Owenmore Gaels clinch the honours

Owenmore Gaels 0-14 Curry 0-11

Cathal Mullaney

In front of a large travelling support, Owenmore Gaels clinched the Expert Electrical under-12 Division Two title last Wednesday evening at Markievicz Park, following an absorbing decider with Curry.

This was a terrific encounter between two skilful sides, with the overall guile of the Collooney-based side proving to be the decisive factor in a thrilling final quarter where the winners fired over the final five points to clinch the title.

In a game where very little separated the teams, Owenmore Gaels led 0-6 to 0-4 after a cagey opening two quarters. The first twelve minutes saw the winners’ race into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead when Aaron Mullen and Conor Sweeney found range early on, but the stylish Adam Gallagher, who would score seven points in all, responded for Curry.

Owenmore Gaels extended their lead to two in the second quarter with Sweeney, along with the influential Paul Mahon, Kyle Mullen and Josh Mulrennan all kicking scores.

Adam Gallagher (2) and Jack Duffy were Curry’s scorers in this period, as the winners’ influence began to grow.

However, an inspired third quarter from the south Sligo side put them in with a real chance of securing the silverware. They outscored the winners 0-5 to 0-3 in this free-flowing period, with Gallagher striking three points - Duffy and Daniel McLoughlin were also on target.

Owenmore Gaels struggled in this 12-minute spell, but had two points from Kyle Mullen to show for their efforts. This meant Curry held a slender 0-9 to 0-8 advantage as the final quarter began.

This time, though, it was Owenmore Gaels’ time to turn on the style as they powered their way to the title. Initially, it looked as though Curry might hang on when Gallagher and Fiachra Loftus pointed early on, but five unanswered scores in the final minutes – Aaron Mullen kicked three brilliant points, with Dylan Anderson and Paul Mahon also chipping in – saw a jubilant Owenmore Gaels claim the honours.  

Owenmore Gaels: C Barrett; J Taheny, Ben McKeown; Dylan Walsh, Ryan Quigley, Finn O’Hara; Paul Mahon, Josh Mulrennan; Aaron Mullen, Lloyd Willis, Kyle Mullen; Dara Callaghan, Ryan McMorrow. Subs: Conor Sweeney, Dylan Anderson.

Curry: E Lang; L Fox, T Ross; C Jennings, D McLoughlin, F Loftus; J Duffy, S Marren; R Duffy, A Gallagher, S Donoghue; O Frizzell, B Byrne. Subs: J French, J Frizzell, M Costigan