Father Rocks Into Last Four

Saturday 12.09.2026

Championship Football

Cookstown 3-15 Owen Roes 1-15

Cookstown booked their place in the semi finals of the Connollys of Moy Intermediate championship but they had to pull out all the stops to get past a determined Owen Roes side who badly missed the services of their Captain Cathal McShane.

The former Tyrone star was ruled out due to appendices. There is no doubt that the North Tyrone men missed his undoubted influence but having said that they did him proud with a whole hearted display that pushed their opponents to the wire. Owen Roes were out of the traps quickly and after Dara Dooher had opened the scoring Damien McCrossan hit a superb two pointer in the 4^th minute. GO POWER man of the match Lorcan McMurray then opened his side’s account and he added another brace with Michael Dooher on target for Owen Roes to leave it 0-4 to 0-3 at the end of the opening quarter.

Cookstown keeper Sean Og Quinn then levelled matters from a “45” but centre half back Stephen Kelly put Owen Roes in front before outstanding midfielder Tony Devine grabbed a 22^nd minute goal for them. In the next attack though the superb McMurray found the net at the other end of the field as Cookstown upped the ante. Conall Sheehy, Eoin Long and McMurray all tagged on points and while Owen Roes responded through Connal McCormack and Aidan Hegarty a brilliant finish to the top right hand corner of the net from Long left it 2-9 to 1-7 at the break.

In the first attack of the second half Long added a quality two pointer with the outside of his boot before Dara Dooher and Aodhan Gormley responded for Owen Roes. Devine went close when he fired into the side netting but then the same player knocked over an inspirational score from outside the arc to keep his side in the hunt. Michael Lennon had a Cookstown point but at the end of the third quarter centre half back Kell hit a superb effort from way downtown to leave just two between the sides.

McMurray got a score to settle the Father Rocks and keeper Quinn nailed a two pointer from a free to leave five between the sides with eight minutes to go. Owen Roes though refused to throw in the towel and with that man Devine kicking another outstanding two pointer the game was back in the melting pot. Respective keepers Ronan Ward and Quinn made good saves while the Cookstown defence made a number of telling blocks. As the game slipped into injury time Quinn denied Owen Roes substitute Niall McAleer an equalising goal and moments later it was game over when Cookstown replacement Michael McElhatton first timed the ball to the net.