Clodiagh Gaels hold off second half Rhode rally to claim Division 5 football league title

Brosna Press Division 5 Football League Final

CLODIAGH GAELS 3-9

RHODE 1-12

CLODIAGH Gaels held off a determined second half fightback from Rhode to claim the Brosna Press Division 5 Football League title after a very entertaining game played at Ballycommon on Thursday evening.

Eleven points up at one stage in the first half, Clodiagh Gaels were pushed to the pin of their collar in the second half and had to pull out all the stops in the closing stages to prevent Rhode from snatching a goal that could have turned the contest on its head.

In the end Clodiagh Gaels did just about enough to hang on for victory in a game where both sides went for it and played some good football. Both made good use of the wind when they had it at their backs and the outcome was in doubt until the final kick of the ball.

Rhode made the better start with the opening two points of the game but then in a 21 minute spell, Clodiagh Gael outscored them by 3-5 to 0-1 to give them that 11 point lead five minutes before the break. A goal just before half time was the boost Rhode needed and they went in at the break trailing by seven points, 3-5 to 1-4.

With the wind behind them in the second half Rhode began to chip away at the lead and had the gap down to just two points with 13 minutes to go. Two points in quick succession gave Clodiagh Gaels some breathing space but Rhode cut it to two again with four minutes left. They had a couple of goal chances but good goalkeeping and some strong defending kept them out and Clodiagh Gaels sealed the win with a further point in injury time.

Considering this was Division 5 level, there was some good quality play on offer from both teams that will give them strong encouragement heading into the championships in a couple of weeks. Clodiagh Gaels looked very good in that first half when they took a real strangehold on the game. Their defence gave very little away while Eoin Dunne won some excellent high ball in the middle of the field. They were lively in attack where Sean Rattigan, Cathal Brady, Joel Troy and Aaron Rattigan troubled the Rhode defence.

They weren't as dominant after that break as Rhode became more influential. Jack Murphy was at the centre of much of their attacking threat but they worked the ball well from the back with Lorcan Reilly, Harry Jones and Gavin Young winning a lot of ball, while Ryan McCormack and Jack Kilmurray also put in a good stint in attack. They found Gavin Sheil in good form in the Clodiagh Gaels goals, with some excellent stops, while Ronan Daly, Sean Brady and Eddie Kinahan also did a lot of good work in defence.

Rhode made a bright start playing against the wind and Jake Molloy and James Murphy both hit points inside the first three minutes. Clodiagh Gaels settled and Sean Rattigan kicked an excellent point from a free on the right sideline and Aaron Rattigan levelled matters in the sixth minute. Cathal Brady then kicked Clodiagh Gaels in front but Jack Kilmurray pointed a free after nine minutes to level things up again.

Clodiagh Gaels struck for their first goal after 13 minutes. Aaron Rattigan's effort from about 45m dropped at the edge of the square and Enda Gorman seemed to get the last touch to deflect it to the net. Sean Rattigan pointed a free and Aaron Rattigan added another good point from play to stretch the lead to five points entering the second quarter.

Two minutes later Clodiagh Gaels raised a second green flag. Eoin Dunne made a good catch in the middle of the field, transferred to Sean Rattigan who made good ground. His shot was half blocked and spun high in the air and Joel Troy met it with his fist at the edge of the square to send it into the net.

More was to follow after eight scoreless minutes and once again it began with a good catch by Eoin Dunne. Jack Kelly and Joel Troy were involved in the move to set up Sean Rattigan and he crashed his shot into the roof of the net to put Clodiagh Gaels into an 11 point lead.

Rhode had gone 17 minutes without a score before Jack Murphy kicked a free but two minutes before the break they got a lifeline when Jack Murphy's effort was saved by Gavin Sheil, the ball ran loose and a Clodiagh Gaels clearance off the line rebounded off Lorcan Reilly and back into the net for a Rhode goal which left them trailing by 3-5 to 1-4 at half time.

Jack Murphy kicked a free a minute after the restart and then they had a goal chance but Harry Jones' effort was saved by Gavin Sheil and Ryan McCormack's follow up effort was also blocked before sub Donal Hickey popped the ball over the bar.

Jack Kelly kicked a sixth minute point for Clodiagh Gaels but Jack Murphy replied with two frees and then Cian Conroy saw his effort blocked out for a '45' by Ronan Daly. Jack Murphy added two more points, one from play and the gap was suddenly down to two points.

Clodiagh Gaels were under pressure but Ryan Kinahan and Sean Rattigan (free) kicked points a minute apart to stretch the gap to four again. Rhode kept pressing and Harry Jones finished a good move with a point and Jack Murphy kicked another free to leave two in it again with four minutes left. Rhode kept pushing but the goal they wanted wouldn't come as Gavin Sheil made another save and dealt very well with a couple of high balls. With the game in injury time Sean Rattigan kicked an excellent point from a free and that sealed the win for Clodiagh Gaels.

MATCH ANALYSIS

THE TEAMS

CLODIAGH GAELS: Gavin Sheil; Colin McEvoy, Ben O'Brien, Ronan Daly; Eddie Kinahan, Sean Brady, Fergal Dolan; Eoin Dunne, Jack Kelly; Cathal Brady, Sean Rattigan, Niall McCabe; Enda Gorman, Joel Troy, Aaron Rattigan. Subs. Nigel Cunningham (for Colin McEvoy, 7 mins), Ryan Kinahan (for Enda Gorman, half time).

RHODE: Phil O'Connell; Joe Spollen, Mossy Muldoon, Paul Stynes; Harry Jones, Lorcan Reilly, Evan Farrelly; Gavin Young, Will Conlon; Jack Kilmurray, Jake Molloy, Luke Spollen; Jack Murphy, Ryan McCormack, James Murphy. Subs. Cian Conroy (for James Murphy, 30 mins), Donal Hickey (for Jake Molloy, half time), (for Luke Spollen, 44 mins) Ger McNamee (for Paul Stynes, 59 mins).

REFEREE: Paurig Gallagher

MAN OF THE MATCH

There were contenders on both sides. Jack Murphy almost singlehandedly dragged Rhode back into the game with seven points, while goalkeeper Gavin Sheil made some vital stops for Clodiagh Gaels and Eoin Dunne won a lot of ball in the air at midfield, particularly in the first half. But I've gone for Sean Rattigan. He scored 1-4 and was involved in another goal, but he was also central to a lot of their best attacking moves in the first half. He then kicked the clinching score with a great free late on.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

When Rhode cut the lead to two points with 13 minutes left the momentum seemed to be with them but Clodiagh Gaels then struck for two points in a minute from Ryan Kinahan and Sean Rattigan and that gave them a bit of breathing space which ultimately helped them hold off Rhode.

REFEREE WATCH

Paurig Gallagher kept control of proceedings well throughout. He was consistent in his decision making and firm in his actions and his officiating wasn't a factor in the outcome.

WHAT’S NEXT

The league concludes for both sides with Clodiagh Gaels taking home the silverware and both sides will now look ahead to the championships which start in a couple of weeks.

VENUE WATCH

The Ballycommon club hosted the game very well. There was plenty of parking space in the grounds to cater for everyone and they had stewards to control the traffic. The pitch was in very good order and they looked after everything very well.

STATISTICS

Wides; Clodiagh Gaels 9 (5 in first half) Rhode 11 (7 in first half)

Yellow Cards: Clodiagh Gaels 3 (Ronan Daly, Fergal Dolan, Ryan Kinahan) Rhode 0

Black Cards: Clodiagh Gaels 1 (Aaron Rattigan) Rhode 0

Red Cards: None

THE SCORERS

Clodiagh Gaels; Sean Rattigan (1-4, 0-4 frees), Enda Gorman and Joel Troy (1-0 each), Aaron Rattigan (0-2), Cathal Brady, Jack Kelly, Ryan Kinahan (0-1 each).

Rhode; Jack Murphy (0-7, 0-6 frees), Lorcan Reilly (1-0), Jake Molloy, James Murphy, Jack Kilmurray (free), Donal Hickey, Harry Jones (0-1 each).