OFFALY SFC Clara 2-7 Rhode 1-9:CLARA PULLED off a big surprise against the holders with a storming second half in Tullamore yesterday.

Two goals from Ross Brady turned the game in the second half. Rhode led 0-7 to 0-2 at the break, Niall McNamee landing five frees while Clara’s first point from play came from John Reynolds in injury-time.

Rhode led by 0-9 to 0-5 at the three-quarter way stage but a Ross Brady goal after Rhode goalkeeper Kenneth Garry slipped while kicking out the ball put the winners on level terms with 10 minutes left. Rhode’s replied with a Malone goal, but a goal from Brady got them back on terms with seven minutes remaining and Thomas Deehan kicked the winning point from a free three minutes later.

RHODE: K Garry; D Murphy, S Sullivan, J Kilmurray; C Heavey, B Darby, E Byrne; A McNamee, P Sullivan; A Brereton, R Malone (1-2), G O'Connell; A Sullivan, P Kellaghan, N McNamee (0-7, five frees). Subs: J Coffey for A Brereton (half-time); R Heavey for G O'Connell (55); G Hickey for R Malone (61).

CLARA: J Buckley; A Cronin, M Rosney, D Kelly; P Mitchell, M Mitchell (0-1), L Hiney; S Brady (0-1), R Brady (2-0); T Dalton, J OHara, C Kelly; E Brady, J Reynolds (0-1), T Deehan (0-4, 3 frees). Subs: G Guilfoyle for C Kelly (27 mins); J Ledwith for M Rosney (32); D Baggott for P Mitchell (34); S Deehan for T Dalton (47).

Referee: E Cusack.