www.uibhfhaili.com

Thought I'd start the build up to Sunday's big game(weather permitting of course)with a couple of reports from this weeks Offaly Express. Included is the previous meetings between the sides and some good news for Pascal Kellaghan.

Kilmacud hold the upper hand

Kilmacud Crokes hold the upper hand in the three meetings between these sides in the Leinster Club Championship.
The Dublin side have won two while the third game, the semi-final in 2006, ended in a draw. Kilmacud won that replay and they went on to win the final in 2008 after a stunning second-half comeback.

Never more than three points has been between the sides at the final whistle and Rhode will feel that they should have won at least two, if not all three of the games.

One noticeable feature is how Kilmacud have restricted a normally high powered Rhode attack to just eight scores in each of the three games.

2008 Leinster Club Final

Parnell Park: Kilmacud Crokes 2-7 Rhode 1-7

2006 Leinster Club Semi-Final

Portlaoise:Rhode 2-6 Kilmacud Crokes 1-9

2006 Leinster Club Semi-Final Replay

Newbridge: Kilmacud Crokes 2-6 Rhode 1-7
http://www.offalyexpress.ie/sport/Kilma ... 6644418.jp

No clash for Kellaghan

When the decision was taken to call off the Leinster Junior Club Football Championship Final last weekend, there were immediate concerns that Paschal Kellaghan would face another double header as a manager as a player as he did in the semi-finals.
On that day in Navan, he managed Ballinabrackey to victory in the first game before as a player having a major role in Rhode's win over Skryne.

However thanks to the co-operation of Carlow champions St Andrew's, Kellaghan's Ballina-brackey will not now play their final until December 12 allowing him to concentrate fully on his playing duties this Sunday, weather permitting of course.

Both games are fixed for Portlaoise with the Rhode and Kilmacud Crokes throwing in at 2pm. It will be the fourth meeting of the teams in recent years with Rhode still hurting from their defeat in the 2008 decider.

http://www.offalyexpress.ie/sport/No-cl ... 6644670.jp

Looks like the above reports will count for nothing, at least for this weekend anyway.

'Big freeze' set to play havoc with fixtures again

Gaelic games and snow are not happy bedfellows
01 December 2010


It is looking increasingly likely that both the AIB Ulster club football and Leinster club hurling finals will be cancelled for a second weekend in-a-row.

And with the freezing weather conditions set to last for another week, there is little prospect of the AIB Leinster club football final between Kilmacud Crokes and Rhode being played on Sunday either. And that wouldn't be entirely bad news for Crokes, who would have the suspended Adrian Morrissey available for the final if it were put back by a week.

With the south of the country escaping the worst of the weather, there is a reasonable chance of the AIB Munster club football final between Nemo Rangers and Dr Crokes going ahead on Sunday at the Gaelic Grounds. The Munster Council were able to play their club hurling final last weekend, although the near frozen pitch in Pairc Ui Chaoimh made for difficult playing conditions.

Speaking to the Evening Herald, a Leinster Council spokesman admitted that barring an unexpected turnaround in the weather, none of their scheduled matches will go ahead this weekend.

The spokesperson confirmed that the call will be made on Friday afternoon, with the Council in constant contact with authorities in both the venues, O'Moore Park and Dr Cullen Park, between now and then.

"It was obvious last Saturday lunchtime that Dr Cullen Park would not be playable,"he said.

"It was also known that Oulart-the-Ballagh would have done well to get out of Wexford had the game gone ahead anyway.

"But it's more than just the pitch. There are major health and safety issues in and around the ground and in terms of people travelling to and from matches. Take Kilmacud and Rhode; the only venues you could play that in are Portlaoise, Carlow, Newbridge or Navan and there was not one of them playable last Sunday."

While Leinster do have room to manoeuvre regarding their fixtures, the Ulster Council are under pressure to provide champions for the AIB All-Ireland club football quarter-final against London kingpins Neasden Gaels, which is scheduled for the weekend after next.

O'Loughlin Gaels manager Mick Nolan has already called for the Leinster club hurling final to be put back until after Christmas if it fails to go ahead this weekend.

http://www.hoganstand.com/Offaly/Articl ... ?ID=139200

o'loughlins manger would like to see it played after christmas as their star midfielder maurice nolan is hurt and missed
the last two game's. i remember Birr playing castletown of laois in a leinster club final replay in nowlan park a few
year's ago on a sunday i think it was three days or so before christmas eve.

Confirmed - Game off on Sunday.

I know the game is off Sunday lads but I might aswell continue the build up to the rescheduled fixture.

Coffey: Winning Leinster would mean everything


03 December 2010


Rhode manager Tom Coffey admits that lifting the AIB Leinster club football crown would be a dream come true for everyone associated with the Offaly champions.

The green and golds, who have never won the provincial title, suffered an agonising defeat to Kilmacud Crokes in the final two years ago, but will have an opportunity to atone for that disappointment when they renew their rivalry with the Dublin kingpins in Sunday week's rescheduled decider.

"It means everything," the former Offaly half back said.

"We've been there a few times in the last few years and it's something that the players want but something that they haven't got. We will have respect for Kilmacud but at the end of the day Rhode need the result and we need to get this win."

"It didn't go our way that day in 2008. At the end of the day you have to go for the hour and on the day there were some chances missed as well. Dublin teams are very tough and very hard beaten and it will be no different this time."

Coffey says that a victory on Sunday week would be just reward for the players' hard work and dedication.

"It's great for the club. It's great for the area. Obviously a lot of work has gone in over the last number of years. We set out our stall to win the county championship at the start of the year and then you hope to go well in Leinster. We're delighted to be back in the final and hopefully we'll give it a good rattle."

http://www.hoganstand.com/Offaly/Articl ... ?ID=139265

taking from hoganstand
http://www.hoganstand.com/Offaly/Articl ... ?ID=139300

Kilmacud Crokes' request to have their AIB Leinster club football final against Rhode postponed until after Christmas has been rejected.

The decision to reschedule the final from this weekend because of the freezing weather to next weekend means that the Crokes players who were part of the county set-up this year will have to sacrifice the Dublin team's holiday to Dubai.

Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney revealed that Rhode were not agreeable to putting the game back until the New Year.

He said: "We had a request from Kilmacud Crokes to put off the football final until after Christmas to allow their Dublin panellists travel on the county team's holiday to Dubai, but Rhode have indicated that they want the game fixed for next Sunday, December 12. So that's when it will have to be scheduled."

Earlier this week O'Loughlin Gaels manager Michael Nolan expressed a preference for postponing their hurling final - which has already been twice called off - until the New Year.

But opponents Oulart-The-Ballagh are believed to have indicated, like Rhode, a desire to play the match tomorrow week if possible.

Delaney said there was little appetite to play the finals in a fortnight, just days before Christmas but that he was hopeful an improvement in the weather would allow the matches to be played next week".

killamud players involved with the dublin set up wont be pleased. In fairness it would be very hard on Rhode to have to wait another 4 or 5 weeks to accomadate killimacud ,the hole winning momentum would have worn off and they more than likley arnt goin to find competitive challenges this time of year .Id say the game being prostponed by a week was off putting enough with the weather the way it is the probably cant even get proper tranning in.
I must say feel sorry for the Dublin lads missing out ,but fairplay to Rhode a small village show there not going to be pushed around by the bigger clubs and standing there ground.

Black Spot wrote: I must say feel sorry for the Dublin lads missing out ,but fairplay to Rhode a small village show there not going to be pushed around by the bigger clubs and standing there ground.

Fair point. Unfortunate conflict, but the preparations are done. There is no guarantee that some January Sunday is going to be any warmer.

Kevin wrote:

Black Spot wrote: I must say feel sorry for the Dublin lads missing out ,but fairplay to Rhode a small village show there not going to be pushed around by the bigger clubs and standing there ground.

Fair point. Unfortunate conflict, but the preparations are done. There is no guarantee that some January Sunday is going to be any warmer.

Lads would ye cop on, who gives a flying f**k about that these Dublin fellas and their holidays?? Seriously.

The under soil heating in Croke Park should be turned on early in the week and the two finals should be played as a double header next weekend.

bracknaghboy wrote:

Kevin wrote:

Black Spot wrote: I must say feel sorry for the Dublin lads missing out ,but fairplay to Rhode a small village show there not going to be pushed around by the bigger clubs and standing there ground.

Fair point. Unfortunate conflict, but the preparations are done. There is no guarantee that some January Sunday is going to be any warmer.

Lads would ye cop on, who gives a flying f**k about that these Dublin fellas and their holidays?? Seriously.

I think the point here is that the game is moving ahead (rightfully).

Best wishes to Rhode on the day - hopefully the 12th weather permitting.

Hope the match goes ahead on Sunday as Crokes are doing their best to get it cancelled, Paddy Carr seems to be on the papers every day saying it would be better to play the match in January '11. The odds in PP's are 2/5 Crokes and 5/2 Rhode, a great bet in a two horse race. The bet I like is Rhode to lead at half time and full time - 6/1. I hope and pray that we will win, An Rod abu.

Rumour going around that both the football and hurling finals have been put back until January. Unconfirmed as of yet.

all off till january

A little Dicky bird tells me the Drumcullen game is on Sunday week the 19th, anyone confirm this?