Rhode 1-9
Tullamore 1-7

Rhode claimed their 30th Offaly senior football championship success this evening at Tullamore’s expense at O’Connor Park.

Aaron Kellaghan’s 49th minute goal gave the Faithful County’s football kingpins breathing room in this decider after their opponents had led by two points at half-time.

The sides were all square in 0-3 apiece after 25 minutes in the wet conditions before Aaron Leavy and Ciaran Egan sailed over points late in the half to threaten the upset.

Tullamore brought on Shane Dooley for the start of the second-half in a bid to keep the scores flowing but it was county ace Niall McNamee that shot over the first two points of the restart to square the sides.

A converted mark from McNamee put Rhode in front just before the second water break and he’d double their lead with a superb point from play in the 47th minute.

Tullamore couldn’t muster a much needed response and paid a heavy price two minutes later when Kellaghan rattled their net, leaving the 2018 champions with one hand on the trophy.

McNamee’s fifth point was cancelled out by Johnny Moloney’s free in the 55th minute prior to Kelleghan booting over his side’s final score.

A late goal from Peter Fox only proved consolation as Rhode recorded their fourth Offaly SFC success in five years.

Rhode: Ken Garry; Brian Darby, Jake Kavanagh, James McPadden; Gareth McNamee, Eoin Rigney, Niall Darby; Dylan Kavanagh (0-1), Alan McNamee; Ciaran Heavey, Ruairi McNamee (0-1), Conor McNamee; Aaron Kellaghan (1-1), Niall McNamee (0-5, 1m), Anton Sullivan (0-1). Subs: Paul McPadden for Heavey (37mins), Stephen Hannon for Sullivan (53), Keith Murphy for G McNamee (59), Pauric Sullivan for R McNamee (59), Darren Garry for A McNamee (60).

Tullamore: Shaun Martin; Ciaran Burns, Paul McConway, Patrick Robilliard; Kevin O’Brien, Declan Hogan, Oisin Keenan Martin; Ciaran Egan (0-1), Aaron Leavy (1-2); Nigel Bracken (0-1), Michael Brazil, Luke Plunkett; Peter Fox (0-1), John Moloney (0-2, 2f), Luke Egan. Subs: Shane Dooley for L Egan (HT), Corey White for S Martin (47mins), Ger Ward for Plunkett (60).

Ref: Marius Stones (Clara)

Niall Darby receives the Dowling Cup for @RhodeGAA from Michael Duignan, County Board Chairman, and Philip O'Brien from @Tullamore_Court, sponsors pic.twitter.com/MpOjk3w0SE

— Official Offaly GAA (@Offaly_GAA) October 4, 2020

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