They say goals win games and when you throw in a mixture of grit, determination, skill and teamwork they certainly go a long way.
Owenmore Gaels displayed all of the aforementioned qualities which along with three excellent first half goals lead the Gaels to capture the Division 3 League title by beating neighbours Ballymote on a scoreline of 3-13 to 0-10 in a sunny Cloonacool earlier today.
Having already fallen twice to Ballymote this year, a huge performance was needed but the Gaels kept the best football for when it mattered most. In the second minute Brian Mahon set the tone for the remainder of the game when he pointed from distance. Ballymote’s Robbie Flannery and Niall Brennan followed with points, sandwiching a Ronan Sweeney score that followed good play from Mahon.
The game was ultimately decided in the next seven minutes as the Gaels hit a purple patch and blitzed Ballymote with three goals. Colin Smith was dragged down on his way to goal and Dessie Flynn made no qualms with the subsequent penalty and slotted it home nicely.
Colin Smith soon pointed with a free before the Gaels scored arguably the score of the game. Mahon won the ball on his own 40 and played Ryan Phillips through who deftly flicked the ball up on the run. Philips played the ball to Ronan Sweeney who made sure with the finish to the net. A minute later following good defensive work from Pa Murphy and Dessie Flynn, Colin Smith played the ball across to Philips who raised the green flag and gave the Gaels a lead of 3-3 to 0-2 with a quarter of the game played.
Peter Lyons and Mark Irwin reacted with points for Ballymote soon before a critical juncture in the game when Irwin was denied a goal by an exquisite block from Kyle Taheny. Ronan Sweeney then pointed from distance on the run, with a kicking style reminiscent of the Galway legend Michael Donnellan. The ever dangerous Irwin was then denied another goal by a terrific save from goalkeeper Jason Farrell. The only sour mark on the game from a Gaels perspective followed when the referee harshly showed a black card to Brian Mahon who had been immense in his battle with Niall Brennan, not to mention the value he brought going forward. Philips closed out the half with a nice score following hard graft by Conor Davey and the Gaels took a 3-5 to 0-5 lead into the second half.
The third quarter saw both teams exchange scores to leave it 3-9 to 0-10 with 15 minutes to play. The Gael’s full-forward Colin Smith was doing the damage on the scoreboard with four successive points.
Behind all of these scores was a foundation of intense teamwork by every player in a Gaels jersey and it was a period in the game when Tommy Trill, James Duffy and his replacement Niall Hodgins were commanding affairs í lár na páirce.
Stanley Harte, Garrett Lavin, Cian Whiteside, Dessie Flynn and Roly Anderson were mopping up everything that came their way in defence.
The Gaels finished out the game strongly scoring four points without reply. Smith pointed another free before substitute Kevin Healy pointed from distance after a nice block by Jack Foley. Peter Wynne and Gary Anderson also came off the bench and brought great energy to the Gaels attack.
A veteran of the 2006 Division 3 league winning team Aaron Nicholson was introduced late on and he brought a calming influence to the forwards and topped it off with a fine free before the final whistle.
Owenmore Gaels ran out winners on a scoreline of 3-13 to 0-10 and Jimmy Langan’s men proudly took the silverware back to Connolly Park.

Man of the Match:
Ronan Sweeney, but pushed all the way by Roly Anderson and Colin Smith.

Team and Scorers:
J. Farrell, G.Lavin, P. Murphy, K.Taheny, D.Flynn (1-0; 1-0 pen) C.Whiteside, R.Anderson, T.Trill, J.Duffy, C.Davey, B.Mahon (0-1), R.Sweeney (1-2), S.Harte, C.Smith (0-6; 0-5f), R.Philips (1-2)
Subs: N.Hodgins, P.Wynne, G. Anderson, A. Nicholson (0-1; 0-1f), J.Foley, K.Healy (0-1), A.Egan, R Dillon, Oisin Geraghty