GLEN Rovers lived up to their billing as hot favourites in this classic northside-southside derby at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Despite a first-half straight red for Cork defender Robert Downey for an out-the-ball incident, last year's runners-up were superior for all bar a 10-minute spell before the break.

Simon Kennefick buried two powerful goals, the second early in the second half. 

It was a fitting way to honour his late grandfather Christy Ring, whose image adorns the Glen jerseys for the 2020 championship to mark 100 years since his birth.

Patrick Horgan added a brilliant third goal in the closing stages on the run to frank Rovers' dominance of a game that they set the tone in from the opening exchanges when the likes of Kennefick, minor Luke Horgan and Liam Coughlan were sharp in attack from throw-in.

The group also contains Na Piarsaigh and Carrigtwohill, who battle it out on Sunday afternoon. The Blues still have a chance to get out of the group while the Glen are early front-runners for the Seán Óg Murphy cannister. 

Scorers for Glen Rovers: P Horgan (1-9, 0-5 f); S Kennefick (2-1); L Coughlan (0-3); L Horgan, D Noonan (0-2 each); C Dorris, S Tynan (0-1 each).

St Finbarr’s: E Finn (0-5, 0-3 f); D Cahalane (0-3, 0-1 f); E Keane, B Hennessy (0-2 each); B Hayes, B Beckett, C Keane (0-1 each).

GLEN ROVERS: Cathal Hickey; Adam Lynch, David Dooling, Calvin Healy; Robert Downey, Brian Moylan, David Noonan; Adam O’Donovan, Donal Cronin; Dean Brosnan, Patrick Horgan, Luke Horgan; Simon Kennefick, Conor Dorris, Liam Coughlan. 

Sub: S Tynan for Dorris (56).

St FINBARR'S: Shane Hurley; Cian Walsh, Ian Burns, John Neville; Glenn O’Connor, Eoin Keane, Damien Cahalane; Billy Hennessy, Eoin Finn; Colm Keane, Brian Hayes, Bill Beckett; Conor Cahalane, Robert O’Mahony, Stephen Sherlock.

Subs: J Cahalane for Beckett (39); E Twomey for C Keane (47).

Referee: C McAllister.