Johnson magic turns final tide for Ferbane

FERBANE are the Offaly senior football champions for the first time in 25 years after a sensational fightback saw them come from five points down with 20 minutes to go to win by five and knock Rhode off their throne at Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, Tullamore yesterday.

Rhode had the better of the opening half and the opening 10 minutes of the second half but a masterclass from Cian Johnson (right) over the closing 20 minutes turned the tide in Ferbane’s favour.

Twenty-year-old Johnson hit 2-2 in the second half and his first goal sparked the revival before his second goal on 45 minutes put them three ahead and left Rhode shellshocked.

Rhode were forced to start without Niall McNamee and his introduction with 11 minutes left wasn’t enough to stem the Ferbane tide.

Rhode went 0-5 to 0-1 up in the early stages with Niall and Brian Darby both opening their accounts. Niall Darby was also landing the frees as Ferbane struggled to deal with Rhode’s possession game.

Super

Joe Maher was keeping Ferbane in touch with frees but a super score from Ciarán Heavey had Rhode three up nearing half-time. Joe Maher got the final score of the half to make it 0-8 to 0-6 in favour of Rhode at the break.

Rhode went on to make it 0-11 to 0-6 with Darren Garry landing the pick of the bunch before Ferbane clicked into life and turned the game on its head.

Johnson grabbed his first goal on 42 minutes and points from David Nally and Johnson again suddenly had them level.

The next attack saw a long ball in from Oisín Kelly gathered by Johnson and sent to the net as Ferbane opened up a 2-8 to 0-11 lead.

Rhode were going for their fourth Offaly SFC title in-a-row and were not going to give up without a fight.

Niall McNamee entered the fray and Niall Darby kicked three points on the trot to bring it back to a one-point game but Ferbane still had the answers.

Man of the match Johnson brought his personal haul to 2-3 and points from Joe Maher and Cathal Flynn in injury-time sealed the deal on a historic day for the west Offaly club as they finally landed the big one having been beaten in three of the previous four finals.

Ferbane face Wicklow champions, St Patrick’s, in the Leinster Club SFC first round in two week’s time with the winners advancing to face Laois powerhouse, Portlaoise.