Rhode win with a degree of comfort as improved Bracknagh bow out with heads held up

RHODE certainly won't have frightened anyone with their Senior Football Championship quarter-final win over Bracknagh in Tullamore on Saturday but that will suit them down to the ground and the result was all that mattered.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Rhode 3-15

Bracknagh 0-16

It was a strange sort of a game as Bracknagh improved significantly from their malfunction against Shamrocks in the last group game, displaying infinitely greater character and asking plenty of questions of Rhode.

Bracknagh probably played close to as well as they can, yet for all of that, we never got a sense that an upset was going to happen here. Even when Bracknagh led by 0-9 to 0-6 at half time after playing with the wind or when they were a point behind, 1-10 to 0-12 after 39 minutes or still in the hunt, 2-11 to 0-14 with 48 minutes gone, Rhode were always likely winners.

The feeling that Rhode would have enough in the tank, be able to access another gear when they needed to, proved correct as they won with a degree of comfort but it was an uninspiring, unconvincing display by them. They did enough to win and were definitely the better team but they were guilty of some very mediocre play and have considerable improving to do if their elder statesmen are to collect one more medal before they drift off into the sunset over the next couple of years.

Rhode are still dangerous and can't be written off. Every remaining team will be very conscious of the threat they pose. They know how to win championships and they aren't afraid to do so but this display won't qualify them for a final, never mind go the whole way.

They won't mind that and this was all about winning. There were also mitigating factors in the overall quality of their display. The very unsatisfactory walkover conceded by Durrow in their last group game meant that they had to wait a month for this and that ring rustiness was very evident here. The absence of the injured Ruari McNamee was another one in this stuttering display – McNamee is arguably Rhode's most important player now, the man who pulls the strings and makes them tick and they will be a much more potent outfit with him back on board in their attack.

For all the questions that remain hanging over Rhode, they are in a semi-final on merit and have the attacking threat to take any team out of it. Some of their players didn't fire here but Rhode still scored 3-15 and achieved victory with a fair degree of comfort. They were certainly in no danger whatsoever in the last quarter or so and there is nothing wrong with that.

Bracknagh played very well in the first half and were full value for their three point interval lead. The sides were level at 0-4 each after seventeen minutes but Bracknagh got five of the last seven points for that half time lead. They scored three two pointers in the first half, one from Conor Melia, two from Peter Cunningham while Rhode never really clicked. They were okay but they were also a bit sloppy as Niall Darby and Niall McNamee were wide with the type of frees they would normally convert with their eyes closed and there was other play that can't have impressed their management.

No one in the Rhode support, however, were one bit worried at the interval and they were right not to be. Bracknagh hung on gamely and deserve huge credit for the way they performed. Points from Colm Cunningham and Eoghan Geoghegan had them 0-11 to 0-8 up after 34 minutes but Rhode struck for a devastating 1-2 without reply in the next three minutes.

The goal was a terrific strike by Ross Kellaghan in the 35^th minute in a fine move that was instigated by Sean Hurley's great catch at midfield and carried on by Anton Sullivan before the son of manager, Paschal Kellaghan blasted to the roof of the net from a few metres.

Anton Sullivan and Niall McNamee (free) added points to put them 1-10 to 0-11 ahead. Peter Cunningham replied for Bracknagh to keep them alive but by now, the result was inevitable. Ross Kellaghan got a point and then ended it as a contest with a 43^rd minute goal, tapping home from close range after Brian Darby's shot was blocked.

Charlie Keogh and Mikey Cunningham brought it back to a three point game but Rhode got 1-1 in the 49^th and 50^th minutes, Aaron Kellaghan scoring the goal after an excellent build up involving Anton Sullivan and Ross Kellaghan. A seven point deficit was always going to be beyond Bracknagh, especially as they never looked like creating goals and Rhode were assured of a semi-final berth throughout the closing ten minutes plus injury time.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Sean Hurley (Rhode); Rhode had a few very solid performers with Niall McNamee, Ross Kellaghan and Aaron Kellaghan all moving well and scoring well in their attack.

The selection is Kildare import Sean Hurley, who did some great work at midfield. He may have looked to have been playing within himself, conserving energy, but he was very effective, especially when the game was tight. He made a couple of spectacular catches at a crucial stage in the second half and did the simple thing very well.

Peter Cunningham was a major factor in Bracknagh being somewhat competitive and while defeat is their lot, it was at least way better than the way they played against Shamrocks and they can be content that they gave it their best shot.

THE SCORERS

Rhode: Niall McNamee 0-9 (1 x 2pf, 2f), Ross Kellaghan 2-1, Aaron Kellaghan 1-2 (1 x 2p), Anton Sullivan 0-2, Dylan Kavanagh 0-1.

Bracknagh: Peter Cunningham 0-5 (2 x 2p), Mikey Cunningham 0-4 (1 x 2pf, 1f), Conor Melia 0-2 (1 x 2p), Charlie Keogh, Jason Dempsey (f), Colm Cunningham, Eoghan Geoghegan, Colin Broderick 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

RHODE: Ken Garry; Keith Murphy, Jake Kavanagh, Mark Rigney; Ryan Kellaghan, Dylan Kavanagh, Niall Darby; Conor McNamee, Sean Hurley; Ross Kellaghan, Brian Darby, Anton Sullivan; Paul McPadden, Niall McNamee, Aaron Kellaghan. Subs – Charlie Cullen for Paul McPadden (37m), Eoin Smith for Brian Darby (53m), Mark Rigney for Ross Kellaghan (58m), Alan McNamee for Ryan Kellaghan (62m)

BRACKNAGH: Keith Keogh; Adam Kelly, Tom Hyland, Charlie Keogh; Eoin Hyland, Anthony Cunninmgham, Fionn Dempsey; Mark Dunne, Jason Dempsey; Mikey Cunningham, Eoghan Geoghegan, Colm Cunningham; Colin Broderick, Peter Cunningham, Conor Melia. Subs – Josh Maher for Broderick (45m), Sean Dempsey for Eoin Hyland (45m),

Referee – Marius Stones, Clara.

REFEREE WATCH

Marius Stones was fully focused and handled it well.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ross Kellaghan's 35^th minute goal was a great score and provided the launching pad for Rhode to go and win it.

VENUE WATCH

O'Connor Park was in great order.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rhode go into the semi-finals.

STATISTICS

Wides: Rhode – 10 (4 in first half); Bracknagh - 4 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Rhode – 1 (Dylan Kavanagh); Bracknagh – 0.

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0