Clara V Rhode

Hyper · Post by **Hyper** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 1:25 pm

I'll try and get the ball rolling on this one. What is the general consensus out there? Will Clara storm into an eight point lead like they did in 2003 and not look back or will it be Rhode to do likewise this time around?
Rhode look like a tired team and it is there for Clara to win....

Lone Shark · Post by **Lone Shark** » Thu Oct 05, 2006 7:47 pm

All year I said that the only team that could beat Rhode was Clara, and in one sense I'm still inclined to go along with that. That doesn't mean they will beat Rhode by any stretch of the imagination, however I think they have the right profile to do so.

This is one of those games where you have two teams that like to play two inside forwards and create space for them, so there is going to be some serious traffic around the middle of the park. Rhode being the bigger and more developed team should thrive in this, however the tackling from Clara was very intense the last day, and if that can be replicated they can turn over a lot of ball. Also, the fact that Rhode don't really have a free taker in tha absence of David Hope allows Clara a lot more freedom to defend on the brink of legality, because fouls won't necessarily be punished. (Niall is a wonderful footballer, but anyone who argues that he's even a half decent freetaker is way off the mark)

Rhode are a better team, that goes without saying. However there are a few things that suggest that there could be more to this game.

And I'll miss it because I'll be stranded in England for the weekend, working. Feck it anyways. Anyone hiring back home ....

naasmanxrhode · Post by **naasmanxrhode** » Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:39 pm

Rhode will be ready for this one, training has gone well. They trained in Johnstownbridge on Sunday last. Everthing is in place for the 3 in a row. These titles are hard won and Clara especially won't give in easily. IF THE WEATHER HOLDS UP I'D EXPECT A FEW GOALS IN THIS GAME. Rhode backs will need to be on their game as Clara have some nice poachers but Rhode look a much stronger outfit. Rhode by 4 points

Tom · Post by **Tom** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:35 pm

well, we kicked it away. Rhode were brilliant in the first half... clara had the chances, but shur, it's over for us for another year... Anyway, pints to be had.. i'm off out

Rynaghs Biffo · Post by **Rynaghs Biffo** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 9:19 am

Wasn't exactly a great game of football, but fairly exciting. Think Rhode just about deserved it, the took their chances and took them well, wheras Clara didn't. Clara seemed to rely on Deehan and Reynolds too much, and their two man full forward line worked in Rhode favour than anything else.

Rhode look more like a team that'll go further in Leinster.

naasmanxrhode · Post by **naasmanxrhode** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:07 am

Rhode's first half display won the match and they should have been further ahead at the break. Disaster struck for Clara early in the second half with the og from Meehan, a wet ball, but he should have done better. He let a few others slip aswell. For that reason I would have given the Rhode goalie man of the match. He was outstanding in all aspects. Rhode backs played hard but when Clara played with 3 inside forwards the pressure was on. Great credit to Clara for not folding and they won the last 15 minutes by 5 points to one. Rhode forwards need to work harder if Rhode are to progress furter than last year in Leinster.

Great day all round with the minors winning aswell. Next on the list are the u/16's (against Clara next sathurday) and then the u/21's on Sunday week going for 5 in a row. Great great year for the men and women from Rhode.

Bord na Mona man · Post by **Bord na Mona man** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 12:07 pm

A wet day was always going to slightly favour Rhode. They had the bigger players and greater experience.

A good second half from Clara when it looked like Rhode might run away with it. Bringing on Padraig Moran and Willy Reynolds added a bit more physical presence and experience to the attack.
Also changing tactics and having the Clara forwards operating very close to the goals helped pin back Rhode more.
The first half tactic of the isolated inside forwards didn't pay off.
Clara were looking for goals for most of the second half. In hindsight there was enough changes created to peg back Rhode with points. There were several half chances for goal that needed a fortunate bounce for the magpies.

Rhode probably could have been more ahead at half time for all the possession they had. Their decision making and tendency to over elaborate played into Clara's hands. Though the crowding of the Clara half contributed to Clara's failure to clear the ball successfully.

It was a very unfortunate mistake from Kevin Meehan for the second goal. The wet ball was like a bar of soap and every player made handling errors.
Joe Quinn was having his work cut out trying to contain Niall McNamee. Maybe he could have been better used further up the field where his running and link play would have caused Rhode problems. Though there weren't many others who could have marked McNamee.

Still there are plenty of positives from a Clara point of view. The team has shown some great battling qualities and probably got to a county final sooner than expected.

Mighty Pair O' Hands · Mon Oct 09, 2006 1:47 pm

On a wet miserable day in Tullamore, and with little free flowing football, one could easily think that it was a poor game. But I didn't. I thought it was a hard hitting, competitive, absorbing match, punctuated with some sublime skill in terrible conditions. Moments of skill ? Well, I'm thinking of the Rhode build up for the goal, Thommo's magnificent point off his left foot in the second half and Niall Mac's two glorious efforts into the town end.

Clara's level of intensity in closing down, tackling the man in possession and prying the ball loose was, for a club team, incredible. From Deehan and Reynolds out, Clara put Rhode under enormous pressure. If an Offaly team could defend from the front like that, we would win a Leinster title next year no question. Credit to Rhode then for upping their own game and hanging on for the win.

I was disappointed that both teams didnt adapt their "2 man fullforwardline" for the conditions quickly enough. Sometimes, it is more appropriate to play to the conditions. Clara did change to a 3 man forward line and got the ball in quicker in the second half and looked the better team for it.

Pat roe did an interview with Midlands Radio 3 yesterday and he came across as a man not to be messed with - if the players can give him the commitment he is looking for, I believe a punt on the faithful to win Leinster in 2007 might be money well spent - LS, what are the odds for this ?

black and red exile · Post by **black and red exile** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 8:30 pm

The crap weather made conditions next to impossible and lets be honest lads once the second goal went in it was game over. The only reason Clara came back into it was because Rhode took their foot off the pedal.

naasmanxrhode · Post by **naasmanxrhode** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:50 pm

Did you not think that Roe's interview on the radio was badly done in that a child was crying for most of it and it was annoying trying to listen.

As Such Ger · Post by **As Such Ger** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 12:57 pm

its a sign....dont F*#K with The Roe!!!

The Magpie · Post by **The Magpie** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:31 pm

A very tough game - the conditions were terrible. For me, in summary:

- Rhode were the better team in the first half, but Clara the second half.
- Both teams defended excellently. I think the fouling by Rhode was quite cynical in the last 10 minutes, but I'm not going to start throwing stones here - Clara would've done exactly the same to kill the game.
- Rhode kicked only 6 points...can anyone tell me the last time that happened (discounting Leinster competition)? I'm sure some of the trivia people that visit here will know.
- Ultimately, the two teams were separated by a very fortuitous goal. These things happen.

Roll on next year. If Clara can take the right things from this final (as Rhode have done in the past when defeated) they'll come back stronger, hungrier and more mature next year.

Good luck to Rhode in Leinster.

Rynaghs Biffo · Post by **Rynaghs Biffo** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 3:35 pm

naasmanxrhode wrote:Did you not think that Roe's interview on the radio was badly done in that a child was crying for most of it and it was annoying trying to listen.

What did Roe have to say about the standard of football? if you could hear it?

the Untouchable · Post by **the Untouchable** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 6:15 pm

I believe the last time Rhode hit 6 pts or less in a game was against Edenderry in the 1st round of the Championship back in 01, the Reds that evening held Rhode to 4pts!!!

Slan!!!