Leinster Club FC/Portlaoise 3-10 Rhode 0-4: God only knows what Offaly did to deserve this. In the week that they finally made peace on all the football upheaval of recent months, their county champions Rhode come out in the Leinster championship and get hammered. All in full view of the few supporters still optimistic about the future fortunes of the county.
Even the pessimists had to admit that Rhode were the best club footballers to come out of Offaly in at least the past four years. But what happened in Tullamore yesterday won't help rebuilding confidence at any level. That it was close neighbours Portlaoise who provided the harsh lesson won't help either. It sends Offaly football further down the slippery scale of respectability.
Portlaoise though won't care a bit, their performance loaded with enough style and substance to leave them thinking about the Leinster title. They'll meet either Kilmacud Crokes or Westmeath champions Garrycastle in the semi-final, and judging by the way they finished yesterday, that game can't come around quick enough.
Still it was hard not to feel a little sorry for Rhode. This was a rough ride. You name it, and they endured it. Missed chances and missed penalties, goals given away and a sending off. Most of all, the unbearable realisation that they didn't play anywhere near their full potential.
In a game that hit the ground running, Rhode were gradually broken apart beyond repair. Chief tormenter was Colm Parkinson, who ended with 1-3 from play and most of the time was a joy to behold. Parkinson has had his own problems off the field in recent weeks, but when he's entirely focused on what he does best there are few players in the game who can rival his natural ability.
Just when it seemed that Rhode might actually make a game of it, Parkinson made his first telling move. Niall McNamee had hit two fine points for Rhode and with the 19-year-old in such fiery form it appeared the home side were going to fit their billing. McNamee hit 2-8 in the county final and there were similar expectations here.
But on 13 minutes Parkinson went about setting up Craig Rogers with a goal chance. Rhode goalkeeper Mark Kavanagh should have cleared, but instead he let the ball roll by him. Parkinson got the credit for the goal.
By then though Rhode's tactical shortcomings were also fully evident. Portlaoise had isolated Parkinson and Peter McNulty up front, frequently bringing the rest of the team into their own half. As a result Rhode were just smothered, and never got the scoring opportunities they'd reckoned with.
Still at the break it was just 1-2 to 0-3 in favour of Portlaoise, and for the healthy show of home support it seemed far from over. But within 10 minutes of the second half it was.
Parkinson was now at full flight, destroying his marker Barry Malone and either collecting ball or setting it up at will. His two points sandwiched a free from Barry Fitzgerald, and then on 40 minutes came the score that truly finished Rhode. Parkinson was chasing a ball when Kavanagh came out to collect, but instead of clearing it he allowed Rogers to block the ball down, and send it back into the net. Another soft goal conceded, and at 2-5 to 0-3 it was suddenly game over for Rhode.
As feared, it was rapidly downhill for them from there. Roy Malone was fouled on 41 minutes, but instead of taking his free, he hit his opponent and that earned him a straight red card.
Within seconds Parkinson added another sweet point and the Rhode supporters started heading for the exits.
From then until the end then it became an exhibition of Portlaoise's excellence. Colm Byrne, Brian Mulligan and Aidan Fennelly were now faultless in the defence, turning any hope of some Rhode consolation into instant frustration.
Brian McCormack, Fitzgerald and Peter McNulty extended the Portlaoise lead, while Rhode's second half fizzled out with a solitary free from McNamee. That Paschal Kellaghan was held scoreless summed up Rhode's hour of underachievement.
It ended on a truly contrasting note. Another Parkinson shot at goal was this time well stopped by Kavanagh, but Rogers was on hand to fire home the rebound and Portlaoise's third goal. At the other end Rhode were awarded a penalty when Derek Kellaghan was brought down, but McNamee carelessly blasted his shot left of the goal.
The hard times for Offaly football roll on.
PORTLAOISE: M Nolan; T Fitzgerald, C Byrne, E Bland; B Mulligan, C Healy, A Fennelly; K Fitzpatrick, E Coleman; B McCormack (0-1), P McNulty (0-2), C Rogers (2-1); M Fennelly, C Parkinson (1-3), B Fitzgerald (0-3, two frees). Subs: S Cotter for Coleman (52 mins), T Mulligan for Fennelly (56 mins), S McManus for McCormack, M Brophy for Healy (both 57 mins).
RHODE: M Kavanagh; M Cassidy, S Sullivan, B Darby; P Sullivan, D Bannon, B Malone; A McNamee, F Dunne; P Glennon, R Malone, D Kellaghan; D Hope, P Kellaghan, N McNamee (0-4, one free). Subs: K Kilmurray for Bannon (27 mins), M Cole for Glennon (44 mins), A Kellaghan for Sullivan (53 mins).
Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).
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