McNamee kicks winning point as Rhode land 31st Offaly SFC crown

Rhode's Darren Garry and Niall McNamee lift the Offaly SFC silverware. ©INPHO/Evan Treacy.

Veteran county star Niall McNamee played a captain's part as Rhode landed their 31st Offaly SFC crown by the narrowest of margins from holders Tullamore in a closely-fought final at O'Connor Park this afternoon.

McNamee posted 1-4 in a fine display and his mark with two minutes of normal-time remaining proved to be the winning point. The 1-9 to 0-11 victory saw his older brother Alan McNamee win a record 13th senior county title, having collected his first as a 16-year-old in 1998!

With the teams contesting the Dowling Cup decider for the third successive year, Tullamore led by 0-3 to 0-5 at the interval. The town continued to dictate the pace until Rhode fired an unanswered 1-2 to turn the game on its head.

Points from man-of-the-match Anton Sullivan and Niall McNamee either side of a well-taken Ruairi McNamee goal on 47 minutes had the Jack Cooney coached side 1-8 to 0-8 ahead. Tullamore responded brilliantly with Harry Plunkett (two frees) and Johnny Moloney hitting three scores on the spin to level the contest but McNamee won it for Rhode.