Rhode face Clara test

NIALL McNAMEE and Niall Darby hit 13 points between them, as 2008 champions Rhode booked their place in the Offaly SFC final with this impressive performance at O’Connor Park on Saturday.

McNamee kicked five opening half points as Rhode established a 0-8 to 0-5 interval cushion. PJ Ward, who was forced to depart the fray injured late on, and Nigel Dunne presented the greatest scoring threat for a Shamrocks side that hit nine wides, seven more than Rhode.

With McNamee and Darby providing the scoring inspiration, Rhode maintained a firm stranglehold and they wrapped matters up with a late Anton Sullivan goal.

Rhode’s reward is a showdown with champions Clara on Sunday.

Scorers for Rhode: N McNamee 0-7 (3f), N Darby 0-6 (2f), A Sullivan 1-0, P Sullivan 0-2, B Darby 0-1.

Scorers for Shamrocks: PJ Ward 0-4 (2f), N Dunne 0-2, P Kelly (‘45), A Condron, M Conroy, Shane Guinan 0-1 each.

RHODE: E McDonald; D Murphy, B Darby, D Hope; C Heavey, S Sullivan, R Leavy; R Malone, A McNamee; J Coffey, P Kellaghan, P Sullivan; N Darby, A Sullivan, N McNamee.

Subs: Mark Dunne for A McNamee (35), G O’Connell for Coffey (45), J Kilmurray for Malone (50).

SHAMROCKS: A O’Connell; C Mooney, M Stanbrook, P Kelly; L Mooney, S Guinan, B Mooney; S Heffernan, B Monaghan; M Conroy, N Dunne, P Minnock; A Condron, PJ Ward, D Heffernan.

Subs: R Kearney for S Heffernan (38), Brian Kearney for Conroy (46), J Neville for Ward inj (58) Referee: M Carthy (Walsh Island).