A huge crowd turned out at Ballinamullen on Sunday afternoon for the final play-off game of the league season between Loughmacrory and Owen Roes.
Played in bright sunshine on an excellent playing surface it was Loughmacrory that made the better start and with nine minutes gone they had moved 1-2 to no score in front. It looked as if Owen Roes four week lay-off had taken its toll on them while the Loch lads looked to have benefitted from the intensity of the games they have played over the last fortnight.
Early points from Ronan Ward and Cathal Donaghy gave the Division Two side the edge early on before Ronan Ward got on the end of a fine move to finish the ball to the net for Loughmacrory. Owen Roes looked rattled but worked their way back into the game with a trio of points from Cathal Mc Shane, Michael Dooher and Conal Mc Cormack.
There was great pace and intensity to the game and Loughmacrory responded well to the Owen Roes burst with three scores of their own to stretch their lead to five again. Stephen Dooher helped keep Owen Roes in touch with his side’s fourth point but Loughmacrory finished the half strongly with a goal and a point from young forward Niall Grimes. A fine score from Cathal Mc Shane on the whistle left the half time score Loughmacrory 2-6, Owen Roes 0-5.
Loughmacrory began the second half well but a few positional switches by Owen Roes one of which saw full back Stephen Kelly move to midfield, helped get the north Tyrone side back into the game. Two Mc Shane points and a score from Ryan Mc Aleer reduced the deficit before the game moved up a notch or two when clever play from Mc Shane resulted in a goal for Owen Roes.
Suddenly the gap was down to two and it was very much game on. With both sides well aware of the prize on offer the next score was going to be a big one and it came from the Loch.
Big full forward Benny Donaghy who had been a colossus all afternoon pointed with eight minutes left to leave three between the teams again. Mark Mc Cullagh extended the lead to four with a fine score before Niall Grimes took his tally for the day to 1-4 with another fine point.
Owen Roes to their credit continued to battle hard and late points from Brendan Boggs and Cathal Mc Shane left the score 2-11 to 1-11 with only ninety seconds on the clock. The Division Three side did come close to snatching the goal they needed with fine shots from Boggs and Mc Shane. Sadly for them both missed the target and Loughmacrory held on for a three point 2-11 to 1-11 win.
This result means Loughmacrory will play Intermediate football in 2016 while Owen Roes will continue to compete in the Junior grade.
The post ACL| Loughmacrory Win Play-off. appeared first on Tyrone GAA News Blog.