McNamee on fire as Rhode too strong for weary St Patrick’s

RHODE, the proud holders of 29 Offaly championship crowns, began their quest for a first Leinster Club title with a decisive 10-point win at Joule Park, Aughrim, yesterday.

Opponents St Patrick’s, from Wicklow, had an energy-sapping joust with Rathnew in the county final 24 hours earlier and it was clear that it had taken its toll.

They came out with all guns blazing to take a 0-3 to 0-1 lead inside eight minutes, but they soon ran out of steam.

Former Offaly county player Niall McNamee was on fire and he punished the Saints at every opportunity, from play and frees.

Alan McNamee was hugely influential at midfield, while Ciaran Heavey, the scorer of their opening point after five minutes, and Anton Sullivan completed a lethal full-forward line.

Play was somewhat scrappy and disjointed as Newbridge referee Brendan Cawley made full use of his whistle.

Niall McNamee (above) brought the sides level with his second point from a free and the Offaly men went on to lead 0-10 to 0-5 at the break.

Stephen Duffy scored his fifth point for Saint Patrick’s immediately after the break, but any hope that it might spark a revival was dashed inside two minutes, as Heavey finished to the net from a move by Niall Darby and James McPadden.

Niall McNamee continued raising white flags for Rhode, but the Saints saw their chief scorer and playmaker, Stephen Duffy, exit the fray on the back of a black card.

Anton Sullivan scored the second goal for Rhode on 45 minutes and Tommy Kelly’s goal for Patrick’s on 52 minutes just served to put a better complexion on the final scoreboard.