Superior Rhode make hard work of seeing off stubborn Erin Rovers

RHODE made very hard work of winning a game that they were definitely the better team in as they saw eventually got over a very stubborn Erin Rovers in a decent Junior Football Championship semi-final in Tullamore on Sunday.

Tullamore Court Hotel Junior Football Championship semi-final

Rhode 2-10

Erin Rovers 0-14

Rhode should have won with a greater degree of comfort and were not far away from suffering a loss as a brave Erin Rovers kept going and could have rescued it. Having said that, Rhode had ample chances not to have been worried inside the last few minutes and they deserved to advance to the final against Clodiagh Gaels.

It was an enjoyable, keenly fought game of football. Rhode had plenty of senior experience on their team in Gareth McNamee, Darren Garry and Ciaran Heavy and while all three made their mistakes, they were pivotal to the win – and their composure and leadership was particularly influential in the closing quarter.

Erin Rovers are very much in a transitional period, having come down from intermediate football last year. They don't have huge numbers at the moment and their team was led by forty something, Richard Fox and included a plethora of familiar Pullough names: Lynam, Buckley, Delaney and Poland.

Erin Rovers could have won this but would have done so against the head. In a fairly tame first half, Rhode led by 0-4 to 0-3 after fifteen minutes and should have been further ahead. It was 0-4 each after 22 minutes with all four Erin Rovers points coming from Jack Buckley, three of them frees. In contrast all four Rhode points came from play and different players and this was important.

Erin Rovers did very well to turn things around before the interval to lead by 0-8 to 0-5 at the break with Andrew Buckley getting a great two point free in injury time.

Erin Rovers led by 0-9 to 0-5 five minutes into the second half but a great Ryan Murphy goal in the 37^th minute turned the tide for Rhode.

They grabbed the lead in the 41^st minute with a crazy, fortunate goal. Ryan Murphy turned down a tap over equaliser from a free, instead passing to full back Jack Kilmurray, who looked to be bottled up. He was lucky that the ball came back to him and he was able to slot home a goal for a 2-5 to 0-9 lead.

Former Offaly senior footballer Nathan Poland made it 0-10 to 2-6 in the 47^th minute and his presence around the edge of the square ensured that Rhode could never relax. Darren Garry got a great two pointer to make it 2-8 to 0-10 after 48 minutes and Erin Rovers showed great character to get back into it.

Rhode helped them on their way with Darren Garry kicking a sideline straight to Jack Buckley who booted over an audacious two pointer from fifty metres, possibly trying for the goal as Philip O'Connell was out off his line. Jack Buckley added a free to bring it back to a one point came but Erin Rovers visibly went into the red from here on with Rhode becoming increasingly dominant.

Jack Murphy gave them a two point cushion and a 55^th minute black card for Steven Buckley loaded the odds against Erin Rovers. Ryan Murphy's free gave them a three point lead, Nathan Poland brought it back to a two point game as it went into injury time. Five minutes of injury time was played but Rhode had most of the play and Erin Rovers never threatened the goal or two pointer they needed to salvage the game.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Jack Murphy (Rhode): You could make a case for Gareth McNamee who was a dominant influence at centre back for Rhode while Ciaran Heavey moved a lot of ball through his hands. The choice is Rhode forward Jack Murphy who got three fine points and used his physique well. He also won some good ball when moved out around midfield and was taken off near the end as he got tired.

Richard Fox showed great leadership for Erin Rovers in defence while Jack Buckley and Nathan Poland also did very well for them.

THE SCORERS

Rhode: Ryan Murphy 1-1 (1f), Jack Kilmurray 1-0, Jack Murphy and Darren Garry (1 x 2p) 0-3 each, Gareth McNamee, Barry Coffey and Ciaran Heavey 0-1 each.

Erin Rovers: Jack Buckley 0-8 (1 x 2p, 5f), Andrew Buckley (2pf) and Nathan Poland 0-2 each, Barry Buckley and Declan Buckley 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

RHODE: Philip O'Connell; Harry Jones, Jack Kilmurray, Paul Stynes; Dylan Kilmurray, Gareth McNamee, Jordan Kilmurray; Noah Swaine, Shane Murphy; Barry Coffey, Darren Garry, Johnny Moore; Jack Murphy, Ciaran Heavey, Ryan Murphy. Subs – Jake Molloy for Shane Murphy (52m), Gary Kiernan for Moore (55m), James Murphy for Jack Murphy (60m).

ERIN ROVERS: Kevin Lynam; Sean Buckley, Brandon Delaney, Ultan Carroll; Davyn Fox, Richard Fox, Dean Buckley; Calvin Fox-Kenna, Stephen Buckley; Steven Buckley, Andrew Buckley, Jack Poland-Dooner; Barry Buckley, Declan Buckley, Jack Buckley. Subs – Nathan Poland for Delaneyc(HT), Ger Buckley for Dean Buckley (44m).

Referee – Ger Keyes, Shamrocks.

REFEREE WATCH

Ger Keyes was tuned in and refereed it efficiently. Rhode wing back Dylan Kilmurray was fortunate to get a yellow card and not a black inside the last ten minutes for what looked a deliberate foul on a raiding Nathan Poland. Steven Buckley then got a black for a blatant foul on Ryan Murphy – it was a black card offence.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Rhode's second goal from Jack Kilmurray was a huge moment and lady luck smiled on Rhode with it. Ryan Murphy took the wrong option with a short free, trying to manufacture a goal that wasn't really on but it worked out as Kilmurray ended up with the three pointer.

VENUE WATCH

Full marks to the O'Connor Park staff who worked long after a double bill on Saturday to get the venue right for Sunday's games. The grass was cut and everything was in tip top shape.

WHAT'S NEXT

Rhode go to play Clodiagh Gaels in the final.

STATISTICS

Wides: Erin Rovers - 5 (2 in first half); Rhode – 8 (5 in first half).

Yellow cards: Rhode - (Dylan Kilmurray); Erin Rovers – 2 (Richard Fox and Calvin Fox-Kenna).

Black cards: Rhode – 0; Erin Rovers – 1 (Steven Buckley).

Red cards: 0