Diarmuid Connolly produced a 'man-of-the-match' display as St Vincent's inflicted further Leinster SFC final misery on Rhode at Portlaoise today.

Rhode travelled to O'Moore Park hoping to break their final duck at the fifth attempt but it was the famed Dublin outfit who collected their seventh provincial crown when prevailing on a scoreline of 1-16 to 0-12.

And the supremely gifted Connolly's first-half contribution of 1-2 sowed the seeds for their victory.

The team in white and blue took a 1-8 to 0-6 advantage into the break after the captain's expertly taken seventh minute goal knocked the wind out of Rhode's sails.

A Niall McNamee free attempt dropped short of the Vins goalposts and Connolly got on the end of a swift counter attack to punish the Offaly champions' profligacy.

Paschal Kellaghan's Rhode team will also rue a missed penalty on the stroke of half-time.

St Vincent's captain Diarmuid Connolly lifts the silverware.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Centre-back Ger Brennan was shown a black card after fouling their talisman Niall McNamee inside the large rectangle but Ruairi McNamee failed to capitalise on the former Dublin star's indiscretion as Michael Savage proved equal to the task.

To rub salt into Rhode's wounds, Gavin Burke pointed at the opposite end of the field shortly after to push his side into a five point lead at the change of ends.

Niall McNamee finished with seven points to his name but Rhode went 15 minutes without scoring during the second-half and a 58th minute missed goal chance by Darren Garry summed up their day.

Tomas Quinn (0-4, 2fs), Gavin Burke (0-3) and Enda Varley (0-2) also caught the eye for the winners up front but it was fitting that Connolly should have the honour of lifting the silverware after the final whistle.

Slaughtneil now await them in the last four of the All-Ireland series in the new year.

St Vincent's - M Savage; M Concarr, J Curley, C Wilson; Cameron Diamond, G Brennan, N Mullins; D Murphy, S Carthy (0-2); G Burke (0-3), D Connolly (1-2), Cormac Diamond (0-1); R Trainor (0-1), E Varley (0-2), T Quinn (0-4, 2f). Subs: F Breathnach for G Brennan (BC), A Martin for D Murphy, J Feeney (0-1) for A Martin, J McCusker for Cormac Diamond, K Bonnie for E Varley.

Rhode - K Garry; E Rigney, C Heavey (0-1), J McPadden; B Darby, E Rigney, N Darby (0-1); A McNamee, D Garry (0-2); P Sullivan, N McNamee (0-6, 5f), C McNamee (0-1); S Hannon, R McNamee, P McPadden (0-1). Subs: G O'Connell for P Sullivan, D Kavanagh for C Heavey, G McNamee for S Sullivan, S Lowry for J McPadden, E Byrne for C McNamee (BC).

Referee - B Cawley.

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