St Patrick's (Louth) 1-9 Rhode (Offaly) 1-7:SAINT Patrick's recorded a deserved win when they edged out Offaly kingpins Rhode by two points in a ferociously contested game in Tullamore yesterday.

A brilliantly-taken Niall McNamee goal three minutes from time gave Rhode a lifeline but anything other than a St Pat’s win would have been a travesty.

St Pat’s were leading by 1-9 to 0-7 and coasting towards a home quarter-final against Kildare champions, Sarsfields, when McNamee struck to create some anxious moments but they held on.

It was a fine win by the Louth champions who were the superior outfit for much of the 60-plus minutes. With man of the match, Paddy Keenan in great form at midfield, St Pat’s were that bit stronger throughout the field.

This game was not for the faint -hearted and was always threatening to bubble over. Referee Joe Curley struggled to keep tempers under control and he dished out nine yellow cards – seven of them to St Pat’s.

The first half was a particularly niggly affair and the sides were tied at the break, 0-3 each.

In the second half, St Pat’s took an early initiative with a penalty goal from Karl White and thereafter they looked likely winners.

Anton Sullivan missed two goal chances for the losers as St Pat’s finally began to find the range and the winners were six points ahead with five minutes left.

ST PAT’S: S Connor; J O’Hare, D Finnegan, D O’Hanlon; E Breen (0-2), C Goss, O Zamboglou; P Keenan (0-1), P Mallon; E Carroll (0-3, two frees), E O’Connor (0-1), A McGann; R Finnegan, K White (1-1, goal from pen), D O’Connor. Subs: E White (0-1) for D O’Connor (49 mins), M Breen for Carroll (56 mins).

RHODE: K Garry; E Rigney, S Sullivan, J McPadden; B Darby (0-1), E Byrne, C Heavey; A McNamee, C McNamee; P Sullivan, P Keelaghan, M Dunne (0-1); P McPadden, A Sullivan, N McNamee (1-5 (four frees). Subs: S Hannon for Heavey (47 mins), G McNamee for Byrne and C Flynn for P McPadden (both 55 mins).

Referee: J Curley (Meath).