Rhode 2-15 Tullamore 2-8

[Lone Shark]

The signs were all there. These teams had played a group 1 match earlier this season, and Rhode had been outplayed and were lucky to escape with a draw. Tullamore had experienced county players, including two former Ireland international players in their ranks, there to help bring on a fine crop of talented younger players. Rhode had their appetite sated by last year’s county success, and Tullamore were supposedly the hungrier team. Niall McNamee is still waiting on his groin operation and has been operating at a fraction of his full potential. Roy and Barry Malone were out through injury, and Paschal Kelleghan was suspended, comprising three senior county players all unavailable. All the signs pointed to a changing of the guard and a Tullamore victory in O’Connor Park on Sunday evening.

It’s a good thing Irish people are used to travelling on our roads and treating signs with a healthy amount of disrespect, since more often than not they can point in the wrong direction. That said, it’s hard to imagine that they’ve ever been this wrong.

This was a complete and thorough dismantling of good opposition by Rhode, and what’s more, it was achieved without their absent players, and even then playing within themselves. Rhode never hit a spell of pure flowing football where you could honestly say they were playing to the full of their potential, but even at that they were easily seven points better than Tullamore, and probably more again along with it.

In Tullamore’s defence, they were only four points adrift and not without their hopes until they lost James Keane, their midfield star and young talisman. Offaly supporters have been keeping a watchful eye in recent years to find the eventual successor to James Grennan in the county number nine shirt, and many watching the county championship this year had noted eagerly the 19-year-old’s fine performances. In the 35 minutes he was on the field on Sunday, Keane fielded some fine ball, was strong in possession, hit a couple of fine long range points, and then for pure symmetry, retired with a dislocated shoulder. If that’s not making a case to be the next Grennan, it’s hard to know what is…..

There was a fine attendance in O’Connor Park on a pleasant summer’s evening which was ideal for football, and yet the atmosphere was eerily quiet, an uncertain air matched by the opening play of both sides, which was edgy. A Paul Glennon point in the first minute got the scoreboard moving, but the next ten minutes elapsed with neither sides registering a score and both teams, in particular the forward divisions, struggling. Ronan Monaghan had been a great substitute for Tullamore in recent games, making big contributions in particular in the games against Gracefield, and he finally got a start here today. Strarting clearly didn’t suit him, as he and Michael Hoey were struggling to make an impression against Cassidy and Darby despite a good supply of ball inside. At the other end Niall McNamee hit two poor wides, as well as setting up a great goal chance for Padraig Sullivan who hit a poor shot wide to the right with only the keeper to beat.

Michael Hoey finally got Tullamore off the mark on 11 minutes, and this settled the town side’s nerves. Five minutes later they were 0-3 to 0-2 in front, and playing well, before disaster struck. David Hope played a glorious cross field pass to Mark Cole, who had managed to find a few yards of space in behind Gary Heffernan, whose concentration appeared to have lapsed. The ball was inch perfect, and the finish was calm and assured under Ken Furlong, and Rhode were now two in front, soon to be doubled to four courtesy of two McNamee frees. Another good Tullamore spell approaching half time seemed to set the game up for a great second half however, as points from Hogan, Paul Rouse twice, and James Keane were scored with only two replies materialising from Padraig Sullivan and David Hope, leaving the game finely balanced at the interval at 1-6 to 0-7.

The crowd were still subdued to this point, and no doubt were waiting for fireworks from Tullamore in the second half with the game so delicately poised. However clearly whatever fireworks were in Tullamore’s locker were confiscated and destroyed, because in the second half they played limply and without belief, going 29 minutes without scoring. John Kenny had been struggling with injury throughout, and once Keane was stretchered off on 35 minutes, they were steamrollered through the middle. Rhode lacked their usual sharpness and free scoring up front, but with a constant supply of ball as a result of the dominance of Alan McNamee, David Bannon and David Hope, the scores came regularly. Niall McNamee and David Hope hit two each from play and placed balls respectively, before the second Rhode goal on 47 minutes signalled the infamous “fat lady” to start clearing her throat in anticipation of bursting into song. A shot from Mark Cole hammered into the crossbar, the rebound being picked up by Niall McNamee out on the left. He attempted to take a point, but was partially blocked down, forcing the keeper to block the dipping ball outwards. Cole’s presence under the high ball once again came to the fore, as he caught over his head and shot under pressure to raise his second green flag of the day. There was a clamour for a free to be given for square ball, which looked to be relatively justified, but it was to no avail, and the crowd sat back and waited for Rhode to engage in their traditional practice of adding extra veneer to an already lustrous scoreboard. They were not to be disappointed, as five more points were registered over the next ten minutes before Tullamore gave a dying kick.

On 59 minutes they got their first score of the half, a Hoey shot flying off the crossbar and over. Gearóid Ó’Grady then got his first score of the game, attacking from the left and shooting past Masterson, before Paul Rouse converted a dubious penalty with nearly four minutes of injury time played. The horrendous look had been taken off the scoreline, but anyone in attendance will know the truth, as will the players who trudged off with the demeanour of a badly beaten team.



Teams:

Rhode: Colm Masterson; Mark Cassidy, Shane Sullivan, Brian Darby; Joe Kilmurray (0-1), David Bannon, Eoin Byrne; Alan McNamee, Fergal Dunne; David Hope (0-6, 0-5 frees), Padraig Sullivan (0-1), Derek Kelleghan; Niall McNamee (0-5, 0-2 frees), Mark Cole (2-0), Paul Glennon (0-2).

Subs: Garret Hickey for Derek Kelleghan, Darren Kavanagh for David Bannon, Ronan Heavey for Paul Glennon, Eddie Byrne for Mark Cole

Tullamore: Ken Furlong; Paul Buckley, Gary Heffernan, Paul McConway; Simon Byrne, Cathal Daly, Michael Flynn; John Kenny, James Keane (0-2); Gearóid Ó’Grady (1-0), Alan Hogan (0-1), Seán Martin; Michael Hoey (0-2), Paul Rouse (1-3, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Ronan Monaghan.

Subs: Kieran Hogan for Seán Martin, Ivan Dunne for James Keane, Shane Dooley for John Kenny, John Rouse for Paul Buckley, Brian Fagan for Ronan Monaghan.

Referee: Carthage Buckley

[HairyHole]

You hit the nail on the head there alright Lone Shark.

I expected a lot more from Tullamore to be honest.They didn't field or win half the breaking ball that they did 2 months ago in the League game and it proved to be there downfall. Rhode had some inspirational preformances out there yesterday , namely David Bannon ,Joe Kilmurray and Fergal Dunne.
I think Shamrocks will prove far tougher opposition for Rhode in the Final with their stonger midfield and half back line .Their fitness and short handpassing game should cause Rhode problems .

Rhode look like a team to me thats going to peak at just the right time and they have put behind them some of the lackustre performance so far this year.

I always find Rhode are that bit nervy when playing either Edenderry or Tullamore and the 1st half last night showed that.

Heres hoping for a competitive final and a good advert for Offaly football.

[Lone Shark]

My gut instinct is that Shamrocks will compete very well with Rhode around the middle and half back lines, but will really struggle to get scores, since they really don't have a lot in the inside forward line, certainly not enough to make inroads on Cassidy/Sullivan/Darby who were absolutely fantastic yesterday. Brian Monaghan and Leonard Mooney are good scorers, but not the best in the world to win ball, and Condron to be honest is the kind of player who might struggle to get on a team with a bigger pick of players.

I can see Rhode forwards getting not a lot of ball and scoring 2-9, and Shamrocks' forwards getting a bit more ball and scoring 0-8. There is a danger that the Coughlans and Mooneys could charge at the Rhode backline and take advantage of the lack of pace of Dunne and Bannon, but if Rhode even come close to parity here there's only one winner.

[Hyper]

I was impressed with Pauric Sullivan's display at centre forward. Froggy was not his usual self.