there was just a point in it but, aided by a Conor McNamee goal, the Offaly champions had surged into a 1-11 to 0-7 lead by the 52nd minute. 

The Navan men weren't finished, however, as Eanna Donoghue's goal from a penalty and points from Tobin and Michael Brennan made for an exciting finale.

Rhode - K Garry; B Darby (0-1), E Rigney, J Kavanagh; N Darby (0-1), S Sullivan, J McPadden; A McNamee, C McNamee (1-1); S Hannon, P Sullivan, A Sullivan (0-1); P McPadden (0-1f), R McNamee, N McNamee (0-5, 1f). Subs: D Garry (0-2) for P McPadden, G O'Connell for P Sullivan, C Heavey for N Darby, G McNamee for R McNamee.

Simonstown Gaels - R Burlingham; S Gallagher, N McMahon, S Moran; M O'Rourke, B Conlon, N Kane; S O'Rourke, C Sheridan; J Lyons (0-1), S Kenny, M McCabe; E Donoghue (1-1, 1-0pen, 0-1f), S Tobin (0-5, 2f), P McKeever (0-1). Subs: B McGrath for M O'Rourke, M Brennan (0-1'45) for J Lyons, S Barry for C Sheridan, C Nash for S Kenny.

Referee - P Maguire.

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