Well, there are beatings and then there’s this.
Everyone knew Gusserane O’Rahilly’s were underdogs going into the Leinster Senior Football Championship but this wasn’t on the cards. The Wexford champs were riding the crest of a wave that had been building for 41 years in the club since their last senior title but it broke violently after meeting an immovable force like Rhode.
The vastly experienced Offaly outfit made light work of Gusserane in New Ross on Sunday, winning 5-22 to 0-4 and they marched on in the provincial series without so much as a batted eye. It was a painful day for the Wexford folk but they managed to make the most of the defeat that seemed inevitable from very early on with a few laughs along the way.
It was all so exciting to start off.
All set to go here in Ross. Perfect conditions for football. Hon Gusserane! ! pic.twitter.com/igMHx07V3v
— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
This wasn’t irreparable.
Leinster SFC
00mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 0-1(1)— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Nor was this.
Leinster SFC
01mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 0-2(2)— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
But it quickly turned sour.
Leinster SFC
03mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 1-2(5)— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
And sourer.
Leinster SFC
05mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 2-2(8) ouch!!— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Then reality started to set in.
Leinster SFC
10mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 2-5(11) no shot at the posts yet for us— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
As did the temper.
Leinster SFC
18mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 2-7(13) another wayward pass from us leads to another rhode score— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Da f**k?
Leinster SFC
20mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-0(0)
Rhode: 4-7(19) unbelievable what's happening here— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Finally, a name we recognise.
Leinster SFC
21mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-7(19) Sacker from a free— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Hope at last.
Leinster SFC
26mins 1st half
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-9(21) super penalty save by Micheal. Might spur things on??— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Topical.
Leinster SFC
Half time
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-10(22) Halloween horror here in Ross.— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Then the honesty.
Leinster SFC
11mins 2nd half
Gusserane : 0-1(1)
Rhode: 4-16(28) pain in me hole tweeting— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
One bright spark.
Leinster SFC
20mins 2nd half
Gusserane : 0-2(2)
Rhode: 4-19(31) Niall McNamee worth the entrance fee alone— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
But there’s only one way to sum that up.
Leinster SFC
Full time
Gusserane : 0-4(4)
Rhode: 5-22(37) All over. All I can say is we were well and truly Rhode.— Gusserane O'Rahillys (@GORahillys) October 30, 2016
Even the priest weighed in but Gusserane were having none of it.
Rhode squeezed through eventually to the Leinster quarter-finals but it was an action-packed day all over the country.
Leinster club SFC first round
Sean O’Mahonys (Louth) 0-10 Baltinglass (Wicklow) 0-9
Rhode (Offaly) 5-22 Gusserane (Wexford) 0-4
Mullinalaghta (Longford) 1-17 Stradbally (Laois) 2-9
Munster club SFC quarter-finals
Dr Crokes (Kerry) 1-14 Kilmurry-Ibrickane (Clare) 0-8
Carbery Rangers (Cork) 2-11 Monaleen (Limerick) 0-7
Ulster club SFC quarter-finals
Killyclogher (Tyrone) 2-10 Cargin (Antrim) 1-8
Slaughtneil (Derry) 0-12 Derrygonnelly (Fermanagh) 0-7
Maghery (Armagh) 1-13 Ramor United (Cavan) 1-10
Kilcoo (Down) 1-12 Glenswilly (Donegal) 1-6
Munster club SHC quarter-final
Thurles Sarsfields (Tipperary) 0-17 Ballygunner (Waterford) 0-16
Meath SFC final
Simonstown 1-14 Donaghmore-Ashbourne 0-8
Tipperary SFC final
Loughmore-Castleiney 1-09 Moyle Rovers 1-6
Westmeath SFC final
St Loman’s 1-13 Tyrrellspass 0-10
Clare SHC final replay
Ballyea 2-14 Clonlara 1-14
Kilkenny SHC final
O’Loughlin Gaels 0-19 Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-12
Mayo SHC final replay
Ballyhaunis 2-13 Tooreen 1-13
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