Ferbane do just enough to win as Rhode finally run out of legs

FERBANE did just enough to win and nothing more as they got a very sweet win over Rhode in a very tight Senior Football Championship quarter-final in Tullamore on Sunday afternoon.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Ferbane 0-12

Rhode 0-10

Despite the close scoreline and the issue being in doubt right to the end, it lacked the drama and some of the intensity of the first match where Shamrocks beat Ballycommon in a penalty shootout – Ferbane's reward is a semi-final against Shamrocks who surprised them in the first round in Mucklagh a few weeks ago.

Ferbane just about deserved to win on a day when Rhode finally ran out of steam and legs. With the injured Niall McNamee a devastating loss, Rhode competed very well but tipped over into empty in the final ten minutes and they can have no complaints at their loss.

Once again, Rhode gave it absolutely everything they had and they go out with their heads held high but throughout the last quarter, the game was there for Ferbane to win. They fell rather than stormed across the finish line but they were clearly the better side when the game had to be won. Level at 0-10 each with eleven minutes left, Ferbane were the most more dangerous side from then on.

They grabbed the lead with a Cian Johnson point in the 57th minute after Joe Maher played on with a tap over mark and briefly they left the door open for Rhode. Cian Johnson had a wide and Joe Maher miss-hit a free he would expect to score but Darragh Flynn's fisted point two minutes into injury time gave Ferbane the two point cushion they needed.

The game had a very messy end from here. Dylan Kilmurray got a black card for Rhode in the 61st minute and Cian Johnson and Ronan McGuire picked up two for Ferbane for cynical fouls. The scenes after the game did not look good as some people wearing Rhode colours approached the referee, Joey Deehan at the stand tunnel and then there was a gathering of clearly furious Rhode people having a prolonged discussion with stewards – there was a lot of loud words, finger pointing and tempers were clearly frayed among those Rhode people. There was also finger pointing and raised voices at the referee and officials, including some from the first game who just stayed on to watch the second match, as they made their way across the pitch and it was a shame that all this happened.

We don't know what their complaints were, what happened to inflame passions to such an extent and it is best to concentrate on the football. Joey Deehan was not the reason Rhode lost or Ferbane won. Ferbane won simply because they were a small bit better on the day and they finished much stronger. Rhode lost because they hadn't enough energy late on and didn't play quite well enough on the day.

The first half was a pedestrian enough fare, albeit it with some very nice football played. Rhode started okay and led by 0-3 to 0-1 after nine minutes but two Kevin Nugent points got Ferbane back on terms by the 20th minute – Nugent had a great first half, scoring t]hree points.

Anton Sullivan and Ruari McNamee got Rhode back two clear and they led by 0-6 to 0-4 after 24 minutes. A Darragh Flynn free and Nugent point levelled it up before an injury time Ruari McNamee point gave Rhode a 0-7 to 0-6 half time lead.

The second half continued to be very tight with both sides trying to avoid mistakes. A Cian Johnson mark and Joe Maher free got Ferbane ahead after 34 minutes before Darren Garry levelled in the 34th minute, 0-8 each. The sides were level twice more but significantly, it was Ferbane who took the lead both times and as it went into the last ten minutes, it was clear that it was the winners who were moving that bit smoother and running that bit stronger.

Ferbane had one last attack in a bid to salvage a winning goal but Niall Darby lofted it wide when it needed to be dropped into the square as the three minutes of injury time was up and they were never going to get another chance.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Kevin Nugent (Ferbane): Kevin Nugent had a great game for Ferbane. On a day when every score was hard earned, his three first half points from wing back was a huge contribution. He defended well, used the ball efficiently and played a real captains' role in Ferbane's win.

THE SCORERS

Ferbane: Kevin Nugent and Cian Johnson (1 mark) 0-3 each, Joe Maher (1f) and Darragh Flynn (1f) 0-2 each, Kyle Higgins and Oisin Kelly 0-1 each.

Rhode: Niall Darby (1f) and Ruari McNamee (1f) 0-3 each, Darren Garry and Anton Sullivan 0-2 each.

THE TEAMS

RHODE: Jack Kilmurray; Keith Murphy, Jake Kavanagh, Dylan Kilmurray; James McPadden, Conor McNamee, Niall Darby; Alan McNamee, Ciaran Heavey; Gareth McNamee, Brian Darby, Ross Kellaghan; Darren Garry, Anton Sullivan, Ruari McNamee. Subs – Shane Lowry for Alan McNamee (41m), Eoin Rigney for Brian Darby (45m), Mark Rigney for Kellaghan (45m), Ryan Kellaghan for Heavey (56m),

Ferbane: David Dunican; Ciaran Cahill, Jack Egan, Patrick Taaffe; Kevin Nugent, Leon Fox, Stephen Wren; Kyle Higgins, Oisin Kelly; Brian Carroll, Cathal Flynn, Jack Clancy; Darragh Flynn, Joe Maher, Cian Johnson. Subs – Shane Nally for Clancy, inj. (6m), Ronan McGuire for Nally (44m), David Kelly for Higgins (44m), David Nally for Carroll (53m),

Referee – Joey Deehan (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Joey Deehan may referee more hurling than football games but he is also very adept at the big ball code. He ended up the centre of attention with some people wearing Rhode colours confronting officials and then a long stand off between Rhode supporters and stewards. There was obviously accusations of some kind being made and it was well after the final whistle before they departed the scene.

Deehan refereed it well. Rhode complained that a Shane Lowry second half shot that was waved wide was a point. It was certainly close but the umpire insisted it was wide, linesmen didn't interfere and an even bigger question was the decision to disallow a Cian Johnson goal early in the second half – Johnson won a great mark but played on and buried it. The ball was called back for the mark and then thrown in, possibly for Ferbane protests.

Deehan showed three black cards late on but each of them were justified and he was not a big factor in the result – in fact, he got an overwhelming majority of decisions right.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Darragh Flynn's 62nd minute point was crucial as it left Rhode needing a goal and that was always a long shot against a packed Ferbane defence.

VENUE WATCH

This was the fourth big game in O'Connor Park this weekend and while you would know it had seen traffic, the pitch was still excellent. There was a nice crowd and good atmosphere here – until after the final whistle when it turned ugly.

WHAT'S NEXT

Ferbane play Shamrocks in the semi-final while Rhode meet Ballycommon in the relegation play off semi-final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Rhode – 8 (3 in first half); Ferbane – 9 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Rhode – 3 (James McPadden, Ciaran Heavey and Brian Darby); Ferbane – 1 (Brian Carroll).

Black cards: Rhode – 1 (Dylan Kilmurray); Ferbane – 2 (Cian Johnson and Ronan McGuire).

Red cards: 0.