McNamees and Sullivan fire Rhode to third title on the spin
A SENSATIONAL display of scoring from the Rhode full-forward line of Niall McNamee, Rúairí McNamee and man of the match Anton Sullivan was too much for Ferbane in yesterday’s Offaly SFC final, as they combined to score a total of 1-16 (1-12 from play) in a one-sided decider at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park.
A fast start from Rhode accounted for Ferbane’s chances when the two sides met in the 2016 decider and the club known as ‘the Village’ followed the same template yesterday, moving into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Ferbane’s forwards struggled to get their hands on the ball as the reigning champions moved further ahead, and could have been out of sight but for a stunning save from county U-20 goalkeeper Jack Cullinan to stop James McPadden’s 13-metre shot from finding the top corner.
The Ferbane attack tried their best with scant rations and it was a measure of their potential that when the west Offaly club started to win a few balls at midfield, Joe Maher was able to score two points and Cian Johnson added another to reduce the gap to a more manageable 0-6 to 0-4.
Rhode powered on again before half- time however, led by Niall McNamee up front. McNamee, who picked up his 10th county medal yesterday, one short of his brother Alan who holds the record in the county, slotted over two typically effortless points from play to restore Rhode’s lead and when Sullivan struck the last point of the half, Rhode led by 0-10 to 0-5.
Ferbane were rocked on their heels again when Sullivan ran through on goal in the 38th minute and found the net after two dummy solos.
Wing-forward Paul McPadden received a straight red card for his part in an altercation with Ferbane’s James Nally in the 50th minute and he looks likely to miss Rhode’s next outing against the Wicklow champions.
Aidan Keenaghan landed a couple of late points for Ferbane but by then the damage was done. A brace of Niall McNamee frees then rounded off a 29th county final win for Rhode and a third in succession.