Champions Rhode off to winning start in Offaly Senior Football Championship

Gracefield was the venue for the Offaly Senior Football Championship first-round opener between reigning champions Rhode and Edenderry. While this was not exactly a must-win match for either, the winners here would very likely go on to top the group and book their place in the last four.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round One

Rhode 1-10

Edenderry 0-9

While the final scoreline of 1-10 to 0-9 to Rhode would indicate a tight affair, the score flattered Edenderry in truth. Rhode registered fourteen wides on the evening and if they had brought their shooting boots, a more accurate reflection of the difference would have been indicated.

To Edenderry’s credit, they went behind by five points after eleven minutes but fought back valiantly and kept Rhode honest. Their defence did a decent job in keeping some of Rhode’s main men quiet, with Niall McNamee’s only scores coming from placed balls.

Despite that though, you never felt Edenderry looked like ever overturning the Rhode lead in the second half. Niall McNamee may have been kept quiet down the Edenderry end, but Cian Farrell was also living off placed balls as well for the Reds.

 Rhode ran into a few problems in the first half with some early key injuries. Goalkeeper Kenny Garry was forced off in only the first quarter, while full-back James McPadden was also out later on in the first half.

The displays of their two replacements was key to Rhode’s victory though. Phil O’Connell replaced Kenny Garry and kept his clean sheet. O’Connell’s kick-outs were also excellent, as he utilised Rhode’s advantage in the middle sector and found Darren Garry and Conor McNamee with balls.

Youngster Noah Swaine came on for McPadden and that resulted in positional switches for Rhode. Swaine was superb at wing-forward, getting through a mountain of ball and utilising it excellently with quick passing.

While Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan had unusually quiet games for Rhode, Ruairi McNamee at centre-forward took the reins and kicked five points on the evening. The Darby brothers, Brian and Niall, were their usual energetic selves and covered serious ground throughout.

Edenderry’s David Hanlon, Mark Abbott and Jordan Hayes tried hard for Declan Cummins’s outfit but they could never get enough going as a team to trouble Rhode.

Rhode almost got in for a goal early on. Aaron Kellaghan showed a turn of pace to burst through but he saw two of his efforts saved excellently by Edenderry’s goalkeeper Loughlin Walsh.

Edenderry actually opened the scoring, as Jordan Hayes curled over from a tight angle. Rhode responded strongly after that though, with Ruairi McNamee kicking over three brilliant points from play.

Then the only goal of the game arrived. Rhode carved through the Edenderry defence far too easily, as Conor McNamee set up Eoin Rigney for the palm to the net.

Cian Farrell and Aaron Kellaghan exchanged points from 45’s before Edenderry reeled off three points on the trot. David Hanlon knocked over a mark, Cian Farrell fired over a free and Darragh Farrell landed a point from play for the Reds.

Niall McNamee and Cian Farrell swapped points from frees before referee Eamon O’Connor called for the half-time break. Rhode led 1-5 to 0-6 at the interval in Gracefield but Declan Gorman’s men would enjoy the benefits of the breeze for the second half.

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Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 1

Edenderry reduced the deficit to one-point upon the restart through a cracking Mark Abbott point. Niall McNamee restored Rhode’s two-point cushion through a placed ball and then the same man almost set up a second goal for his team.

Niall McNamee robbed Edenderry close to their own goal but his pass across the square to Conor McNamee was a little too strong and the chance went astray.

That missed opportunity was somewhat of a reflection of Rhode’s second-half performance. They were excellent with the pressure they put on Edenderry and created plenty of chances to put the game out of sight.

However, Rhode’s shooting was wayward and that resulted in Edenderry staying in the game on the scoreboard. The only Rhode player with his shooting boots on was Ruairi McNamee and it was him who put Rhode three to the good.

Cian Farrell got a point back for Edenderry through a free, but Ciaran Heavey kept Rhode three ahead with a score from play. Rhode blew another goal chance after that would have killed the game, as Anton Sullivan shot high and wide from close-range.

Nevertheless, Rhode did enough to see the match out professionally. Points from Conor and Ruairi McNamee were enough to help them secure the points in this first-round match-up.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ruairi McNamee (Rhode): The champions struggled up front for scores but Ruairi McNamee’s five points proved crucial in the end. His ability to create space and attract attention to allow others to get free was impressive as well.

THE SCORERS

Rhode: Ruairi McNamee 0-5, Eoin Rigney 1-0, Niall McNamee 0-2f, Aaron Kellaghan (45’), Ciaran Heavey and Darren Garry 0-1 each

Edenderry: Cian Farrell 0-4 (0-3f, 0-1 45’), Jordan Hayes 0-2, David Hanlon (mark), Mark Abbott and Darragh Farrell 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

RHODE: Kenny Garry; Jake Kavanagh, James McPadden, Gareth McNamee; Brian Darby, Niall Darby, Eoin Rigney; Darren Garry, Conor McNamee; Ciaran Heavey, Ruairi McNamee, Aaron Kellaghan; Paul McPadden, Niall McNamee, Anton Sullivan. Subs – Phil O’Connell for K Garry (13m, inj), Noah Swaine for J McPadden (27m, inj), Alan McNamee for Heavey (49m), Pauric Sullivan for C McNamee (60m)

EDENDERRY: Loughlin Walsh; Adam Mahon, Sean Pender, Briain Nolan; Lee Pearson, Colm Byrne, Dylan Byrne; Bobby Reynolds, David Hanlon; Darragh Farrell, Jordan Hayes, Mark Abbott; Cian Murphy, Cian Farrell, Cillian Lowry. Subs – Sean Doyle for Murphy (29m), Eoin Dunne for Lowry (35m), Peter Butler for D Byrne (49m).

REFEREE WATCH

Eamon O’Connor did an excellent job officiating this one. He allowed a certain element of physicality into the game and the tackling but never let it boil over. Perhaps Rhode might feel there were a few soft enough frees given to Edenderry in the first half. Overall, I’m sure both teams will agree O’Connor refereed this one well though.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Eoin Rigney’s first-half goal proved crucial for Rhode in the end. Edenderry will be upset when they review that one as Rhode got in far too easily for that pivotal score.

VENUE WATCH

Gracefield GAA can be proud of their effort in setting up this opening-round Senior football championship clash. There were plenty of stewards at the game organising the parking for the sizeable crowd in attendance. The pitch was also in fine condition despite the rain pouring down before the match.

WHAT’S NEXT

Rhode face Bracknagh while Edenderry look to bounce back against Shamrocks. Both teams will be firm favourites to come away with two points from those respective games.

STATISTICS

Wides: Rhode – 16 (14 in second half); Edenderry – 8 (5 in first half)

Yellow cards: Rhode – 1 (Darren Garry); Edenderry – 0

Red cards: 0