Offaly MFC Final: Rhode 1-8 Clara 1-5

[The Magpie]

This match was to be a high-scoring affair, if the entire Minor Championship was anything to go by. But it wasn't.

Overall, this was a poor, low-scoring Minor Football Final. Rhode emerged as much deserved winners, but never quite put Clara to the sword, despite having numerous scoring chances in the second half.

Anton Sullivan was the stand-out player on the pitch. He:

- made the Rhode goal in the first half, blocking down an attempted clearance by Ledwith and then feeding one of his colleagues
- won many frees, which resulted in scores
- came short for free's, easing the problems associated with tricky frees
- moved out the field and caught ball
- and then finally, after a Clara sending-off, played the spare-man role around the Rhode 40, mopping-up ball

Is that it? Yes, I don't think he played in goal at any stage.

He has buckets of football, but he does tend to get involved in things. Maybe it's not so easy when everyone wants to hop off you.

In terms of action, Rhode led quite comfortable by 1-5 0-3 in the first-half and were well in control up to about the 20 minute mark. Then Clara exploded into the game, scoring a goal and a point and (for a short spell) laying siege to the Rhode goal. The half-time whistle was welcomed by the Rhode side. The second half was to bring only a point for Clara and, in honesty, not a huge number of chances. In contrast, Rhode added two points to their tally, before almost kicking the game away, as they squandered chance after chance. The decision to move Sullivan out the field certainly removed any real threat Rhode had in the inside line.

Still, despite Rhode's dominance, right up to the end of this game, Clara were only a kick of a ball away from taking the lead - after the Senior Final the week before, this must have played on the minds of the Rhode players. To their credit, they tagged on a late insurance point and closed it up.

[bazza]

Perfect summary of the match Magpie. Anton's display was superb. His ability to read and judge a game is remarkable for a lad of his age. Well done Rhode. Deserving winners of the Minor Football Championship 2009.