Ferbane-Belmont snatch great come from behind win as Rod Og endure hard defeat

A TERRIFIC Minor Football Championship, full to the brim with intensity and plenty of really good football, ended with Ferbane-Belmont retaining their title with a great come from behind win, Rod Og licking their wounds as they soaked up a hard, cruel defeat.

EJ Access Solutions Minor Football Championship final

Ferbane-Belmont 4-8

Rod Og 2-9

With their seniors entering a period of rebuilding, Rhode were crying out for their first title in this grade since 2010 and were very close to doing so. There was only a point in it as the game entered injury time and in many respects, a draw and replay would have been a fair outcome for two extremely committed, competent teams.

It wasn't to be for Rod Og as Ferbane-Belmont snatched 1-1 deep in injury time to secure the title and a very sweet win. It was a win that certainly looked unlikely when they trailed by 1-5 to 0-0 after 20 minutes and were being completely outplayed. The game turned in the ten minutes before half time as Rod Og lost their way badly and Ferbane-Belmont got in for 1-2 to trail by only three points at half time.

The winners had the advantage of a swirling but significant wind in the second half but even with that, it was such a close run thing, a half full of twists and turns but F-B outscored them by 3-6 to 1-4 for the win.

Ferbane-Belmont's key men were instrumental in them turning the tide with Eamon Maher outstanding at midfield and Ruari Woods showing his potential in the attack as he teased, probed and tormented. Corner forward Dara Waldron ended up with a decisive 3-1 in a really clinical display and Ferbane-Belmont just about deserved to win but couldn't have complained if they had to do it all again.

You had to feel sorry for this group of Rod Og players. The main club in this parish amalgamation with St Brigid's, Rhode really needed this – fourteen of the starting players were from the Rhode club. They have won U14 and 16 “C” football titles this year and while those were very sweet wins for very hard working, ambitious young footballers, the “C” grade has not been lost on anyone inside or outside of Rhode and it is “A” success that they crave and that will turn the wheel for them at adult level: when we discuss Rhode at present, we may all be guilty of judging them by past success and forget that it is a largely rural parish with two clubs and that their extraordinary run of success since 1998 was spearheaded by some generational personalties and performers.

This group of players were certainly A standard under every single criteria and played some outstanding football at times. They were so focused and honest and many of these will go onto play senior. Even if defeat was their lot, it doesn't define them and Rhode, and St Brigid's, will have good players coming through very soon.

Rod Og were sensational here for the first ten minutes in particular. They were all over Ferbane-Belmont as they led by 1-5 to no score after 19 minutes. Joshua Kellaghan got the goal in the seventh minute after a great build up involving the hard working Billy Quinn and Cian McNamee, who also contributed a breathtaking two pointer.

With Odhran Briody, Dermot Crombie and Adam Kellaghan superb, Rod Og looked almost unstoppable and after 20 minutes, you just couldn't see them losing. Their problem was that they really stopped scoring after nine minutes. They were 1-4 to no score up at that stage and their next point from a lively Kennedy-Fleming in the 19^th minute was their final score of the half.

They missed a few chances as the possibility of Ferbane-Belmont going scoreless in the half grew by the minute. Their first score, a 25^th minute strike by Finn Moran who buried a goal on advantage, changed everything. Dara Waldron and Ruari Woods added points and the difference between an eight and three point half time deficit was huge for Ferbane-Belmont.

It was difficult to know how strong the wind was but the impression that it was a four to five point one proved correct in the second half. Rod Og got themselves back into a great position early on. Drew Kennedy-Fleming fisted over a 33^rd minute point, though he really should have went for goal, either taking it on himself or availing of the options either side of him. Seconds later, James Taylor raced through for a breathtaking goal, driving a fierce shot to the roof of the net to give Rod Og a 2-6 to 1-2 lead.

They were back in a very strong position but again, they stopped scoring and by the time Cian McNamee got their next point in the 47^th minute, Ferbane-Belmont had 3-5 on the board. F-B showed heart-warming character when the game was slipping beyond reach. They were relentless all over the field and quickly got back into contention.

Niall Flynn got a free and Ferbane-Belmont got a lifeline with a 39^th minute goal, Dara Waldron applying the final touch after Ruari Woods had a shot saved and the follow up from Rory Dunican hit the cross bar.

Niall Flynn brought it back to two points with a free and a big turning point came in a bizarre 44^th minute. Firstly Dara Waldron was in the right place to score his second goal and put them a point in front after Ruari Woods did very well to get the ball across to him after his shot was saved. Rod Og complained that it was a square ball and linesman Paurig Gallagher called the referee for comments their trainer Paraic Sullivan made. Sullivan was red carded but the real damage was done when Williamson applied the new rules and awarded a 14 metre free that Flynn tapped over,

The closing quarter provided fantastic entertainment and Rod Og also showed terrific character as they chased the game. Cian McNamee cut the deficit to one and Ferbane-Belmont engaged in a mild footballing form of hari-kari as Ruari Woods and Niall Flynn missed fairly routine frees, Woods blazing his wide and Flynn not getting the distance in one that was brought in for a new rules infringement.

Eventually Lee Moore found the range with a lovely 54^th minute score that Ferbane-Belmont really needed, giving them a two point lead. The excitement and drama increased in the closing minutes. Billy Quinn brought it back to a point, Rory Dunican put Ferbane-Belmont two up and their wing back Eoghan O'Neill hit the post as he attempted to fist a point.

The error count also increased in the frantic battles and an unforced Ferbane-Belmont turnover followed by a pick up by Luke Healy resulted in a tap over Rod Og free for Joshua Kellaghan in the 62^nd minute and the gap was one again.

Four minutes of injury time was announced but Rod Og just ran out of road. They pushed up really well on Ferbane-Belmont as they hunted turnovers but left gaps at the back and the winners exploited it. They clinched it with a 63^rd minute goal after a great Eamon Maher fetch was carried on by Lee Moore and ended with Waldon completing his hat-trick. Woods added an injury time free and that was that as Ferbane-Belmont won another minor title.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eamon Maher (Ferbane-Belmont): It may seem harsh not to give it to Dara Waldon who scored 3-1 and displayed some beautiful, silky touches – showing well for the ball and displaying a great ability to ghost into good positions.

Eamon Maher, however, is the choice. An unsung hero for Offaly minor footballers as they won the Leinster title this year, he was fairly anonymous for twenty minutes but got going coming up to half time as Ferbane-Belmont clawed their way back into contention. His second half tour-de-force was absolutely pivotal to the win. He made some spectacular catches, won hard ball and sent in good deliveries. He completely broke up the early dominance that Rod Og had enjoyed in the midfield diamond and while Waldron's 3-1 was the difference, they could not have won it without Maher's second half excellence.

Ruari Woods also found his A game in the second half, making life very uncomfortable for the Rod Og defence while Jake Maher's performance at centre back will be celebrated this week. Cian McNamee scored three points for Rod Og and was really up for the game but Maher just focused on marking him and ensuring he did not get past him for a free run in on their goals. That was crucially important and while McNamee was good, Maher kept him quieter than the vast majority of players have managed this year.

It won't be much consolation to them at the moment but Rod Og can be very proud of the way they played. They gave a great account of themselves with Odhran Briody, Dermot Crombie and Adam Kellaghan very influential for a lot of the way.

THE SCORERS

Ferbane/Belmont: Dara Waldron 3-1, Niall Flynn 0-3 (3f), Finn Moran 1-0, Ruari Woods 0-2 (1f), Lee Moore and Rory Dunican 0-1 each.

Rod Og: Joshua Kellaghan 1-1 (1f), Cian McNamee 0-3 (1 x 2p), James Taylor 1-0, Dermot Crombie and Drew Kennedy-Fleming 0-2 each, Billy Quinn 0-1.

THE TEAMS

FERBANE/BELMONT: Eoin Coughlan; Eoin Egan, Dylan Corrigan, Luke Healy; David Heffernan, Jake Maher, Eoghan O'Neill; Eamon Maher, Andy McEvoy; Niall Flynn, Lee Moore, Finn Moran; Ruari Woods, Rory Dunican, Dara Waldron. Subs – Oran Kenny for Moran (42m), James Kirwan for McEvoy (57m),

ROD OG: Leon Kilmurray; Oscar Egan, Matthew McBride, Kyle Kilmurray; Luke Mahon, Odhran Briody, James Taylor; Adam Kellaghan, Dermot Crombie Jamie Dalton, Cian McNamee, Owen Murphy; Drew Kennedy-Fleming, Joshua Kellaghan, Billy Quinn. Subs – Joshua Ferguson for Kennedy-Fleming (48m), Gavin Mayon for Dalton (55m), Dylan McLoughlin for Murphy (59m),

Referee – Kevin Williamson, Tullamore

REFEREE WATCH

Kevin Williamson had another good, consistent game. Both teams might have looked for frees at different times and Rod Og won't be singing his praises this evening but these balanced out as he let play run.

There was one big incident in the 45^th minute when Rhode mentor Padraic Sullivan was red carded after the referee was called by linesman Paurig Gallagher just after F-B's second goal. That was for something that was said to the linesman and Williamson also awarded a 14 metre free, that Niall Flynn tapped over. Referees need to enforce that rule more and it was the correct call as interference from mentors has to be eradicated but the problem with it is that is is not being done across the board on a consistent basis. Another F-B free was brought in later on to close to can't miss range but was mishit by Niall Flynn.

Linesmen were not appointed by the County Board for this game with Paurig Gallagher responding to a request from Kevin Williamson for assistance while Offaly GAA Operations Manager John Hackett had to step in to do one line when no other referee came forward. There were underage games and other fixtures on but there should be two referees as linesmen for a final of this importance. Linesmen are paid when appointed by the County Board and while you can argue that they should have been named for this fixture, it is a pity that a second one wouldn't volunteer and step forward to do the job.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Ferbane-Belmont's third goal from Dara Waldron in the 44^th minute followed by the above mentioned free was a huge moment and turning point.

VENUE WATCH

It is great that O'Connor Park was available for this minor football double bill. You would expect the A final to be played here but it was nice to give Clara and Shamrocks this opportunity in the B decider. The pitch looked remarkably well and the only problem with these finals is that supporters just won't listen to the pleas to stay off it afterwards and protect it for the big games following on – the senior hurling final in this case.

Full credit to the Clara supporters who did stay off after the curtain raiser, though in fairness to Ferbane-Belmont an A final win was always going to be greeted with a lot more excitement. Having said that, many of their supporters completely ignored repeated requests not to go out onto the field and then stayed out there for a long time, congregating in front of the stand. It shouldn't happen but it has happened at several fixtures this year.

WHAT'S NEXT

The season is concluded for both teams now.

STATISTICS

Wides: Rod Og – 4 (3 in first half); Ferbane-Belmont - 3 (2 in first half).

Yellow cards: Ferbane-Belmont – 0; Rod Og – 1 (Dermot Crombie).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0