Ballyfore was the venue for the Div 1 League Final on Sunday, where Rhode and Naomh Molaoise battled it out for the Title.
This was an excellent game with the newly formed club of Naomh Molaoise, formally St, Vincent’s and Killeigh played in their first Senior Final after winning promotion from Junior level to Senior level in 2012 where they won both the Junior League and Championship. Rhode have had the privilege of playing Senior level for many years and along the way have notched up a number of Titles.
Naomh Molaoise started the scoring with a fantastic run from their young midfielder Aoife Norris who rattled the Rhode net. Three unanswered points from Rhode’s Niamh Mooney left the sides level after ten minutes. Rhode’s Captain Niamh Malone put three points between the sides again with a well taken goal after a fine passage of play from the Rhode girls. Naomh Molaoise got a point from a free which was scored by Emma Cuddy but scores from Rhode’s Orlaigh Heavey and Therese Hickey left Rhode winning on a 1-06 to 1-01 scoreline at half time.
It was hell for leather in the second half with all thirty girls on the pitch playing some exceptional football, it was score for score as Naomh Molaoise reeled Rhode in. A goal from Tara Roe in the Naomh Molaoise forward line lit a spark that went through their whole team, Scores from Brenda Betson, Laureen Keenan, Aoife Norris and Sarah O’ Rourke gave the Naomh Molaoise girls a two point led with only minutes remaining on the clock. Naomh Molaoise defended with all of their might but in doing so gave away two soft frees within kicking range for Rhode’s Therese Hickey, all level again as referee Chris Dwyer blew the final whistle score at the end of ordinary time Rhode 1-13 Naomh Molaoise 2-10. Naomh Molaoise finishing the sixty minutes with fourteen players after full back Catherine Bennett was sin binned for an alleged foul on Orlaigh Heavey.
Thirty minutes of extra time to be played, and Naomh Molaoise started the scoring with Emma Cuddy rattling the Rhode net from a free, a point from Tara Roe was Naomh Molaoise’s last score of the game, it was not to be Naomh Molaoise’s day as their Corner back Chrisse Cocoman came sweeping in to clear the ball off her goal mouth was grounded by Rhode and a penalty was given Rhodes way as Chrissie was deemed to handle the ball on the ground in the square. Rhode upped their game at this point and let it be down to experience or strength came away with a win on a 2-20 to 3-11 scoreline.
Rhode Team and Panel.
Leanne Galvin
Emma Scally, Hannah McMahon, Esther Harney,
Aoife Byrne, Emma Dalton, Katie Killeen,
Orlaigh Heavey (0-2), Amy Kerrigan,
Niamh Malone (1-1) (cap), Oonagh Mulligan, Naonh Mooney (0-4),
Aishling Byrne (0-1), Therese Hickey (1-10), Cliodha Molloy (0-1),
SUBS
Laureen Dunne
Emma Kerrigan.
Rhode Division 3 footballers were well beaten by old rivals Edenderry in the Division 3 League on Tuesday evening in Edenderry on a score line of 3-11 to 1-5. The is Rhode’s first defeat in the league.
Division 1 League Rhode v Ferbane in Ferbane on Sunday at 12noon
Under 12 League Rhode v Shannonbridge in Shannonbridge on Wednesday at 7.30pm
Under 14 Championship Rhode v St. Broughan’s in Rhode on Friday at 7pm
Offaly Minor footballers were well beaten by Kildare in the quarter final of the Leinster Minor Championship on Saturday in Newbridge on a score line of 3-11 to 1-5. Kildare led by 2-7 to 0-3 at the interval. On the team from the Rhode Og Minor Club was Ruairi McNamee.
