Rhode vs Clara Offaly SFC Final 2010

[Offaly2010]

Sunday 10th October 2010

O'Connor Park,Tullamore

Offaly SFC Final
Rhode vs Clara 3:30 p.m

(The Minor Football Final between Rhode and St.Ryanaghs will take place before the senior match, also in OCP, throw in at 1:45 p.m)

County Final time again lads. Repeat of last years final where Clara pipped Rhode at the post to take the Dowling Cup on a scoreline of 2-7 - 1-9. This years final is bound to be an intersting one with Rhode looking for revenge for 12 months ago and Clara looking for 2 in a row.

Just like last year, I have a feeling we are going to see a really tight, low-scoring match with neither team scoring more than 10 or 11 points, so I feel goals will win it on Sunday. Both teams have serious goal-scoring threats, with the likes of John Reynolds and Thomas Deehan from Clara and the likes of Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan from Rhode.

For me the winning and losing of this years County Final will be midfield. The Brady brothers for Clara and whoever partners Alan McNamee at centre field for Rhode(likely to be Roy Malone). Whoever can get the best supply of ball into their forwards, for me, will win.

My prediction - Rhode by 3, something along the lines of 2-10 - 1-10.

[Long John]

Generally I would fancy Rhode. On this occasion Im not too sure.
Clara had such luck to get over Tubber that you'd nearly say their name is on the cup. Alot of controversy over some refereeing decisions when they played Tullamore and a penalty that wasnt given. Its those little things going your way that can win a championship.
Rhode won comfortably in the end the last day but they stuttered for 45/50 minutes of the game. Too many of their players dont seem to be performing well. They are doing ok but nothing above that. In contrast last year at this time before the semi they were beating the likes of Corofin, Oliver Plunketts and so on in very competitive challenge games and you would have banked on them to win the title.
The key to this game is Scott Brady, If he is kept quiet Rhode will be well on there way. He makes Clara tick. Matt Mitchell is good at kicking in good ball but I think he is a player that Rhode should try to expose for pace and force him to follow a player instead of letting him read the game and concentrating on setting up attacks.
Clara's defence for me has done well in the last two years but knowing the players involved they are individually nothing to write home about and I still think they can be exposed by a team hitting form and not allowing to upset them with the pulling and dragging that goes on. Rhode have a couple of players to expose them but on a damp heavy OCP in October, it might not happen. Man for man Rhode are a better team, but Clara are full of confidence and everything going their way.
Both teams interestingly are very cute at the fouling deep in the opposition half or around midfield. Rhode in particular used it to their adavntage to slow up any break outs last week and made the game stop start. Clara are very similar. A good referee will need to be on his game and dish out the cards early so to let things open up and put an end to the amount of fouling slowing the game.
Lets hope its a better spectacle than last year. Clara look like a team with its name on the cup, but its been a bad bad championship so far and theres little between them.

[Bord na Mona man]

Alot of controversy over some refereeing decisions when they played Tullamore and a penalty that wasnt given.

I don't remember any foul inside the square that could have lead to a penalty?

[Lone Shark]

Don't remember either.

I actually can't wait for this game - I think it has the makings of one of the best games we've seen in the county in ages. Of course it may not work out that way, but on paper they look evenly matched and both are scoring well.

[The Magpie]

For the first time in 11 years, the same two teams will contest the Offaly Senior Football Final for the second consecutive year. Back in 1999 Rhode, the reigning County Champions, faced off against their neighbours, the great Edenderry team of the late 90s. That afternoon was a story of penalties at the town-end, as Cillian Farrell converted his for Edenderry, but Declan Gorman failed to beat the multi-staring Tony Kenny in the Edenderry goal. Kevin Guing lifted the Dowling Cup and brought it home to Edenderry. In retrospect, it's too easy and too cheap to say that Edenderry won that day because they wanted it more, wanted revenge or were hungrier. Neither side lacked the hunger to win the Dowling Cup that day - it was the small things that divided the teams at the final whistle.

Chances are, the Championship of 2010 will be concluded in the same manner. Rhode's hunger over the course of a decade is unquestionable. With 4 Championships won, they enter their fourth County Final in 5 years. Clara enter their third County Final in 5 years while their record over the last two years shows a single defeat to the reigning Leinster Champions, Portlaoise. There is no doubt that Rhode will be itching for Sunday, keen to set the record straight after last years defeat by the narrowist of margins, but don't believe that they want to beat Clara any more than they usually would. Ditto Clara. The competitive streak between these two sets of players runs deep - and it's easily explained. Rhode, the best team of the last decade, but Clara their nemesis more than any.

Entering Sunday's contest are two teams with 100% records in this years Championship, amassing mammoth scores and giving away very little at the other end. On average, both teams have scored double what they've conceeded, with Rhode having edged the offensive statistics, while Clara likewise on the defensive side. Remarkably, from just these two teams, it's possible to pick 18 players that have represented the County over the last few years (9 from each team), while a staggering 10 players represented the County in 2010 (6 from Rhode and 4 from Clara). So, to say that this is a tight-one to call doesn't quite grasp it. Glad you're not a bookie?

The group stages didn't tell us anything about these teams that we didn't already know. Rhode won a very tight game with Ballycumber (0-10 to 0-9), while Clara were pushed closest by Shamrocks in a tough physical encounter (1-9 to 0-8). Aside from those games, both teams put everybody else to the sword. It was the knock-out stages that saw the first signs of weakness for both as Tubber rattled Clara in a closely fought local derby, while Rhode were forced to turn to game-changing Pascal Kelleghan at half-time Rhode in their Quarter Final against Ferbane. Both full-back lines will have felt a little exposed after those matches, as Bernard Allen won the low-ball against Clara and Rhode suffered under the high-ball into the square against Ferbane.

The more recent Semi-Finals saw questions again asked of Clara, which they answered resoundingly. Rhode were not pushed as hard and although the match appeared to be close entering the last 10 minutes, they turned the screw on Shamrocks quite late. While some people will highlight this as a potential weakness, it's quite the opposite. With a little bit of daylight, Rhode have the ability to kick-in to overdrive and pull-away from teams very quickly - keeping them in a more controllable gear for 60-odd minutes will be the challenge for Clara this weekend.

Surprisingly, Rhode opted for double-cover on PJ Ward in the Shamrocks game. Although I didn't expect it before, it wouldn't surprise me now to see them do likewise to Thomas Deehan. The question is whether that tactic could be as successful against Clara, who having faced that same "play" against Tullamore, should be wise to it. Clara must show that they've learned from that, aiming to use both the ball and the spare-man with efficiency. I would expect Clara, given the choice, to play man-for-man - not because they don't respect the brilliance of Niall McNamee, but moreso because they have a balanced side that way and have played in that manner for some time now.

In addition to potentially playing an extra-man at the back, we should also expect Paschal Keelaghan to play a deep, roving role. All of these bodies funnelling back towards the 40 will leave things isolated inside, which is exactly how Rhode like to play Niall McNamee. The presence of Niall Darby in that line, missing from last years final, is also a threat. Whether Alan McNamee will be fit to pump the ball into the area remains open. Mark Dunne from Mountmellick brings much to the party, but would do well to have the understanding and relationship with Niall that is naturally formed with his brother.

Of course, there's little point in pretending that Clara don't like to isolate their inside forwards in the same manner. However, the feeder into that line works a little differently, as an industrious half-forward line is divided between ball-winners and ball carriers.

A quick look at the two teams suggests that both are stronger than last year. Rhode have recruited an excellent goal-keeper, who made a name for himself in a different code. They also welcome back Niall Darby from injury. Anton Sullivan is a year older and has learned a lot, while Robbie Leavy has graduated from the Minor winning team of last year. Mark Dunne has played County Football for Laois and is as good a player as The Rock have produced over the past number of years.

Clara are strengthened this year by the return of Kevin Meehan in goals and Joe Quinn in front of him at number 3, stiffening the spine of the team. The Ledwith brothers have integrated well into the team and Graham Guilfoyle, like Anton Sullivan, has had a good year of development. On the downside, Stephen Deehan remains suspended and Eoin Brady is travelling - these losses are felt.

Although every time Clara and Rhode meet, all eyes turn towards the inside forwards, the battle between the two 40s should ultimately decide the outcome of this contest. In last years final, it was Clara's dominance here that strangled Rhode. Even then, it's difficult to see more than a score between these sides when the final whistle sounds on Sunday. If Clara can keep Rhode close to them, boxing clever on Sunday, I think they'll emerge as winners, having learned over a period of time now, how to win close games.

[bazza]

Who's this Mark Dunne that Rhode have recruited? Did he play in the group stages at all cos' I can't recall ever seeing him play?

[Oceans 15]

Who's this Mark Dunne that Rhode have recruited? Did he play in the group stages at all cos' I can't recall ever seeing him play?

He is from The Rock in laois... played a few O'byrne Cup/League games with laois couple of years ago .... not a brilliant footballer but will run all day and all night...

[Oceans 15]

For the first time in 11 years, the same two teams will contest the Offaly Senior Football Final for the second consecutive year. Back in 1999 Rhode, the reigning County Champions, faced off against their neighbours, the great Edenderry team of the late 90s. That afternoon was a story of penalties at the town-end, as Cillian Farrell converted his for Edenderry, but Declan Gorman failed to beat the multi-staring Tony Kenny in the Edenderry goal. Kevin Guing lifted the Dowling Cup and brought it home to Edenderry. In retrospect, it's too easy and too cheap to say that Edenderry won that day because they wanted it more, wanted revenge or were hungrier. Neither side lacked the hunger to win the Dowling Cup that day - it was the small things that divided the teams at the final whistle.

Chances are, the Championship of 2010 will be concluded in the same manner. Rhode's hunger over the course of a decade is unquestionable. With 4 Championships won, they enter their fourth County Final in 5 years. Clara enter their third County Final in 5 years while their record over the last two years shows a single defeat to the reigning Leinster Champions, Portlaoise. There is no doubt that Rhode will be itching for Sunday, keen to set the record straight after last years defeat by the narrowist of margins, but don't believe that they want to beat Clara any more than they usually would. Ditto Clara. The competitive streak between these two sets of players runs deep - and it's easily explained. Rhode, the best team of the last decade, but Clara their nemesis more than any.

Entering Sunday's contest are two teams with 100% records in this years Championship, amassing mammoth scores and giving away very little at the other end. On average, both teams have scored double what they've conceeded, with Rhode having edged the offensive statistics, while Clara likewise on the defensive side. Remarkably, from just these two teams, it's possible to pick 18 players that have represented the County over the last few years (9 from each team), while a staggering 10 players represented the County in 2010 (6 from Rhode and 4 from Clara). So, to say that this is a tight-one to call doesn't quite grasp it. Glad you're not a bookie?

The group stages didn't tell us anything about these teams that we didn't already know. Rhode won a very tight game with Ballycumber (0-10 to 0-9), while Clara were pushed closest by Shamrocks in a tough physical encounter (1-9 to 0-8). Aside from those games, both teams put everybody else to the sword. It was the knock-out stages that saw the first signs of weakness for both as Tubber rattled Clara in a closely fought local derby, while Rhode were forced to turn to game-changing Pascal Kelleghan at half-time Rhode in their Quarter Final against Ferbane. Both full-back lines will have felt a little exposed after those matches, as Bernard Allen won the low-ball against Clara and Rhode suffered under the high-ball into the square against Ferbane.

The more recent Semi-Finals saw questions again asked of Clara, which they answered resoundingly. Rhode were not pushed as hard and although the match appeared to be close entering the last 10 minutes, they turned the screw on Shamrocks quite late. While some people will highlight this as a potential weakness, it's quite the opposite. With a little bit of daylight, Rhode have the ability to kick-in to overdrive and pull-away from teams very quickly - keeping them in a more controllable gear for 60-odd minutes will be the challenge for Clara this weekend.

Surprisingly, Rhode opted for double-cover on PJ Ward in the Shamrocks game. Although I didn't expect it before, it wouldn't surprise me now to see them do likewise to Thomas Deehan. The question is whether that tactic could be as successful against Clara, who having faced that same "play" against Tullamore, should be wise to it. Clara must show that they've learned from that, aiming to use both the ball and the spare-man with efficiency. I would expect Clara, given the choice, to play man-for-man - not because they don't respect the brilliance of Niall McNamee, but moreso because they have a balanced side that way and have played in that manner for some time now.

In addition to potentially playing an extra-man at the back, we should also expect Paschal Keelaghan to play a deep, roving role. All of these bodies funnelling back towards the 40 will leave things isolated inside, which is exactly how Rhode like to play Niall McNamee. The presence of Niall Darby in that line, missing from last years final, is also a threat. Whether Alan McNamee will be fit to pump the ball into the area remains open. Mark Dunne from Mountmellick brings much to the party, but would do well to have the understanding and relationship with Niall that is naturally formed with his brother.

Of course, there's little point in pretending that Clara don't like to isolate their inside forwards in the same manner. However, the feeder into that line works a little differently, as an industrious half-forward line is divided between ball-winners and ball carriers.

A quick look at the two teams suggests that both are stronger than last year. Rhode have recruited an excellent goal-keeper, who made a name for himself in a different code. They also welcome back Niall Darby from injury. Anton Sullivan is a year older and has learned a lot, while Robbie Leavy has graduated from the Minor winning team of last year. Mark Dunne has played County Football for Laois and is as good a player as The Rock have produced over the past number of years.

Clara are strengthened this year by the return of Kevin Meehan in goals and Joe Quinn in front of him at number 3, stiffening the spine of the team. The Ledwith brothers have integrated well into the team and Graham Guilfoyle, like Anton Sullivan, has had a good year of development. On the downside, Stephen Deehan remains suspended and Eoin Brady is travelling - these losses are felt.

Although every time Clara and Rhode meet, all eyes turn towards the inside forwards, the battle between the two 40s should ultimately decide the outcome of this contest. In last years final, it was Clara's dominance here that strangled Rhode. Even then, it's difficult to see more than a score between these sides when the final whistle sounds on Sunday. If Clara can keep Rhode close to them, boxing clever on Sunday, I think they'll emerge as winners, having learned over a period of time now, how to win close games.

Magpie are you Con Houliahan or someone in disguise!!

[Offaly2010]

DEFENDING champions Clara and last year's beaten finalists Rhode are putting the final preparations in place ahead of this Sunday's eagerly anticipated Tullamore Court Hotel SFC Final which throws in at 3.30pm.
Despite having a couple of players with what he described as 'niggly injuries' Clara manager Pat Flanagan is expecting to have his full panel available for selection.

His opposite number Tom Coffey has slightly bigger injury worries with Alan McNamee battling to be fit for the game. The midfielder played 53 minutes last week but the Rhode manager confirmed after the game that the three times Dowling Cup winning captain is still carrying an injury.

On a more positive note experienced defender Jack Kilmurray returned on Sunday while new signing Mark Dunne also made his first appearance.

The game is the second part of an inviting double header. It will be preceded by the Minor Football Final between Rod Og and St Rynagh's which throws in at 1.45pm.

(Taken From Offaly Express)

[Offaly2010]

Rhode and Clara have met on seven previous occasions in the Senior Football Championship Final with Rhode leading the head to head four to three.
This Sunday's encounter will be the fourth in the last eight years. In those recent meetings Clara have won two and lost one.

1927 Rhode 2-7 Clara 1-1

1958 Rhode 0-11 Clara 1-7

1964 Clara 1-10 Rhode 1-7

1966 Rhode 0-11 Clara 1-7

2003 Clara 1-9 Rhode 1-7

2006 Rhode 2-6 Clara 0-9

2009 Clara 2-7 Rhode 1-9

[Bord na Mona man]

Magpie are you Con Houliahan or someone in disguise!!

Great work from the Magpie! Advantage Clara.

[Laoisman]

I've watched Rhode and Clara closely last few years and marginally fancy Clara to win again because;

- they havent peaked too early
- Joe Quinn is back and in form
- they seem to have better overall pace
- they look fresher and hungrier
- their midfield is definitely more settled as is their team as a whole. Rhode need Malone and Sullivan at midfield when they should be at no 11 and 6.

If Clara can keep Rhode down this year there is no reason why they cant win the next couple as well whereas Rhode will be team building if they dont.

[concrete]

the penalthy incidenti think being referred to in the tullamore game was in the first half when a tullamore player was through one on one with the clara keeper and just as he kicked the ball he was pushed in the back, the ball went wide, he fell over and the referee gave nothing

[Silken Thomas]

What a great read Magpie. Its rare to come across anything here worth looking at twice!


For the decider, Old Moore's Almanac could easily be the answer as to which Leinster club contender shall vanquish.
It's a feature easily ignored, for winter conditions adds an air of unpredictability to proceedings.

Even though in 2006 Rhode came out the better in the terrible conditions, they certainly didnt have things their own way with Kevin Meehan's howler deciding the day. Fast forward to the dry sod last year and Ross Brady's superlative scores overshadowed a real wastefulness in the Rhode attack.

But yet you can only play as well your let...



If the day stays dry I expect Rhode to have enough in the tank.
They are more at ease at running up the big score, have far more options in attack and still have a better supporting cast.
The ability to win ball in the air whether it's Paschal or Niall will surely be cashed in on more than last year.
Niall Darby is coming into form while Jack Kilmurray could show a thing or two to the Offaly full back line.
Alan McNamee's passing ability could well be missed but his ball winning probably won't.


For Clara, Scott Brady remains the key. His ability to link defence and attack is essential to Clara. Strong in the tackle, he will be surely targeted by Paschal and co. with only Paschal in the midfield diamond in the possession of a physique to match the eldest Brady.

Wet weather will suit the stronger core and will negate Rhode's creative attacking.
While Rhode's slighter frames will hand the advantage to Clara.


All told a dry day will bring revenge while Clara's hopes hinge on the elements...

[Lone Shark]

Okay, time I did this properly.....

Upon rereading the Magpie's excellent preview, it's very difficult to disagree with anything therein. What I will say is that rarely have I seen two teams with so many similarities. Both teams have been heavily dependent on one key scorer who tends to contribute 50% of the team total, and both teams have two other county forwards who usually chip in with 20% each. After that, there's not much happening, score wise. Both teams have excellent footballing midfielders, though not ones that you would expect to pluck balls out of the sky, while both teams have had almost identical routes to this point, cruising through the groups stages, wobbling in the quarters and improving again for the semi finals.

What this all means, is that analysis could be slightly moot in the sense that with so many similarities, a close game is highly likely, and any close game can easily turn on a few key incidents, the inch here or there which makes all the difference. The ball that hits the post and comes out at one end versus the ball that hits the post and then the net at the other. The dodgy square ball call. The pulled hamstring of a key player, the fingertip save, all these little things on which games turn. Basically it's impossible to argue that either team is so much as the width of a hair ahead of the other.

All that said, I would go along with the Magpie in that the few minor differences that exist, appear to me to be favouring Clara. I'm particularly looking at a few positional matchups, where equally talented players line out against each other, but crucially, the match up suits Clara.

The perfect example is Paschal Kelleghan versus Matt Mitchell at centre forward and centre back. Both these men are real playmakers and equally valuable to their teams on paper, but I expect that Mitchell will relish the role of following Paschal up the pitch, while the two Brady's would each have the awareness and the natural physique to drop that bit deeper and cover the centre back position. Paschal is good at using the ball in his own half, but not so good at tackling opponents within 60 yards of his own goal. With Alan McNamee out, or at least likely to miss large chunks of the game, Rhode need Paschal to carry the playmaking workload - they can't afford to put a Padraig Sullivan or Roy Malone at 11, who would be much better suited to marking Mitchell. I'd actually love to see Anton played at centre forward in this game, but you need to be prepared for that kind of change and I don't think Rhode are.

I don't know if I'd say that Niall Darby has found his form in as much as he has accumulated scores in defensive sets where the best two defenders have been handed other jobs, those being marking Niall Mac and Anton. Of course he's a very talented player but he hasn't been creating scores, merely finishing them. He does well close to goal because his footballing instincts are first class - he knows when the goal is on, but more importantly, he knows when it isn't. He fists more points than any other player and that's always a good sign. That said, I think John Ledwith can contain him. It's not like Darby of before, where you need to get in the tackle, force him sideways and watch the give and go - because he's operating so close to goal, you now just have to stay on his shoulder and watch for the secondary possession. He's not showing out in front so the defender usually has the advantage of tight spaces, and that will suit Ledwith.

Anton is the wild card, but Rhode are unlikely to have him play as an orthodox corner forward, while he won't play an orthodox half forward role either. He'll pop up all over the place but against Shamrocks, all too often that was miles from goal. He thrives feeding off the layoffs but again, in the absence of Alan Mc's long balls, they might not be as plentiful, carried ball will be more common. It was also notable that against Shamrocks, he officially became the boy who cried wolf when having his little altercation with Barry Mooney. You can't go down injured in every game and then play on, and continue to have referees believe that you've been taken out of it. I don't know if he was hit or not by Mooney but it was clear that once the ref saw who it was, he made his mind up on what happened. I hope he learns from this.

The final thing which draws me towards believing that Clara are the more likely winners is the tales coming out of the Rhode training camp, tales of four nights training a week, with another night for a meeting and a game every weekend. That's simply not sustainable. For every player who is happy to give his life over to football like that, there are two more who are tired, or who are sick of never having a night off, or who are getting it in the ear from the lady-in-waiting at home, or possibly who are getting worried about always being the guy who's never available to do overtime in a workplace where layoffs are looming. I presume this week has been a lot lighter but even so, I was shocked to hear of that sort of thing still going on in September. I heard a rumour as well that Rhode are trying to use Clara's decision to field a weakened team in the league semi as some sort of insult to Mick Casey (after whom the trophy is named) and if that is the case (and I stress here that I have no idea if it is or not, that's merely gossip, albeit from decent sources) then that suggests to me that the tank is running a little empty if such emotional fuel is needed. For God's sake this is a county final, against the team that beat you last year, with a wide open draw in Leinster. Nothing should need to be said.

On the other side of the ball, for balance, I do expect that Rhode will be coming into the game on the back of the psychological boost of a minor championship win, and that's not to be sniffed at. Nothing fills a club man with pride like watching the next generation prove that they're going to be a force to be reckoned with and all logic suggests that Rynaghs won't be able for Rhode in that game. I also think that their ball carrying is second to none, and while I respect Clara's strength and willingness to work hard, in a few cases their tackling technique can let them down.

All that said, I stand by my original assessment - this is a game between two very evenly matched teams and the bounce of the ball could easily be the difference - but if it isn't, I like Clara to edge it by a point or two. That and I absolutely can't wait for it.