Owen Roe O'Neills GAC

Owen Roes made the long trip to Aughnacloy on Sunday to face Aghaloo in round 3 of the ACL. The hosts had won their opening two fixtures, and after a tight sixty minutes maintained that record as they edge out the visitors by a couple of scores.

It was the visiting side that started brightest, and wingback Gerard Devine gallivanted forward to record the day's first score. Aghaloo struck back but a Declan McCrossan dead ball restored the Leckpatrick lead.

However the Owen Roes lead was short lived, as firstly Dylan Early tipped over an Aghaloo goal effort, and two more Aghaloo scores nosed them ahead. The Leckpatrick side though were showing some fight, and the other wing back Kevin O'Donnell split the posts before another McCrossan free made it 0-5 to 0-4 for the Green and Reds.

Last year's Junior Championship runners up though were keen to maintain their interest at the business end of the table and 0-3 without reply- two from frees- ensured they entered the break with a two point cushion.

Half Time: Aghaloo 0-7 Owen Roes 0-5

Any thoughts of a bright start to the second period were quashed for the Leckpatrick team within five minutes as Aghaloo's forward division laced on a further three scores to cement their advantage. Nonetheless the O'Neills showed grit and determination, with Gerard Devine excelling, to catapult right back into contention as McCrossan planted the ball to the net for a much needed major.

Critically Aghaloo were next on the scoreboard twice, as they managed to keep at arm's length. McCrossan twice more split the posts from dead balls, but the game ended with both sides trading scores, McCrossan again for Owen Roes, as Aghaloo edged home by a pair.

Disappointment again for the North Tyrone side, but the team showed some battling characteristics which suggest a victory should not be far away.