O’Rourke rues missed opportunities

HISTORIC victories are at a premium in Fermanagh and as long as they kick almost double the amount of wides, 14, than points, eight, that’s probably how things will stay.

Manager Malachy O’Rourke conceded that nine first-half wides, in particular, cost his team dearly as they chased down a first ever Ulster SFC title in Clones.

“We knew coming to the game that if we got the chances we had to put them away. We got a lot of chances and missed them,” reflected O’Rourke.

“None of the boys going out on the field meant to do that and you have to legislate for good intentions and everything else. It was disappointing hitting nine wides. Having said that it was still four each at half-time and we felt we were in a good position.

“We finished the drawn game very strongly and we felt we had the fitness and the freshness to do that again. But maybe we lost our way mid way through the second-half and Armagh when they got their chances put them away.”

A key turning point was the withdrawal through injury of Barry Owens after 49 minutes, introduced only 10 minutes earlier with the intention of shaking up the game.

“To lose someone like Barry, who has made such an impact in the games that he’s come on in this year was tough,” said O’Rourke.

“He started well and the first ball that came into him a score came from it. So it was a big blow to us at that particular time. There was only a point in it at that stage.”

O’Rourke said he didn’t yet know the full extent of Owens’ knee injury but the early signs weren’t good, most likely ruling him out of next weekend’s qualifier clash with Kildare.

“In one way it’s the beauty of championship (to be back out next weekend) but in another way it’s really hard work,” said O’Rourke.

“It would have meant so much for the boys to win today because they’ve invested so much emotionally and everything else.”