RHODE WRAPPED UP their 26th title with a relatively comfortable win over neighbours Edenderry in the Offaly senior football final.
Rhode, who are still one behind Tullamore in the SFC roll of honour, were deserved winners thanks to fine performances from Niall McNamee and Anton Sullivan.
The Village led by 0-6 to 0-4 at half-time despite kicking eight wides but Edenderry never looked capable of capitalising on Rhode’s missed chances.
Things went from bad to worse for Edenderry when, after falling 0-11 to 0-5 behind early on in the second half, their captain Richie Dalton was black carded for hauling Conor McNamee to the ground.
It looked as though Pat “Dingle” Daly’s charges would cruise to victory but substitute Mark Young fisted a timely goal for the Reds and, coupled with Derek Kelly’s point moments later, they trailed by just three.
It was about all the 2011 champions could muster as Rhode sealed the victory.
Mullingar Shamrock’s have defeated last year’s champions in the Westmeath SFC semi final today, in a battle between the champions of 2012 and 2013.
Loman’s surged into a 0-3 to 0-2 lead thanks to three points from Westmeath county star John Heslin who famously scored 2-16 at this stage of last year’s championship.
Despite trailing at he interval by 1-3 to 0-5 a Kelvin Reilly goal put Loman’s back in the game only for Shamrock’s to score five unanswered points before holding on for a one point victory.
Meanwhile over in Ulster, Cavan Gaels wrapped up the Cavan SFC title with a narrow one point win over Kingscourt Stars. Both teams were neck and neck throughout but Gaels, with Seanie Johnston in fine form, sealed the win thanks to Micheál Lyng’s injury time winner.
Offaly SFC final
Rhode 0-13 Edenderry 1-7Cavan SFC final
Cavan Gaels 0-16 Kingscourt 0-15Westmeath SFC semi-final
Mullingar Shamrocks 1-10 St Lomans 1-9
