Fortune Abandons Owen Roes

Owen Roes 2-10 Errigal Ciaran 3-13

Some people say that luck finally evens itself out. If this is true Owen Roes have many reasons to be optimistic, as once again they fell the wrong side of victory in this ACL game. Despite conceding two goals in two first half minutes, the footballers of Errigal Ciaran IIIs held out to record a six-point victory that somewhat flattered the visitors.

Errigal were strong from the off, and took an early two point lead. With eight minutes played Owen Roes conceded the first of three majors, as the Errigal attacker put the ball off the crossbar onto an inrushing O’Neill’s defender for a fortuitous goal. Errigal were rampant in the opening quarter, and added to their tally with two more scores before a Brendan Boggs free kick got Owen Roes on the board.

Lifted by this the Owen Roes fifteen upped their work rate, and indeed pressure from the Leckpatrick half forward line forced Errigal into an error. Mickey Dooher charged through on goal and unselfishly squared to Willie Doherty to punch home. Within sixty seconds the O'Neills had another Green flag. This time Kiernan Kelly squaring for Dooher to get a deserved goal.

Errigal showed why they are at the business end of the ACL division three as they pointed twice in a minute to put three in the contest once again. However things were about to get worse for the Green and Reds, as Brendan Boggs sustained a nasty ankle injury and had to be stretchered off the field.

After a short delay Owen Roes battled on, and Kiernan Kelly twice split the posts. However with time setting on the half, Errigal bombed forward with purpose and clocked 1-2 onto their tally.

Six adrift at the break, Owen Roes came out and played arguably their best half of the season. Barry Porter and sub Mark O'Neill troubling the scorers early on. When Stephen Boyle swung over, there was just a kick in it once again. Ryan Stewart, and Cathal Dooher were marauding forward from their wing-half roles with Chris Kelly starting to dominate in centre field. However crucially shot selection was letting the O'Neills down, as they squandered several chances.

All the same Errigal were just hanging on, and crucially they converted three of the next four scores to keep clear. Owen Roes gaining their score when Kiernan Kelly pointed thanks to good work from Stewart and Marcus McGinley. Kelly from a placed ball suggested that the contest was still in the melting pot with five minutes remaining. However the visitors broke to rattle the net once more, and quell Owen Roes fight. Late on Kiernan Kelly and Mark O'Neill added dead balls either side of an Errigal Ciaran point to end the game.

This was a game where Owen Roes dominated much of the second half, but just could not get close enough to Errigal's tally to rattle their opponents. The Leckpatrick men are overdue some luck, and with performances like this it can't be far away.

Everyone at Owen Roes wishes a speedy recovery to Brendan Boggs, after that injury he sustained in the first period. 

Owen Roes: Dylan Early, Paul Kelly, Gerard Devine, Brendan McCrossan, Cathal Dooher, Stephen Dooher, Ryan Stewart, Marcus McGinley, Chris Kelly, Stephen Boyle (0-1), Barry Porter (0-1), Kiernan Kelly (0-5), Willie Doherty (1-0), Brendan Boggs (0-1), Mickey Dooher (1-0). Subs: Mark O'Neill (0-2) for Boggs 23 mins, Kevin O'Donnell for Stephen Dooher 52 mins, Conor McCay for Mickey Dooher 53 mins, John Harper for Doherty 60 mins.