Sullivan shines as Rhode saunter to predictable win in Offaly Senior Football Championship

COMING into this game with many players out due to travel and injuries, it was always going to be an uphill battle for Shamrocks to try and pose any real challenge to Rhode and the reigning champions made it another win in their hunt for a 32nd title.  

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 2 Round 2

Rhode  4-17
Shamrocks 1-09

It’s never an easy challenge facing Offaly’s most successful football team and Shamrocks certainly found that out on Saturday evening as they were put to the mat by a strong Rhode side still at their very best. 

An evening when Declan Gorman’s side strolled to a comfortable second round win to strengthen their position in their hunt for another title, thanks to their main stars Anton Sullivan, Ruairi McNamee and Aaron Kellaghan.  

Anton Sullivan got the ball rolling after he caught a night ball and called a mark and sent it over,  but Shamrocks responded well as Darragh Bryant himself called a marker from just outside the 45 yard line to send it over for his first score.

Some good build up play from Declan Gorman’s men led to Darren Garry knocking it over from a tricky angle via the post, which was soon followed up by Ruairi McNamee getting his name on the scoresheet for the first time soon followed up by Aaron Kellaghan giving Rhode a three point advantage early on. 

The next few minutes was filled with Shamrocks attempting to penetrate and test the Rhode back-line but they couldn’t muster a real threatening opportunity, unlike the reigning champions who were calm with possession and proceeded to go four in front after 12 minutes thanks to a second point from Kellaghan. 

Things became even tougher for the Shamrocks men as a perfectly executed high ball from Anton Sullivan found Ruairi McNamee in space and the Rocks were carved open as he buried it into the bottom corner for a 14th minute goal leaving Shamrocks with it all to do.

However, Shamrocks showed great character as they replied with a quick 1-1 thanks in large part to the work of Shane O’Toole Greene as he found Darragh Bryant and he fired his effort into the top corner leaving Ken Garry with no chance, while Nigel Dunne sent it over moments earlier. Game back on. 

Despite beginning to hold a bit of possession, Shamrocks were starting to become wasteful with the ball as they were hitting unnecessary wides and losing the ball in crucial areas. Rhode could say the same as they began to lose some momentum after Ruairi McNamee's point on 17 minutes. 

Nigel Dunne kicked a massive score outside of his boot from near the 45 yard line for the game's first score in seven minutes to reduce the gap to just three, before a  Niall McNamee point was soon followed up by two goals in the space of a minute from Ruairi McName and Anton Sullivan, with Sullivan the main man in both the build up and scoring of each of the strikes. 

A rampant Rhode were showing no mercy thanks to a further point from Aaron Kellaghan cancelled out Nigel Dunne’s free and Rhode went into halftime with a lead, 3-8 to 1-4. 

The second half started with Rhode once again on top as Darren Garry found the run of Anton Sullivan and his powerful effort was too much for Mark O’Rourke to handle and Rhode were home and hosed. Two points followed up by Aaron Kellaghan and Niall McNamee left the game in no doubt about who was winning this one. 

Shamrocks were beginning to run out of legs and that allowed Rhode to take initiative as a quick counter resulted in Niall McNamee kicking his third of the evening, while Nige Dunne was doing his very best to keep the score at a respectable level with another fine score from play, followed by another fine score off his left minutes later. 

The game began petering out during the next couple of minutes, as both sides were just seeing the game out as substitute Paul McPadden ended the game with three points to close it out and give Rhode a comfortable evening in O’Connor Park.  

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Anton Sullivan (Rhode): Ruiari McNamee’s display of 2-4 is an honourable shout, but Anton Sullivan was that extra bit special.  His speed, precision, passing was all on point as he showed his qualities all throughout the game and was the key to how Rhode played their game. 

THE SCORERS

Rhode: Ruairi McNamee 2-4; Anton Sullivan 2-1; Aaron Kellaghan 0-5; Niall McNamee 0-3; Paul McPadden 0-3; Darren Garry 0-1

Shamrocks: Nigel Dunne 0-6 (2frees); Darragh Bryant 1-1; Dylan Hutchinson 0-1; 

THE TEAMS

Rhode: Kenny Garry; Keith Murphy; Jake Kavanagh; Gareth McNamee; Brian Darby; Eoin Rigney; Niall Darby; Darren Garry; Conor McNamee; Ciaran Heavey; Ruairi McNamee; Aaron Kellaghan; Noah Swaine; Anton Sullivan; Niall McNamee. Subs: Alan McNamee for Ciaran Heavey (43m); Paul McPadden for Garry (45m);  Pauric Sullivan for Swaine (52m).

Shamrocks: Mark O’Rourke; Neil Minnock; DAB Heffernan; Adam Keyes; David O’Rourke; Gary Hutchinson; Sean Mooney; Andrew Delaney; Dylan Hutchinson; Jack Watkins; Shane O’Toole Greene; Gary Merriman; Darragh Bryant; Nigel Dunne; Eoin Neville. Subs: Jack Bates for Gary Merriman (43m)  - 

Referee – Marius Stones (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Marius Stones had a solid game. No major incidents to record as the game was played in good spirits with no dirty hits or foul play committed and no big decisions to impact the games result. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH:

Ruairi McNamee’s 14th minute strike portrayed everything that is good about Rhode football. The build up, the delivery in from Anton Sullivan and a beautiful finish from McNamee, it was a joy to watch and things got more tricky for Shamrocks from then on.  

VENUE WATCH: 

Glenisk O’Connor Park was in splendid condition for this encounter. Having hosted a match last night as well as earlier in the day, the ground was easy to play on and the weather made it a great day for a match. 

WHAT'S NEXT:

Rhode face Bracknagh in round 3, while Shamrocks will take on Edenderry in a must win game for both with a quarter-final on offer for the winners. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Rhode   4  (2 in the first half)

Shamrocks  8 (5 in the first half)

Yellow cards: Rhode – (0);  Shamrocks - (0).

Black cards: Rhode 0; Shamrocks (1) Sean Mooney.

Red cards: Rhode – (0); Shamrocks – (0).