O’Mahony’s check out with heads held high
THERE was no encore of ‘A Grand Old Team’, but no-one would have begrudged Sean O’Mahony’s one last belt of their now famous anthem as they signed off on a glorious season with heads high and chests out.
There are days when you have to hold your hand up and accept your opponents were better, and unfortunately for the men from the Quay, an experienced and classy Rhode side brought their ‘A’ game to the Gaelic Grounds on Sunday.
In the rere quiet moments before this intriguing Leinster semi-final, Alan Craven probably knew in his heart that Rhode would have to be a shade off-colour for his brave team to continue their giant-killing spree.
But Pascal Kellaghan clearly had his homework done on the Louth champions, picking his match-ups carefully and ensuring his troops were fired up for an acid test.
O’Mahony’s have certainly earned that level of respect over the past three seasons and they will also take heart from the fact they stood toe-to-toe with a team with 27 county titles and now five Leinster final appearances in just 11 seasons.
The plan would have been similar to the Sarsfields strategy with the first objective to keep things tight early.
Although Rhode looked a serious threat from the start, O’Mahony’s did just that, and after 20 minutes neither side had scored from play.
Three frees from Niall McNamee and two in reply from Conor Finnegan meant O’Mahony’s were right where they wanted to be on the approach to half-time, but it was those crucial minutes either side of the break that would ultimately prove dscisive.
Kurt Murphy started well on Niall McNamee, and overall won’t be displeased with his afternoon’s work, but the Faithful county star offered the first glimpse of his pedigree on 27 minutes, kicking the first score from open play.
He added another free in injury-time to open a 5-2 lead and with the O’Mahony’s forward division getting little change out of a vastly experienced Rhode rearguard, it was hard to shake the feeling that the game was already slipping away from the home side.
Stephen Fisher was a glaring exception in the early stages and O’Mahony’s did move him closer to goal in the second period, while at midfield Conor Martin and Shane Brennan possibly edged the McNamee cousins Alan and Conor.
But Rhode the Rhode defence was colossal with Eoin Rigney, Shane Sullivan and the Darby brothers superb.
Having kicked three points without reply before the interval, Rhode repeated the trick in the first five minutes of the second-half as McNamee kicked his second from play, teed up Brian Darby for another and then converted his fifth free of the afternoon, making it 0-8 to 0-2.
Such predicaments rarely faze O’Mahony’s and they closed the gap with another Finnegan free before their big chance arrived on 40 minutes.
In a rare lapse by the Rhode defence, Conor Crawley found himself in acres of space with just Kenny Garry to beat, but as he prepared to pull the trigger, Alan McNamee tugged his shoulder and John Hickey awarded a penalty.
Stephen Fisher took on the hefty responsibility, but his tame shot didn’t trouble Garry, who was probably annoyed not to have held it as the rebound fell to Conor Finnegan, who tapped over to make it a four-point game.
Despite the penalty miss, it was an encouraging spell for O’Mahony’s, but Paul McPadden hit back with a point for and their own goal led an equally charmed life as Brendan Traynor denied Darren Garry and Ruairi McNamee in quick succession.
Stephen Kilcoyne reduced the gap to four again with a free, but Rhode seemed to be able to turn the screw when they liked and McPadden and Niall McNamee kicked two super points.
Ruairi McNamee followed up with another to make it 0-12 to 0-5 before Carlow whistler John Hickey offered O’Mahony’s another lifeline.
Rhode could have no complaints this time either as Keith McLaughlin was pulled back as he prepared to shoot and despite his earlier miss Stephen Fisher didn’t hesitate to take on his second penalty of the afternoon.
This time he planted the ball low and hard to Garry’s right corner, giving O’Mahony’s a small crumb of hope.
But time and a miserly Rhode defence was against them and if anything it was the visitors who carried the game to their hosts in the final few minutes.
Hickey awarded a third peanlty when Ronan Byrne hauled down Dylan Kavanagh, but substitute struck the butt of the left upright.
O’Mahony’s did muster one last half-chance when David Dowling found himself in space on the left corner of the penalty area, but he blazed his effort high and wide. A point wouldn’t have been good enough and a goal just wasn’t really on.
Rhode were worthy winners, but they too will be stepping up a level again when they face St Vincent’s in the final on Sunday week.
The O’Mahony’s players gathered for one last huddle and marched off the pitch together to worthy applause and acclaim.
They can finally put their feet up and reflect on a momentous and history-making campaign - and no doubt enjoy a few more renditions of ‘A Grand Old Team’. RHODE: Kenny Garry; Eoin Rigney, Shane Sullivan, James McPadden; Ciaran Heavey, Brian Darby 0-1, Niall Darby; Alan McNamee, Conor McNamee; Stephen Hannon, Ruairi McNamee 0-1, Paul McPadden 0-2, Pauric Sullivan, Darren Garry, Niall McNamee 0-8 (5f). Subs: Glenn O’Connell for S Hannon (51), Gareth McNamee for C Heavey (59), Dylan Kavanagh for P Sullivan (59), Eoghan Byrne for P McPadden (60+).
SEAN O’MAHONY’S: Brendan Traynor, Kurt Murphy, Ronan Byrne, Michael Clarke; Liam Dullaghan, John O’Brien, Jonathan Connolly; Conor Martin, Shane Brennan; Conor Finnegan 0-4f, Keith McLaughlin, Stephen Fisher 1-0 pen; Stephen Kilcoyne 0-1f, Conor Crawley, Ben McLaughlin. Subs: David Dowling for B McLaughlin (41), Barry Mackin for J Connolly (48), Niall McLaughlin for S Kilcoyne (55), Pat O’Brien for M Clarke (60+).
REFEREE: John Hickey (Carlow).