Rhode's fierce passion secures crucial against the odds win over stunned Ferbane

THE heart warming fighting spirit showed on the field in the second half, the passion replicated on the sideline and in the crowd showed that Rhode's win over Ferbane in the Senior Football Championship at Rhode on Friday evening meant more than almost any other group one has meant to them in over two decades of incredible success.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 2

Rhode 2-10

Ferbane 1-12

Beaten by nine points by Edenderry in the first round, Rhode were behind by sixteen with ten minutes left and the deficit could very easily have went north of twenty points. It led to a lot of soul searching in Rhode as they faced up to questions about their ageing legs running out of power and a general perception in the county that the glory days are at an end for now.

This terrific against the odds win over a young Ferbane side does not prove anything but it does show the pride Rhode have, the fighting spirit they possess and their desire to keep going relentlessly in the search of another title.

It took a punched goal from Brian Darby two minutes into injury time to secure the victory but Rhode fully deserved it after a real old fashioned, gutsy second half display. They worked so hard on and off the ball and their physicality and hard hitting approach was not answered in kind by Ferbane who spilled too much ball – and will be particularly perturbed at the unforced errors and high volume of turnovers that blemished their display in the second half in particular when some of their football was borderline calamitous.

The work rate and desire of Rhode was exemplary and was the reason they won a hugely entertaining, no holds barred championship game. It had a bit of everything and the passion of the Rhode contingent showed that they were very much a side under siege, mainly internally, after the scale of their first round malfunction – you had management members on the highest state of alert in the closing minutes as they urged their charges on and contested decisions with the officials. You had supporters getting into verbals with Ferbane subs and officials as well as jubilantly announcing that they weren't finished yet on the final whistle and you even had a Rhode player running over to the sideline seconds after the end to let this reporter know what he thought of his reports of the Edenderry defeat and telling him what he should write now.

It was all heat of the moment stuff from a side with a huge point to prove and this was a huge result for them. It may also be a turning point for Ferbane, who had an easy first round win over Ballycommon. Rhode treated this as a knockout game, which it wasn't and Ferbane certainly did not match their intensity levels and battling qualities – it will may help prepare them for the knockout stages that they are favourites to reach in a few weeks time and management will be having words with some players in the coming days.

Rhode made a few changes from the team that started against Edenderry, leaving off their most decorated footballer Alan McNamee and the McPadden twins, Paul and James as well as young Eoin Smith – Smith made a very positive impact when introduced late on, almost getting a great goal before Darby struck gold in the 62^nd minute, Rhode also missed a second half penalty while Niall McNamee was also wide with a couple of two point frees that were well in his range. Ferbane just didn't find the same drive as Rhode and the result was a just one from both perspectives.

It was a frantic, thrilling game and as we all expected, Rhode hit the ground with fierce determination but they had a few costly early misses, including Niall McNamee's first two point free attempt. Without doing anything special, Ferbane led by 0-3 to 0-1after 12 minutes, the outstanding David Nally booting over two of their points. Yet the warning bells should have been ringing for Ferbane at this stage as their football was strangely complacent, lacking in energy. They controlled a lot of play and kept the ball well but not breaking the line often enough and it was clear from early on that every Rhode back was doing his primary job on the Ferbane attackers.

Aaron Kellaghan was wide with a self generated goal chance in the 16^th minute before getting in for a 21^st minute goal to give Rhode a 1-2 to 0-4 lead. Ferbane finally clicked into a higher gear before the interval, scoring 1-3 without reply, the goal coming from David Nally in the 28^th minute.

That gave Ferbane a 1-7 to 1-2 half time lead and it all looked to be going according to script. The smart money would have been on Ferbane extending their advantage but they were rocked by the ferocity of Rhode's second half football, the determination levels they reached. They came flying out, scoring five points without reply, two of them from Ross Kellaghan, to level it up after 44 minutes. They were spells in the third quarter when Ferbane just couldn't get their hands on the ball and Rhode should have been in front. McNamee was off target with his second two point free and Anton Sullivan sent a 35^th minute penalty wide after Ruari McNamee was fouled.

Ferbane were asleep and their goalkeeper Adam Nugent denied Dylan Kavanagh a goal. A super David Nally point in the 44^th minute settled Ferbane a bit and they began to compete better for the ball after this. It was in the melting pot the whole way to the finish line. Ferbane were two up, 1-10 to 1-8 with five minutes left, 1-11 to 1-9 ahead with three left.

Adam Egan's point, however, was their final score and Rhode threw the kitchen sink at their opponents late on. Nugent made a breathtaking full length diving save to deny Eoin Smith a sensational goal and Ferbane couldn't clear their lines with Ruari McNamee bringing it down to a point.

A draw loomed large but great approach play by Niall McNamee set Brian Darby up for his goal. The drama wasn't over as David Nally's two point shot dropped in dangerously at the target but Kenny Garry got his hands to the ball which meant that it was one point and Rhode held on for the sweetest of wins.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Keith Murphy (Rhode): Rhode had obvious contenders in terms of winning the match. Ruari McNamee exerted a huge influence on the game, showing real drive and leadership as he fought for everything, did the right thing on the ball, got two points and set up scores.

Conor McNamee's second half tour-de-force at midfield was instrumental in the win and Anton Sullivan, a man with a point to prove after his county career was called time on last year, turned in a great second half, full of running and enthusiasm. Brothers Ross and Aaron Kellaghan also came up with the goods when Rhode needed them, making a pivotal contribution to the win – newcomer, former Kildare footballer Sean Hurley also went well before tiring in the second half and being replaced.

My choice is a bit from the left field as he was nowhere near as prominent as any of those but Rhode gave a defensive master class. It was a classic example of every man doing his job and the fact that 1-4 of Ferbane's 1-12 came from defender David Nally shows how well they defended. Keith Murphy was a real unsung hero – he wasn't on the ball much, though he did the simple thing very effectively when he was but it was his concentration levels, his discipline that commanded respect. He stuck to Cian Johnson like glue, getting hands in and breaking balls – Johnson had been outstanding for Ferbane in the first round and was not helped here by the slow delivery of ball, some stagnant play in the middle third. While Ferbane had a case to answer with this themselves, part of it was down to Rhode's collective, traditional work ethic and Murphy was very representative of this.

In many ways, David Nally was the best player on the field. 1-4 was a huge contribution from a wing back and he was the one Ferbane player who really hit the heights and he was on so much ball as well as defending competently. Cathal Flynn had very good spells for Ferbane, who will be concerned about corner back Patrick Taaffe who went off in the second half with what could be a bad shoulder injury. Conor Grennan did well when he came on but Ferbane will be disappointed at their overall display, even if this game was much more important for Rhode than them.

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THE SCORERS

Rhode: Aaron Kellaghan 1-1, Brian Darby 1-0, Ruari McNamee, Anton Sullivan, Niall McNamee (2f) and Ross Kellaghan 0-2 each, Sean Hurley 0-1.

Ferbane: David Nally 1-4, Cian Johnson 0-4 (3f), Kyle Higgins, Adam Egan, Cathal Flynn, Daragh Flynn 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

RHODE: Ken Garry; Keith Murphy, Jake Kavanagh, Mark Rigney; Ryan Kellaghan, Dylan Kavanagh, Niall Darby; Sean Hurley, Conor McNamee; Anton Sullivan, Brian Darby, Ross Kellaghan; Ruari McNamee, Niall McNamee, Aaron Kellaghan. Subs – Eoin Smith for Rigney (54m), Paul McPadden for Niall Darby (60m), Alan McNamee for Hurley (60m).

FERBANE: Adam Nugent; Patrick Taaffe, Ciaran Cahill, Conor Dunican; David Nally, Mark Wren, Kevin Nugent; Kyle Higgins, Eoghan Grennan; Adam Egan, Cathal Flynn, Brian Carroll; Cian Johnson, Jack Clancy, Daragh Flynn. Subs – Conor Grennan for Eoghan Grennan (35m), Stephen Wren for Clancy (42m), Aaron McCabe for Taaffe, inj. (50m), Ronan Flynn for Egan (60m).

Referee – Fergal Smyth, Kilclonfert.

REFEREE WATCH

Ferbane and Rhode were always going to provide a tough, physical game and Fergal Smyth was on his toes for it, though he would have needed eyes in the back of his head to see everything. It was a tough game to referee with a real bite to it that increased as it wore on – there was loads of hard hitting and some of this was late. He controlled it well, showing cards and his concentration levels were where they needed to be. There were things missed but he did well overall. Niall Darby did look to have been inside the arc when collecting one second half kickout while Rhode argued late on that Ferbane had breached the three men back rule – though there could well have been two of them in it at that stage. Smyth's refereeing didn't please either side but his handling of it was part of the reason it was all so enjoyable and there was no one big defining issue.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Brian Darby's injury time goal was the big moment here.

VENUE WATCH

Rhode had their facilities in great order, putting out a warm welcome mat for all visitors.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rhode play Ballycommon in Daingean on August 19 while Ferbane play Durrow in Clara on August 17.

STATISTICS

Wides: Rhode – 10 (5 in first half); Ferbane – 6 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Rhode – 2 (Conor McNamee and Alan McNamee); Ferbane – 3 (Patrick Taaffe, David Nally, Conor Grennan).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0