Edenderry 1-12
Rhode 1-10

Edenderry avenged last year's final loss to Rhode to be crowned Offaly football champions for an 11th time in front of 4,630 spectators at O'Connor Park.

Peter Brady's underdogs were full value for their victory as they stopped their neighbours from equalling Tullamore's record of 27 Dowling Cups.

The signs looked ominous for the Reds when Ruairi McNamee netted inside the opening minute for Rhode, but they hit back with three unanswered points to regain parity. 'The Village' moved in front again before Keith McGuinness levelled in the 26th minute.

Niall Darby edged Rhode back into the lead before Derek Kelly scored a stunning goal to give the winners the lead for the first time. Niall McNamee responded with a point to cut Edenderry's lead to one, 1-6 to 1-7, at the interval.

McNamee had the sides level again shortly after the restart, but Sean Doyle replied and Edenderry were never headed thereafter, with the holders spurring two late chances through Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan to salvage a replay. It was left to Gary Blong to secure the spoils for the town side with the insurance point in injury-time.

Edenderry - C Hurley; A Pender, D Hanlon, S Pender; A Mahon (0-1), C Byrne, S Moriarty (0-1'45); R Dalton (0-2), S Guing; K McGuinness (0-1f), D Kelly (1-1, 0-1f), O Lawton; S Doyle (0-4, 1f), A McDonnell, J Hayes (0-1). Subs: C Hurley for O Lawton, A Kenny for A McDonnell, M Young for K McGuinness, G Blong (0-1) for J Hayes.

Rhode - K Garry; J Kavanagh, E Rigney, J McPadden; C Heavey, B Darby, E Byrne; A McNamee, D Garry (0-2); N Darby (0-1f), C McNamee (0-1), S Hannon; A Sullivan, R McNamee (1-1), N McNamee (0-5, 1f). Subs: G O'Connell for E Byrne, S Sullivan for J Kavanagh, P McPadden for S Hannon, P Sullivan for D Garry, P Kellaghan for R McNamee.

Referee - D Walsh.

Tweet

Most Read Stories