Offaly Senior Football teams profiled ahead of start of championship

RHODE

Manager – Peter Tormey;

Selectors - Joe Kilmurray,  Ian Bradley,  Alan Galvin;

Captain – Jake Kavanagh and Niall Darby;

Retirements/Long term injuries – Aaron Kellaghan;

New players – Ryan Kellaghan, Ryan Murphy, Gavin Murphy, Paul Stynes, Charile Cullen, Garry Kiernan, Jake Molloy;

Last year – Beaten by Ferbane in the semi-final;

Star player – Anton Sullivan;

Key players – Ruari McNamee, Aaron Kellaghan and Niall McNamee;

Prospects – Rhode have been a remarkable force of nature for nearly three decades and the obituary writers have been premature every time they have uttered words of their impending demise in the past couple of years. No one will be writing them off this year either and there could very well be another kick in them. They will be hungry and their old stagers would love to win one more. Alan McNamee is still exerting a great influence in midfield, even though now motoring into his 40s. Younger brother Niall is looking in on his 40s and will have his batteries refreshed now that he is no longer grinding with Offaly. Anton Sullivan and Ruari McNamee played senior for Offaly this year and Aaron Kellaghan would have been on the panel only for a cruciate injury. Rhode have the forwards to regain the Dowling Cup and they are guaranteed to perform with great professionalism and efficiency. There are doubts from the forward line back. Alan McNamee can't be expected to go for 60 minutes any more and there is vulnerabilities in their defence. They are capable of beating anyone on their day and would love a cut at Tullamore in a knockout game. They could take them out and were so close against Ferbane in the semi-final last year when a 65^th minute Joe Maher point forced extra time. Rhode did run out of legs a bit in extra time and that is one of the challenges facing them. They are well capable of winning another title but they can't afford injuries to key players and may fall just short.