An impressive 16-point win over Rathcline saw Abbeylara open their Championship campaign in emphatic fashion.
Rathcline opened the scoring inside 25 seconds with a point when Shane Kenny found the target from play.
However, Abbeylara responded in a determined fashion as they hit 1-6 without reply in the 13 minutes that followed.
Points from Robbert Smith and Fergal Battrim handed Abbeylara the lead before Dylan Ledwith found the back of the Rathcline net having been teed up by Cathal Galligan.
Robbie Smith, Colin Gilna and Nigel Rabbit rounded off a dominant spell with points as Abbeylara moved eight-points ahead, 1-6 to 0-1.
Rathcline had a goal of their own after 14 minutes. Oran Kenny played an excellent pass, leaving Shane Kenny with the task of placing the ball past Barney Crawford.
Oran Kenny kicked two points after the Rathcline goal, reducing the deficit to three, 1-6 to 1-3.
Abbey had their second goal of the evening after 19 minutes. Cathal Galligan found the net having found the back of the Rathcline defence thanks to a Robert Smyth handpass.
Robert Smith and Sean Fagan added points for Abbey before they struck for their third goal.
Dylan Ledwith was again teed up by Cathal Galligan after 25 minutes, leaving Abbeylara a nine clear, 3-8 to 1-5.
Robert Smith and Oran Kenny traded points before Abbeylara got the final score of the half. The ever-present Smith finding the target again, this time with a two-pointer.
Abbeylara held an 11-point lead at the break, 3-11 to 1-06.
Abbey pile on the pressure
Abbeylara broke quickly from the traps in the second-half. Two points from Robert Smith and Nigel Rabbitt in the opening two minutes.
Oran Kenny replied for Rathcline with a pair of well taken points inside 60 seconds. Rathcline desperately sought a way back into the contest, playing with the aid of a slight breeze.
Abbeylara piled on the pressure and kicked five unanswered points one of which was a Nigel Rabbitt penalty.
His penalty having been seen saved on 47 minutes; along with efforts coming from Cathal Gilligan, Jason Kelly and Sean Fagan.
Abbeylara led by 16 points after 51 minutes, 3-19 to 1-9.
Rathclines next two points came from Oran and Shane Kenny, before they scored their second goal of the evening.
A long ball from midfielder Osin Kenny caught Barney Crawford cold in the Abbeylara net. After 55 minutes Rathcline trailed, 3-21 to 2-11.
However, Abbey finished the stronger of the sides, kicking the final three points.
All coming from substitutes JJ Reilly, Nigel Rabbitt and Jason Kelly, sealing an impressive opening round victory for Frankie Dolans outfit.
Abbeylara running out 16-point winners in Glennon Brother Pearse Park, 3-24 to 2-11.
Last night, Killoe got the better of Mullinalaghta in the first game in group A.
