Niall McNamee was the Rhode hero as his last-gasp goal forced a replay against Tullamore in the Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly Senior Football Championship final at Bord na Mona O’Connor Park.
Tullamore led by five points approaching the final quarter, with the wind at their backs and an extra man on the pitch. Aaron Leavy had fired home a cracking goal for ‘The Blues’ early on and they looked to be on course to win their first title since 2013.
But McNamee came to Rhode’s rescue with a superb strike in the dying moments to leave the scoreboard reading 1-08 apiece. So the sides must meet again on Sunday, 14th November at 2pm.
Earlier on Sunday, Clara returned to the top flight of club football with a 1-13 to 0-9 victory over Tubber, with the goal scored in the second half by Offaly Under 20 star Ed Cullen.
And on Saturday, another of Offaly’s Under 20 heroes Keith O’Neill was in top form as Clonbullogue won the Intermediate Football Championship title for the first time ever. O’Neill, Jamie Guing and Shane O’Brien scored a goal apiece as they beat Raheen by 3-15 to 2-8.
Elsewhere, Tullamore defeated Edenderry by 1-13 to 1-4 in the Junior A final, while Daingean captured the Junior C title with a 0-6 to 0-3 victory over Ballycommon.
By kenny Sun 31st Oct
