Hot and cold Tullamore return to sixth consecutive final as brave Rhode fall short

IT was a weird sort of Senior Football Championship semi-final in O'Connor Park on Sunday afternoon. Tullamore weren't at their best, blowing very hot and cold but always looked like they would make their sixth consecutive final, their third in a row with Ferbane. Rhode performed more or less at their best and were alive and kicking inside the last ten minutes but it always looked that defeat would be their lot and that they would not get there.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship semi-final

Tullamore 1-18

Rhode 2-11

It has been a remarkable, sustained run by Tullamore in this decade. They have won three titles in the 2020s, lost two finals by a combined three points and are now bidding for a first three in a row since 1926.

Rhode had beaten Tullamore in the two finals they lost in 2020 and 2022, showing a terrific mentality to win real tight games and no fear of Tullamore. They brought that winning mentality and fearless attitude to the table here and deserve complete respect for the way in which they put it up to Tullamore, refused to go away and got back into the game late on when it seemed that the champions could switch to cruise control and relax.

On this occasion, however, a winning mentality and a no fear approach was never going to be enough and the legs of their elder statesmen and long time star players was their problem here. For all the fighting spirit they showed here, they were swimming against the tide almost the whole way and their chances of a shock win were always in the long shot category.

It was an very brave performance by the long time dominant force of Offaly football but this defeat also showed the problems they face going forward. Their oldest and most decorated player, Alan McNamee was brought on earlier than expected in the 46^th minute and while he battled with his usual fortitude, put in the heavy hits around the middle – one on Cormac Egan drew the ire of some Tullamore supporters -, it was asking a lot of a player moving up through his 40s to turn the tide against a team of Tullamore's youth and ability.

Three of their great players, Niall Darby, Niall McNamee and Brian Darby were replaced before the end, though Brian Darby only went with a minute of normal time left. Maybe he was injured but the sight of Niall McNamee making his way to the sideline with eight minutes left of a game that was still alive was certainly a new one for Rhode and they look to be heading into a rebuilding phase – something that they will achieve in time with plenty of hard work going on and good players coming up.

At the moment though, it is the third consecutive year that an Offaly senior football final will take place without a Rhode team in it. We have to go back to before their 1998 title, when they ended a long 23 year famine in the doldrums, to find when that happened and no matter what way Rhode take umbrage at suggestions that they are in transition, that statistic does signify something. It is impossible to avoid the impression that some of these great men may have played their last senior game in O'Connor Park, though they will continue to do their bit for Rhode for as long as they can.

They weren't a 100 miles away here and can be very proud of the way they performed and turned their season around after a horrific opening day defeat by Edenderry. They were well prepared, fiercely motivated and they certainly gave Tullamore plenty of headaches.

Ferbane will take plenty of encouragement from this Tullamore performance. They were fully deserved winners but it was far from a world beating one. They were very solid and professional and looked like pulling away at different times but they didn't keep the foot to the pedal. They looked fragile at times and Ferbane may be able to ask questions and stretch them in a way that Rhode just couldn't – the final is far from a formality and Ferbane have a chance.

Rhode were very good early on with Aaron Kellaghan posing particular problems. He gave Daire McDaid a torrid time for 20 minutes or so and it was only when Declan Hogan went over onto him that Tullamore's sense of panic every time the ball went in near Kellaghan eased. Hogan was much tighter, much more comfortable in a real man marking role than McDaid and Kellaghan's influence became much more peripheral as it wore on. It also freed up McDaid to play his more natural, loose game, running all across the back line, moving into attack and he ended up having a good game, scoring three crucial points, one of them a late two pointer.

Kellaghan looked like he could lead Rhode to a famous win early on and scored a great eight minute goal after leaving McDaid for dead following a sensational Niall McNamee ball in. That gave Rhode a 1-1 to 0-2 lead but Tullamore responded superbly. They played some of their best football as they attacked with great efficiency and scored six points in a row as they led by 0-8 to 1-1 after 20 minutes – in the middle of all that one of their star players, Cillian Bourke flirted with a disastrous red card for a challenge that left Ruari McNamee needing treatment but got away without sanction.

Rhode were in danger of being beaten early and did really well to get back into it before half time. Niall McNamee and the very good Ruari McNamee got points to leave them 0-8 to 1-3 behind at half time and in with some sort of a chance.

They were two points behind, 0-11 to 1-6, six minutes into the second half and Tullamore supporters were getting worried. Harry Plunkett had got a quality two pointer for them in the 35^th minute and after a Niall McNamee free, it turned in their favour in the next few minutes. Cormac Egan raced through for a super 41^st minute goal, speeding in on the Rhode goal from the wing and driving a great shot to the net. It showcased Egan at his brilliant best, his brother Diarmuid added a quick point and suddenly the gap was six, 1-12 to 1-6.

It was Diarmuid Egan's first game of the year after recovering from a hamstring injury and he showed his importance with a huge three point contribution. Niall McNamee got a 45^th minute Rhode point but there was something quietly impressive about the understated control Tullamore had on the game at this juncture. They weren't brilliant but they were dictating everything and points from the lively Plunkett brothers, Luke and Harry (free) put them 1-14 to 1-7 clear with 51 minutes gone.

They looked set to coast home and 1-7 from Rhode at this stage was a really poor return. It was nowhere near enough but they almost got back into it. An audacious Anton Sullivan two pointer from out on the wing in the 53^rd minute was followed by a two point free from Sean Hurley from more or less the same spot – Hurley kicked it as Niall McNamee was now on the bench and almost out of nothing, the gap was just a score, 1-14 to 1-11.

Just when Rhode were beginning to contemplate the possibility of one of their greatest ever wins, Tullamore responded and the way they killed it off at this stage was the most impressive part of their performance. With Rhode having to push men forward, there was space at the back and Tullamore capitalised. Diarmuid Egan came to his milk now, taking on Rhode at pace and his great 56^th minute two pointer settled Tullamore, broke Rhode's morale as the gap was out to five.

Daire McDaid added a terrific two pointer on the 60^th minute to open up a seven point cushion and this meant that Ruari McNamee's sensational 61^st minute goal, a fierce drive from 15 metres, was only of cosmetic interest – and a fitting reward for a fine McNamee display.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cormac Egan (Tullamore): A lot of players played well but there wasn't many real standout performances. Cormac Egan gets the nod. He was comparatively quiet in the first half but never put a foot wrong at the same time and was good when Tullamore got their six points in a row as well as scoring their first point of the second half. His goal was worth the admission fee and he was very influential in the second half, dictating a lot from the half back line and making frequent bursts up field.

Cillian Bourke threatened to be a match winner and had a huge influence at midfield, even if his shooting eye was off and he did pick up a yellow card apart from that Ruari McNamee clash. Oisin Keenan-Martin had a very good game in defence while Declan Hogan's tour-de-force on Aaron Kellaghan was crucial as Kellaghan had been the biggest threat to Tullamore's ambitions - Ruari McNamee and Anton Sullivan also drove Rhode relentlessly, really trying to stem the flow of time for this team.

THE TEAMS

TULLAMORE: Corey White; Ben Heffernan, Declan Hogan, Daire McDaid; Cormac Egam, John Furlong, Oisin Keenan-Martin; Cillian Bourke, Aaron Leavy; Liam Dillane, Niall Furlong, Nigel Bracken; Mike Fox, Harry Plunkett, Luke Plunkett. Subs – Diarmuid Egan for Bracken (34m), Michael Brazil for Dillane (48m), Tom Furlong for Luke Plunkett (57m).

RHODE: Ken Garry; Keith Murphy, Jake Kavanagh, James McPadden; Ryan Kellaghan, Dylan Kavanagh, Niall Darby; Conor McNamee, Sean Hurley; Ross Kellaghan, Ruari McNamee, Brian Darby; Anton Sullivan, Niall McNamee, Aaron Kellaghan. Subs – Alan McNamee for Niall Darby (46m), Eoin Smith for Ryan Kellaghan (46m), Mark Rigney for Niall McNamee (52m), Paul McPadden for Ross Kellaghan (54m), Charlie Cullen for Brian Darby (59m),

Referee – Chris Dwyer, Clara

REFEREE WATCH

Chris Dwyer was in the wars in the Shamrocks v Ferbane quarter-final and it was good to give him a big fixture after it. He was well tuned in and got most things right though Cillian Bourke was on dangerous ground in the first half when Ruari McNamee went down after a clash with several supporters adamant it was a red card offence.

Cormac Egan was also lucky not to get a black card after taking Conor McNamee out of it early in the second half, not even picking up a yellow.

He was right to penalise Corey White for delaying his kickouts inn the second half, awarding Rhode a 14 metre line – White had been taking too long and had been warned in the first half.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cormac Egan's goal was the highlight of the game but the two pointer by his brother Diarmuid in the 56^th minute was every bit as important in its own way. Rhode had done really well to get back into it and anything was possible but Egan's spectacular two pointer knocked the last bit of resistance out of them and eased Tullamore's frayed nerves.

VENUE WATCH

It was a very busy week for O'Connor Park and this was the sixth of six games. The pitch held up remarkably well and was a credit to the ground staff and people looking after it.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tullamore play Ferbane in the final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore - 6 (3 in first half); Rhode - 7 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Rhode – 1 (Keith Murphy); Tullamore – 2 (Oisin Keenan-Martin, Cillian Bourke)

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0

THE SCORERS

Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 0-6 (3f, 1 '45', 1 x 2p), Cormac Egan 1-1, Diarmuid Egan (1 x 2p) and Daire McDaid (1 x 2p) 0-3 each, John Furlong, Oisin Keenan-Martin, Aaron Leavy, Mike Fox and Luke Plunkett 0-1 each.

Rhode: Ruari McNamee 1-1, Niall McNamee (3f) and Anton Sullivan (1 x 2p) and 0-4 each, Aaron Kellaghan 1-0, Sean Hurley 0-2 (1 x 2pf).