Following a year Rhode Senior Footballers captured The Offaly Senior Championship for the 27th time we cannot forget the triumphant 1966/1967 Senior and 1967 U21 Rhode Championship winning Teams of the Past as 2016/2017 Marks the 50th Anniversary of their Glorious achievements as they went on to nail their mark as Legends in the Rhode and Offaly History books.

Celebrations will commence on Sunday the 27th of August with mass for the deceased members of Rhode GAA club at 11:30 am in St. Peters Church Rhode. 

That evening members and representatives of the 1966/67 Senior & 1967 U,21 Championship winning teams will sit down to a meal in Killeen's. 

Following this there will be a presentation made to them at 7:30 pm in Killeen's Croghan lounge which is open to all family, friends and anyone wishing to attend to celebrate the wonderful achievements of these men.

The Following Men will be honoured on the night as to mark the 5oth anniversary of Championship winning Senior 1966-67 and 1967 U,21 Teams

1. Joe Hannon
2. Liam Swaine
3. Pat Kilmurray
4. Jimmy Byrne
5. Eugene Mulligan
6. Paddy McCormack (Senior Team Captain both years)
7. Bill Heavey R.I.P.
8. Brendan O'Toole R.I.P.
9. Patsy Murphy
10. Jody Gunning (U,21 Team Captain)
11. Sean Malone 
12. Martin Heavey 
13. Pat Swaine
14. Mick Casey R.I.P.
15. Sean Murphy R.I.P.
16. Frank Glennon
17. Mickey Gunning R.I.P.
18. Benny Kerrigan
19. Barney Scally 
20. Joe Malone
21. Frank McGlynn
22. Danny Walsh
23. Christy Dunne 
24.  Frank Higgins
25. J.J. Grehan 
26. John Kavanagh
27. Carthage Grennan
28. Seamus Darby
29. Kevin Malone
30. Larry Swaine 
31. Paddy Hope
32. Christy Kellaghan R.I.P.
33. Joe Ennis
34. Barney Kilmurray R.I.P.

66-67 Club Officials:

35. Tom Ward R.I.P.
36. Peter Leavy R.I.P.
37. Greg Ennis R.I.P. 
38. Seamus Murphy
39. Gerry Reidy

66-67 Senior & U,21 Team Management:

40. Dick Boiler Conroy (Coach) R.I.P.  
41. Paddy Kerrigan (Manager)  

 

1966 - First Title Of The Sixties

Special medal to commemorate 1916 5oth Anniversary

 1^st Round Rhode defeated North Offaly by 1-08 to 0-02.  In 2^nd round Rhode defeated a fancied Gracefield team.

Semi-final Rhode defeated Tullamore by 1-09 to 1-06.

Offaly Senior Football Championship Final Rhode 0-11 Clara 1-07:

The final against Clara gave Rhode their chance to avenge their 1964 defeat. This was a game that had everything, and the 3,073 fans who paid to see it were rewarded with an hour of first class football. First into the attack, Rhode had a great point on the board after thirty seconds when Sean Murphy sent over from Jody Gunning's pass. By the end of the fourth minute both sides were reduced to fourteen men for Clara's Jimmy Roche received marching orders for a foul on Sean Malone and Brendan OToole was side-lined for another infringement of the rules. Both men could consider themselves unlucky but the referee's action helped in no small way to produce one the best finals in years. Malone had his first point after six minutes but Rhode's lead was short-lived for Tuohy goaled for Clara in the ninth. Clara stole ahead but Martin Heavey balanced. Joe Hannon saved brilliantly from Scully and Jody Gunning, Pat Swaine and Malone swapped points with Clara before half-time. The score at the interval read 0-7 to 1-4. The greatest talking point at half-time was the speed and tenacious tackling of the first half and many wondered if the pace would last. The match resumed at fever pitch and the first eight minutes brought only one score - a Clara point. Rhode were attacking heavily and a series of great saves from Clara netminder Slammon denied them the goal they were looking for in fact Clara were next to score and a point was quickly followed by a goal. The whistle had gone however and the free Out brought a sigh of relief from the large Rhode gathering. Malone reduced the arrears to the minimum when he pointed an overhead kick after good approach work by Mick Casey and P. Swaine. Clara increased their lead again before Bill Heavey broke from defence to send Casey away. He in turn was fouled and Gunning made no mistake from the free. Entering the final ten minutes Rhode pressed forward and the half-back line of Eugene Mulligan, Paddy McCormack and Heavey moved up to aid the midfielders. McCormack began to dominate the play and he equalised with a thirty yards free just seven minutes from the end The Iron Man was everywhere now and moving upfield in a speedy solo run he sniped the lead on the 25th minute. Clara had shot their bolt and couldn't find the energy reserve to cut the deficit. Jimmy Martin's lone note saw the Dowling Cup return to the village for the first time in eight years. This was a supreme team effort and one is loath to single out individuals for special mention, however, the half-back line en-bloc and Sean Malone deserve Special credit for their performances. Scorers: Sean Malone 0-5, Paddy McCormack and Jody Gunning 0-2 each, Sean Murphy and Pat Swains 0-1 each.
Score: Rhode 0-11 Clara 1-07
Team: Joe Hannon; Liam Swaine, Pat Kilmurray, Jimmy Byrne; Eugene Mulligan, Paddy McCormack (Capt), Bill Heavey, Brendan O'Toole, Patsy Murphy; Judy Gunning, Sean Malone, Martin Heavey; Pat Swaine, Mick Casey, Sean Murphy. Sub., Frank Glennon for P. Swaine.

 

1967- Two In A Row
In first round Rhode defeated Walsh Island by 3-10 to 1-04.

Rhode faced Clara in the Semi Final where they won by 0-12 to 1-06

Following an objection from Clara the game went to a replay and Rhode won  4-6 to 1-3 .

Offaly Senior Football Championship Final Rhode 1-07 Daingean 0-07:

Due to Foot & Mouth disease This final was played on the 28th April 1968. Admission to. the grounds was 2/6)(12½p) and a further 2/6 secured a side-line seat. The showery conditions made the football poor and there was very little open play which meant that most of the scores came from frees. Daingean made poor use of the wind in the first half and only lead by a single point, 4 to 3 at half-time. However, Rhode fared even worse in the third quarter and could only manage one point to which Daingean responded in like manner. Frank Higgins levelled the scores on the 18th minute and Paddy McCormack put Rhode in front on the 21st when he converted a "50." The all-important goal came in the 25th minute when Frank McGlynn's cross was slapped to the net by J.J. Grehan and with Jody Gunning having pointed a minute before, Rhode led by 5 points with in as many minutes to play. Daingean played their best football in those final minutes but could only balance the points tally and at the end the score Stood Rod 1-7, An Daingean 0-7. On a day on which very few stars shone Paddy McCormack was Rhode's outstanding player. He received good assistance from Eugene Mulligan, Jody Gunning, Patsy Murphy, Sean Malone and sub J.J. Grehan. The Rhode mentors played their part by switching Grehan to the edge of the square when he was seen limping and from there he scored the vital goal.
Scorers: J. Gunning 0-4, J.J. Grehan 1-0, P. McCormack 0-2, F. Higgins 0-1.
Team: Joe Hannon; Liam Swaine, Pat Kilmurray, Jimmy Byrne; Eugene Mulligan, Paddy McCormack(capt), Patsy Murphy, Brendan OToole, Christy Dunne, Jody Gunning.
 

1967 Offaly U,21 County Champions:

Semi Final: Rhode beat Tullamore 1-09 to 1-06

Rhode won their way to the 1967 U,21 Final when they defeated Tullamore on Sunday March 22^nd, 1968. Rhode's success came from the mighty performances of wing backs Joe Malone and Frank McGlynn. . Further Strength to the defence was added by a very sound performance from full-back Jimmy Byrne, Wing Forwards Pat Swaine and Benny Kerrigan were also impressive.

Scorer's Swaine 1-01, J. Gunning 0-5. L Swaine, S. Darby, B Kerrigan (0-1 each)

 

Final: Rhode defeated Ballycumber 4-07 to 1-10

The final against Ballycumber , played on April 21^st provided an hour of non-stop football and a lot of entertainment, Ballycumber ran through the Rhode defence in the first eight minutes and had three points on the board before Seamus Darby punched a rebound from a Kevin Malone Shot to the net. Lifted by this major against the run of play. Rhode now struck a series of lightening blows. Malone and Frank McGlynn pointed and Larry Swaine Penetrated twice in quick Succession for two goals. G. Doolan had two frees for Ballycumber to leave the half-time score Rhode 3-2 Ballycumber 0-5.

Benny Kerrigan had a point for Rhode at the start of the second half but by the end of the third quarter the sides were level as P.Monaghan beat John Kavanagh with a well taken penalty. The saffrons went ahead with ten minute's remaining and this prompted Jody Gunning into action. Unseen up to this point he suddenly put his wares on display and pointed two long range frees. JJ. Grehan pointed twice and Pat Swaine put the game in the bag for Rhode when he shot a good goal from 14 metres. Kavanagh in goal had a sound game while Eugene Mulligan and Frank McGlynn were best in the back division. Christy Dunne and J.J. Grehan until injured played well at midfield while the Swaine's, Darby, Malone and Kerrigan were best up front. Rhode deservedly took their first title in the u,21 grade.

Scorer's: Swaine. 2-0, Swaine and S. Darby 1-0 each, J.J. Grehan and Gunning 0-2 each, K Malone, B. Kerrigan, F. McGlynn 0-1 each. 

Team: John Kavanagh, Bernie Scally, Jimmy Byrne, Joe Malone, Eugene Mulligan, Frank McGlynn, Carthage Grennan, Christy Dunne, J.J. Grehan, Benny Kerrigan, Jody Gunning (capt) Pat Swaine, Seamus Darby, Kevin Malone, Larry Swaine. Sub Paddy Hope.

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