Improving Rhode make semi-finals to leave champions searching for answers

AT times it was painfully obvious that the stakes were way short of knockout fare but a much improved Rhode got away for a very significant and deserved win over champions Tullamore in O'Connor Park on Saturday to book their semi-final berth.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 1 round 5

Rhode 3-13

Tullamore 0-16

Tullamore are still in the quarter-finals but this defeat coming on the back of one by Ferbane in their previous outing raises serious questions about their form and prospects that they are not accustomed to.

Seeking four in a row, Tullamore are experiencing some of the malaise affecting their counterparts in hurling in Kilcormac-Killoughey – there has been a noticeable dip in their intensity, hunger levels and while this could return in knockout action, it is very hard to stay going year in and year out and Tullamore look very vulnerable at the moment.

They are likely to be without midfield powerhouse Aaron Leavy for a quarter-final against weak group opponents after he received a straight red card when reported for striking Aaron Kellaghan a few moments after coming on in the 50th minute. That was a disaster for Tullamore. Leavy had been scheduled to start but was replaced just before throw in by Luke Egan. It came just a short time after Conor McNamee had got two deserved yellow cards for Rhode and that looked to have handed the initiative to Tullamore who were trailing by just two points, 2-10 to 0-14 at that stage.

Harry Plunkett had floated over a super two pointer to leave two points in it and with an extra man, they had a great chance but Leavy's dismissal cooked their goose and their heads dropped late on. Ruari McNamee, excellent when it counted in the second half, got an important point for the winners and Dylan Kavanagh settled the issue with a 55th minute goal after Aaron McBride and Ross Kellaghan did the donkey work.

Harry Plunkett and Aaron Kellaghan exchanged late two point frees and Rhode will be delighted with the win and their form. They are the only unbeaten side in the strong group and they are motoring very well. They have turned a huge corner this year and on current form, they are the team to beat. They have been the best team in the championship to date, though Ferbane are lethally dangerous and Tullamore remain the favourites, but with a large warning tag about investing big on them.

Crucially, Rhode have given a lot of young players their head and this is paying off dividends. They may have opted for experience over youth when bringing on brothers Niall and Brian Darby in the second half but these two long serving stalwarts know all about winning and can contribute in all sorts of ways.

It would be very foolish to write Tullamore's obituary and knockout football will determine everything. Their two defeats came when qualification was assured and with Edenderry so off the mark, the strong group has been a bit of a non event. Going the quarter or semi-final route doesn't make a huge difference and while Rhode will take this road every day of the week, sometimes an extra game is a good thing.

Yet Tullamore just haven't been going well and the only positive for them here is that John Furlong returned to action after almost a year out of action. He wasn't listed among the subs but the dogs on the street knew that he was coming on in the closing quarter and an extra game in the quarter-final will certainly be of benefit from him.

They also gave a Senior Football Championship debut to Davin Keegan, who was solid and will improve with games while Harry Plunkett's free taking was quite brilliant. He scored eleven points, ten from frees, three of them two pointers and his one miss came when he looked to lose hit footing. Plunkett's contribution, however, is also an issue for Tullamore and they only managed five points from elsewhere, relying way too heavily on placed balls.

The first half was a very mundane affair with little excitement. Rhode came flying out of the blocks, scoring the first four points before Tullamore settled. It was 0-5 to 0-3 when calamitious Tullamore defending allowed Ross Kellaghan in for a 21st minute goal.

Tullamore played a bit better after this but without real drive or thrust. Rhode led by 1-6 to 0-6 at half time and a brilliant Ross Kellaghan goal after a Sean Hurley pass gave them a 2-8 to 0-7 lead after 35 minutes.

They were 2-9 to 0-8 ahead when Tullamore found their only real concerted spell of good pressure. Plunkett was the main score getter, slotting over two two point frees and a single pointer while Luke Plunkett pointed from play. Daire McDaid was unlucky not to have a two pointer given when play was called back for an earlier free as Tullamore got the gap back to three, 0-12 to 2-9.

Ruari McNamee really came to his milk in the second half and settled Rhode with a great point. The sending offs added drama to the occasion and Plunkett's two point free brought Tullamore right back into it but Leavy went soon after and Rhode won with a degree of comfort after this.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Ross Kellaghan (Rhode): Ruari McNamee had a terrific second half display, scoring three points from play and Aaron Kellaghan did a lot of very productive work. Ross Kellaghan is the choice. He took his two goals very well, got on a lot of ball, linking effectively between midfield and the full forward line. He gave a couple of wayward passes but had a big role in Rhode's win.

If Tullamore had scraped to the win, Harry Plunkett would have been their only option and that was because of the quality of his free taking rather than what he did in open play. That tells it's own tale about Tullamore's display, their conversion rate was poor in the first half and they just had too many players who were below their best.

THE SCORERS

Rhode: Ross Kellaghan 2-0, Ruari McNamee 0-5 (2f), Dylan Kavanagh 1-0, Aaron Kellaghan 0-3 (1 x 2pf), Adam Kellaghan and Sean Hurley (2p) 0-2 each, Anton Sullivan 0-1.

Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 0-11 (3 x 2pf, 4f), Diarmuid Egan, Luke Plunkett, Daire McDaid, Liam Dillane, Davin Keegan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

RHODE: Jack Murphy; Jake Kavanagh, Keith Murphy, Jack Kilmurray; Aaron McBride, Eoin Smith, Ryan Kellaghan; Sean Hurley, Adam Kellaghan; Ross Kellaghan, Dylan Kavanagh, Ruari McNamee; Aaron Kellaghan, Niall McNamee, Anton Sullivan. Subs – Conor McNamee for Kilmurray, inj. (30m), Niall Darby for Ryan Kellaghan (43m), Ryan Murphy for Adam Kellaghan (53m), Brian Darby for McBride (65m),

TULLAMORE: Arron Hensey; Patrick Kenna, Declan Hogan, Jack Maher; Cormac Egan, Luke Bourke, Daire McDaid;; Davin Keegan, Luke Egan; Diarmuid Egan, Niall Furlong, Liam Dillane; Mike Fox, Harry Plunkett, Luke Plunkett. Subs – Oisin Keenan-Martin for Luke Plunkett (44m), John Furlong for Diarmuid Egan (50m), Aaron Leavy for Dillane (50m), Ciaran Burns for Bourke (56m),

Referee – Marius Stones (Clara)

REFEREE WATCH

Marius Stones certainly adapted a let it run policy and every free was hard earned. He was consistent with this and controlled the match well. He did allow a particularly long time for one Rhode advantage in the first half and there needs to be more consistency across the board – yet he was very hard on Tullamore when not allowing advantage for Daire McDaid who curled over a great two pointer but the whistle had been blown.

Conor McNamee had no complaints at being sent off for two yellows and Aaron Leavy got a straight red just moments after coming on, reported by a linesman for a strike on Aaron Kellaghan.

Daire McDaid tried his best to stay outside the two point arc for a second half point but just drifted across and Stones was absolutely correct to signal for the single pointer.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Aaron Leavy's 52nd minute sending off more or less decided this outcome as it seemed to deflate Tullamore after they had got the deficit back to two points. Rhode secured the win in the next few minutes and Leavy will be a big loss if suspended for the quarter-final.

VENUE WATCH

On a perfect day for football, albeit with a wind, the pitch in O'Connor Park held up very well and there were no issues.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rhode go into the semi-finals while Tullamore are in the quarter-finals.

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore – 9 (6 in first half); Rhode – 3 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: Rhode – 2 (Conor McNamee 2); Tullamore – 0.

Black card: 0

Red card: Rhode – 1 (Conor McNamee, two yellows); Tullamore – 1 (Aaron Leavy).