LEINSTER SFC SEMI-FINAL Rhode 2-11 Skryne 1-10:IT'S HARD to assess Niall McNamee's contribution to Rhodes' progress through this Leinster championship without resorting to cliche.
Rhode: The Iron man of.
Rhode: The colossus of.
And so on.
The Offaly champions got back to the Leinster final and triggered a repeat of their 2009 final clash with Kilmacud Crokes yesterday when putting way Skryne with slightly more comfort than the final scoreline suggests.
Chief tormentor for the afternoon was McNamee who led an exciting young forward line with a confidence which belied his 24 years.
It is impossible to imagine them in the final without him. He catches like a dedicated target man, but when he comes down with the ball he has the pace and guile to take players on. He can shoot, sell dummies and make runs.
Yesterday, he was sublime until a heavy knock midway through the second half hobbled him for a while, yet, when Rhode needed him at the death, there he was. He opened the scoring with a free in the second minute and was the game’s dominant figure.
On 13 minutes he scored his side’s first goal when a long ball bounced over the outstretched fingertips of his marker and he coolly brought the ball around Skryne goalkeeper Felim O’Rourke before slotting it home.
That score put Rhode four points ahead and the manner in which they were cutting through the Skryne defence suggested a deluge was on the way.
Breaking out of defence, which they did with patience and excellent hand-passing, Rhode basically took one of two options, A ball wide to the opposition’s 45, where the pace of Niall Darby or Anton Sullivan would ensure continued danger, or they hit a long ball towards McNamee.
Skryne were never too sure what was coming next.
Rhode were five points ahead at half-time, an inadequate reward for their clever play, and early in the second half when Niall Darby punished indecision in the Skryne defence to push them six ahead there seemed little doubt about the outcome.
And yet, Skryne contrived to score the next four points without reply. Three frees from the calm boot of Ian Davis and a fine point from Ian Tuite suddenly brought the Meath champions back into touch.
The looming figure of Patrick O’Rourke was winning a good deal more ball now and Rhode found themselves being outmuscled and outchased.
It took a free from Niall McNamee to stop the rot. His brother Alan added a superb point from midfield and, with 10 minutes left, Niall hit a wondrous point from the left wing to put Rhode five points clear again.
All over, we assumed.
But Paddy O’Rourke hit a fine 45 and then a high spiralling ball dropped in on top of the Rhode defence and Kevin Mulvaney lashed it home before anybody could react. Somehow Skryne were just a point behind.
Rhodes’ response was textbook and speaks well of their intent.
From the right, Anton Sullivan placed the ball across the middle where McNamee – who else? – moved it on sweetly to Roy Malone, whose experience had permitted him to drift off the action. He palmed it to the net. All over.
Rhode, with five county titles in Offaly, have been circling the Leinster club championship for some time now.
What they bring to the final should ensure a winter classic.
RHODE: E McDonald; D Murphy, B Darby, D Hope (0-1); C Heavey, S Sullivan, E Byrne; A McNamee (0-1), M Dunne; N Darby (0-2), P Sullivan, A Sullivan (0-1); G O'Connell, P Kellaghan (0-1), N McNamee (1-5, two frees). Subs: R Malone (1-0)for P Sullivan (52 mins).
SKRYNE: F O'Rourke; A Curry, D Beaton, M Jordan; J Looby, C Lenehan, J Hegarty; A Tuite (0-1), D McGoldrick; P O'Rourke (0-1), T Giles, I Davis (0-6, frees); K Mulvaney (1-1), B Byrne, M Battersby (0-1). Subs: B Davis for B Byrne (44 mins); P Fox for D McGoldrick (52 mins); V O'Reilly for J Hegarty (55 mins).
Referee: M Deegan(Laois).
Next Up . . .Kilmacud Crokes and Rhode will meet in the provincial final on December 5th in Portlaoise (2pm).
