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Kellaghan: 'It was great - a dream come true really'

Rhode manager Paschal Kellaghan.

Rhode manager Paschal Kellaghan.

By Cian O'Connell

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Paschal Kellaghan remains a key component in the Rhode machine. Seven Offaly County titles as a player have been followed by one as a manager and Rhode now want to make an impact in the Leinster Club Championship.

Kellaghan was thrilled to steer Rhode to glory in Offaly. "It was great - a dream come true really, I couldn't really offer any more from a playing side of things I don't think, it was probably the right fit for me at the time, there was a couple of factors there, probably Alan (McNamee) chasing his ninth title, we were after being knocked off our perch last year by Edenderry and I had the hunger for it," Kellaghan admits. "I was just delighted to get the job, it's a great honour."

Having prevailed in Offaly on seven occasions snce 2004, Rhode would love to add a provincial crown to trophy cabinet. "Realistically and I'm not just saying it to take pressure off anyone, it would never have been discussed," Kellaghan says.

"Our main goal this year was to win the League and the Championship in Offaly, that was it initially. We've gone to the well a good few times and went very close, in '06 we went in and were favourites against Moorefield, it just didn't work out on the day, '08 we went seven or eight points up, we just didn't hold on and even in '10 I thought we had an even better chance to beat Crokes but the scars were still there from '08 and we mentally hadn't recovered and we didn't do it.

"In '14 Vincent's were just so far ahead of us on the day. We took a couple of days out after the County Final and we just said we're going to take it one game at a time and see where that takes us and takes us to Wexford next Sunday.

Alan McNamee won his ninth Offaly SFC title with Rhode in 2016.

Alan McNamee won his ninth Offaly SFC title with Rhode in 2016.

"Listen we'd all love to win a Leinster, that goes without saying, but we're not going to take anyone for granted. In '12 Pats came to Tullamore and beat us so you don't get over Sunday you don't go any further."

This weekend Gusserane are on the agenda for Rhode, that is all that matters according to Kellaghan. "We've decided we're going to take one game at a time and see where it takes us but listen, we'd love to win a Leinster, no more than anyone from a rural club, it's going to be very hard to beat the Dublin champions, they've won it there the last while, they're so so strong, whoever gets to play them, probably on Leinster Final day, will have to have their wits about them."

"Gusserane in New Ross are our main focus for Sunday and even logistically it's going to be a huge challenge for us going down there and getting diet right and getting the body right to play football."

An emerging coaching talent Kellaghan has steered Ballinabrackey and Monasterevin to Leinster Junior and Intermediate success. "They were two great journeys that we were on with Ballinabrackey and Monasterevin, but they weren't simple either, we'd a couple of tight calls as well but they were huge for the clubs," Kellaghan remarks.

"It takes a life of its own and it's great for small areas to be able to compete like that, we didn't get over the All-Ireland semi-final either time, of course you'd take some confidence that you know what you're doing to get over the line."