Well, there are beatings and then there's this.
Everyone knew Gusserane O'Rahilly's were underdogs going into the Leinster Senior Football Championship but this wasn't on the cards. The Wexford champs were riding the crest of a wave that had been building for 41 years in the club since their last senior title but it broke violently after meeting an immovable force like Rhode.
The vastly experienced Offaly outfit made light work of Gusserane in New Ross on Sunday, winning 5-22 to 0-4 and they marched on in the provincial series without so much as a batted eye. It was a painful day for the Wexford folk but they managed to make the most of the defeat that seemed inevitable from very early on with a few laughs along the way.
It was all so exciting to start off.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792724744919511041
This wasn't irreparable.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792727914030727168
Nor was this.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792728178171244544
But it quickly turned sour.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792728561253777408
And sourer.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792729079799746564
Then reality started to set in.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792730415626907648
As did the temper.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792732994406612992
Da f**k?
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792733031618506752
Finally, a name we recognise.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792733327727988740
Hope at last.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792734599503904768
Topical.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792735892746166272
Then the honesty.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792741449720791040
One bright spark.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792743728460988416
But there's only one way to sum that up.
https://twitter.com/GORahillys/status/792746924843479040
Even the priest weighed in but Gusserane were having none of it.
Rhode squeezed through eventually to the Leinster quarter-finals but it was an action-packed day all over the country.
Leinster club SFC first round
Sean O’Mahonys (Louth) 0-10 Baltinglass (Wicklow) 0-9
Rhode (Offaly) 5-22 Gusserane (Wexford) 0-4
Mullinalaghta (Longford) 1-17 Stradbally (Laois) 2-9
Munster club SFC quarter-finals
Dr Crokes (Kerry) 1-14 Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) 0-8
Carbery Rangers (Cork) 2-11 Monaleen (Limerick) 0-7
Ulster club SFC quarter-finals
Killyclogher (Tyrone) 2-10 Cargin (Antrim) 1-8
Slaughtneil (Derry) 0-12 Derrygonnelly (Fermanagh) 0-7
Maghery (Armagh) 1-13 Ramor United (Cavan) 1-10
Kilcoo (Down) 1-12 Glenswilly (Donegal) 1-6
Munster club SHC quarter-final
Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) 0-17 Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-16
Meath SFC final
Simonstown 1-14 Donaghmore-Ashbourne 0-8
Tipperary SFC final
Loughmore-Castleiney 1-09 Moyle Rovers 1-6
Westmeath SFC final
St Loman's 1-13 Tyrrellspass 0-10
Clare SHC final replay
Ballyea 2-14 Clonlara 1-14
Kilkenny SHC final
O'Loughlin Gaels 0-19 Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-12
Mayo SHC final replay
Ballyhaunis 2-13 Tooreen 1-13
Colm Parkinson is joined by Paul Rouse for a heated debate about Sky Sports' five-year GAA deal and an exclusive chat with AFL star Zach Tuohy on the new GAA Hour. Subscribe here on iTunes
