FAILURE to avail of scoring opportunities prevented Tullamore from increasing their lead at the head of the Offaly senior football roll of honour in yesterday's senior football final in O'Connor Park. Instead Shannonbridge collected the trophy for the first time as a result of a deserved victory before an attendance of 4,000.

This was the county's centenary final and Tullamore were very keen to commemorate their first championship win in 1896 and also to end a barren period of 19 years. They enjoyed enough of the play to do so, but lacked finishing ability. The fact that nine of their points were scored from frees by Paul Rouse emphasised where their weakness lay.

Shannonbridge, having played against the breeze, still managed to lead by 0-7 to 0-6 at halftime, Tullamore's only point from play being scored in injury time by P J Martin.

The decisive moment of the hour came 10 minutes from time when Anthony Kelly sent Vincent Mooney through the home defence to score the only goal of the game.