Familiar foes to meet in Offaly senior football championship final
A familiar pairing will grace Glenisk O'Connor Park in Tullamore on Sunday week (October 11) when Tullamore and Ferbane face-off for the fourth consecutive year in the Offaly senior football championship final.
Ferbane were the first team to claim a final place at the weekend when they saw off the challenge of Shamrocks by five points (2-19 to 3-11).
Shamrocks made the perfect start when Conor Egan fired to the net after one minute and when Jack Bryan added a second goal soon after, the Rahan club were in a strong position playing with the aid of the elements.
A further goal from Alan Heffernan placed Shamrocks into a one point lead at half-time, but it was Ferbane who controlled the game in general as they took control of the contest in the second period.
Joe Maher played a prominent role from full forward while 19-year-old Jake Maher kicked two fine points in a 'man of the match' display.
Shamrocks, playing against the wind in the second half, had to work harder for their scores and when Ferbane exerted their authority on proceedings it was soon reflected on the scoreboard, goals from Maher and Cian Johnson provign crucial to the game's outcome in their favour.
Meanwhile, drama was at a premium in the second semi-final played at the Tullamore venue, as Tullamore saw off the challenge of Rhode on a 2-13 to 1-6 scoreline.
Opting to play against the wind in the opening 30 minutes, Tullamore set the tone for what was to come and the reigning champions were in firm control from an early stage, Aaron Leavy touching a dropping ball to the net.
With Cormac Egan quelling the impact of Rhode's Ruairí McNamee, it was Tullamore who dominated the opening half scoreoard leading by five points at the interval.
Tullamore continued to exert their dominance in the second half with Niall Furlong adding a second goal, complementing Tullamore's defensive work which saw them go 24 minutes without conceding a score to Rhode.
Rhode did manage to score the third goal of this semi-final contest in stoppage time but it was a mere consolation as Tullamore progressed to the final in search of their 32nd senior football championship crown.