OFFALY SFC:CLARA CAUSED a surprise when ending the reign of Offaly champions Rhode with surprising ease in O'Connor Park yesterday afternoon, while Edenderry brought the curtain down on a 10-year spell in the wilderness when they returned to the county final for the first time since 2001.

Rhode, the hot favourites for the Dowling Cup, just couldn’t find their form and they had absolutely no complaints at their resounding 0-14 to 1-5 defeat to Clara.

In the other semi-final in Tullamore, Edenderry – who had been recently playing at intermediate level – recorded a 0-10 to 0-3 victory over Gracefield.