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Rhode turn on the power after the break

Rhode 0-15 Clara 1-6: RHODE TURNED in a power-packed second-half display to leave Clara reeling in the Offaly SFC final in Tullamore…

Mon Oct 15 2012 - 01:00

Rhode 0-15 Clara 1-6:RHODE TURNED in a power-packed second-half display to leave Clara reeling in the Offaly SFC final in Tullamore yesterday.

Behind by 1-5 to 0-6 after a ferociously contested first half, Rhode turned on the style in the second half to pull away for an easier than expected win.

Rhode’s second half dominance was quite extraordinary. They restricted Clara to a solitary point and with the losers also having no wides, it was one-way traffic.

Rhode defended superbly with man-of-the-match Shane Sullivan shining at full back. Cousins Alan and Conor McNamee won a midfield battle they were expected to lose and up front Niall McNamee was also very influential.

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With the wind on their backs, Clara were the better team in the first half and a goal from Thomas Deehan gave them a 1-2 to 0-3 lead after 12 minutes.

Clara were good value for their two-point interval lead but it proved completely insufficient as Rhode took over in the second half, kicking the opening seven points without reply to transform the game.

RHODE: K Garry; E Rigney, S Sullivan, J McPadden; B Darby, E Byrne (0-1), C Heavey (0-1); A McNamee, C McNamee; P Sullivan, P Kellaghan, M Dunne (0-1); P McPadden (0-2), A Sullivan (0-2), N McNamee (0-8, five free, one 45). Sub: S Hannon for P McPadden (58m).

CLARA: K Meehan; J Quinn, G Collins, P. Mitchell; D Baggott, J Ledwith, L Hiney; S Brady (0-1), R Brady; A Cronin, M Mitchell, J O’Hara (0-1); J Reynolds, S Deehan, T Deehan (1-4 (four frees). Subs: G Guilfoyle for Cronin (35m), D Kelly for Ledwith (38m), B Cushen for Reynolds (40m), L Kelly for S Deehan (45m), J Flattery for Collins (56m).