The Gaels marked their return to Intermediate football on Saturday with a win against Castleconnor in a hard-fought victory on a sunny, but blustery evening in immaculately presented Quigabar.
The opening five minutes were blow for blow, with Castleconnor opening the scoring, followed immediately by Daire Callaghan’s first of the day. Aaron Walsh finished off a fine move with a point in between two Castleconnor points, leaving the side from the west one up after a fast-paced opening period.
The Gaels then burst into life with a goal on the sixth minute, with the ever-energetic Callaghan finishing of a wonderful team move with a goal, with the ball being carried from the back at pace and ending up in the hands of the composed Callaghan who rifled the ball into the roof off the net. Castleconnor continued adding on points and with five to play in the first half, the scores were level at 1- 5 to 8 points, the Gaels scorers during this period being Callaghan again, Mark Walsh and Kyle Mullen. Although there was plenty of quality on show during this period, a special mention must go to club Stalwart Jason Farrell in goals who pulled off an outstanding double save to keep things tight.
The drama wasn’t over yet for the half however, and on the twenty seventh minute of the game, after a well worked team move again, the ball fell to veteran Conor Davey who made no mistake in front of goal with a deft finish we’ve seen many times over the years. Castleconnor replied with a point before half time to leave us two points to the good at the break.
The second half began like the first, a cagey affair with both team trading blows. Half way through the second half, both teams had scored a further three points. The Gaels scores coming from Stephen Fallon twice and a fantastic score from Ciaran Harvey, over the left shoulder with almost no angle to aim for.
The Gaels then finally managed to get some breathing space and gained ascendancy. Three unanswered points from Kyle Mullen, Stephen Fallon and Rolly Anderson ensured Owenmore Gaels went into the last five minutes five points up. Castleconnor’s Oisin Flynn kept them in the game with some fine place kicking throughout, and his two late free’s were cancelled out by the excellent Stephen Fallon, who finished with five second half points. Conor Davey nearly ensured the game was out of sight with an superb catch after a Mark Walsh counter-attack and fifty-yard pass, but Davey was stopped by an excellent save by the Castleconnor ‘keeper.
Aaron Mullen entered the fray during this spell and was immense out around the middle of the park, winning several kickouts at key times. With the clock ticking into added time, Castleconnor increased the pressure and were rewarded with a goal on the sixty first minute after a great Jason Farrell save rebounded off a group of players and trickled agonisingly into the corner of the net to make for a nervy final play of the game. Castleconnor did get one final chance, and being behind by two needed a goal, but strong Gaels defending and wonderful composure by Robbie Callaghan at the death ensured that Owenmore Gaels left Enniscrone with the two points.
Owenmore Gaels: J Farrell, M Anderson, A Jones, R Callaghan, K Mullen (0-2) (C Whiteside), J Callaghan, R Quigley (P Wynne), R. Anderson (0-1), A Walsh (0-1), D Callaghan (1-2, 1F), C Harvey (0-1) (A Mullen), D Walsh, C Davey (1-0), M Walsh (0-1), S Fallon (0-5, 2F)