BEST IN CLASS
Veteran captain McNamee bags Rhode winner
FORTY years on from Seamus Darby’s iconic goal in the 1982 All-Ireland final to deprive Kerry of a record-breaking five-in-arow, here was an Offaly final that hinged on a high ball into the square, and the forever wonder from the losing side over whether the game-breaking goal was a contentious one.
Not for the first time, Johnny Moloney was an inspiring figure for Tullamore, and he rose to make a superb catch in the 48th minute with his side leading by a point. Rhode number 11 Ruairi McNamee challenged him, though, under the high ball and somehow pickpocketed possession as Moloney went to drive out with the ball.
A neat side-step of the goalkeeper later and suddenly Rhode
had a two-point lead heading
“We’d been told
that we were over the hill”
down the straight. Credit to the reigning champions, they showed great character to hit three points on the bounce to equalise after Niall McNamee had kicked Rhode further in front.
But it was that same evergreen attacker who once again proved the match winner, darting out in front of full-back Declan Hogan to earn an advanced mark, which he then converted.
The advanced mark has its many critics, and there are plenty who will wonder whether the newish rule is the right way to settle an enthralling county final, one which started out in dull, cagey fashion but which opened up into a thrilling affair in the second half.
McNamee’s class was once again apparent throughout, none more so in the way he converted the match-winner and later, deep in injury time, sprayed a superb ball crossfield to help his team play keep-ball at such a crucial stage and seal a 31st senior title.
Rhode’s Anton Sullivan, the official TG4 Man of the Match, admitted afterwards that the second-half goal was crucial. ‘I soldiered with Johnny Moloney so many times with Offaly and nine times out of 10 he’d come out with that ball. Thankfully, Ruairi went around the goalkeeper in style and put it in the back of the net. Tullamore showed they were true county champions to come back into it and draw level. Thankfully, we got a point in the end to snatch it.’
He described the triumph as one against the head. ‘Absolutely brilliant. Thrilled for the lads, for the whole backroom staff, for the little village of Rhode. We’d been written off all year. We’d been told we’re too old, we’re over the hill.
‘But we knew we had the work done down through the years. We stayed in our own bubble and thank God we got over the line.
‘The conditions were very tough. You saw the wides Tullamore kicked in the second half – if they had have clicked, they could have been further ahead.
‘We knew we had the wind on our back in the second half. We’ve been in this position so many times before.
‘Even when Tullamore went two up we stayed calm and composed. We knew we’d get opportunities.’
Tullamore were left to rue all those wides which had hit double figures by early in the second half. They led at the break by 0-5 to 0-3 after a thoroughly forgettable first half. A Niall McNamee free was the only score in a cagey, tactical first quarter, and all of Rhode’s scores in the half came from placed balls from the same player.
It took Tullamore until the 18th minute to register their first score, a lovely curled effort from Nigel Bracken, before Luke Plunkett hit a nice point on the turn and Moloney hit a cracker from distance.
Two frees from Harry Plunkett edged them ahead and the second half went point for point in the third quarter, a touch of controversy coming when Plunkett’s high curling shot was initially waved wide by the umpire, only for referee Fergal Smyth to intervene and the score being awarded.
Declan Hogan’s diving block was vital in depriving Rhode of a goal chance, though he was lucky he wasn’t disciplined for a rash closed-fist tackle on Niall McNamee in the first half.
He sallied forward to score a vital point himself as the match lifted in quality and intensity, and a super right-footed score from Anton Sullivan down the righthand side left just one in it in that final quarter. Then came the steal by Ruairi McNamee on Moloney and the goal that put Rhode into the lead. Niall McNamee stretched it out to three before that rousing Tullamore comeback, Moloney at the heart of it with a left-foot score into the wind, sandwiched between two Harry Plunkett frees.
And then came the mark by Niall McNamee with a minute of normal time to go, which ultimately proved to be the difference between the sides, prompting Anton Sullivan to address the question as to whether McNamee – even heading for 37 – could still play a role for Offaly under new manager Liam Kearns.
‘Yeah, absolutely. Niall is in as good a shape as he ever was. He’s a brilliant ambassador for the Rhode club. All the young lads look up to him, as well as in an Offaly dressing room.
‘I’m sure Liam will have a chat with him down the line. Hopefully, if he stays on, he’ll be great for the future of Offaly.’ SCORERS — RHODE: N McNamee 0-5 (all frees), R McNamee 1-0, A Sullivan 0-2, J McPadden, A Kellaghan 0-1 each. TULLAMORE: H Plunkett 0-5 (4fs), J Moloney 0-2, N Bracken, D Hogan, A Leavy, L Plunkett 0-1 each REFEREE: F Smyth.