O'Rourke confirms bench start for Owens
July 03, 2008

Fermanagh's Barry Owens
Fermanagh boss Malachy O'Rourke has ruled out any chance of his star defender Barry Owens starting this year's Ulster final against Armagh on July 20.
Owens came off the bench in the Erne men's semi-final meeting with Derry to score the game's decisive goal and O'Rourke will be hoping to use the Teemore clubman to the same effect two weeks from Sunday.
"I would honestly say no. He won't start. It took an awful lot out of him the last day. A fit Barry Owens would obviously be an automatic starter.
"I think it would be asking too much. He has only played a wee bit of club football. He played 15 minutes against Derry. Hopefully he will be fit to play some more the next day."
Fermanagh's main injury concern ahead of their first provincial final in 26 years is full-back Hugh Brady, who has replaced Owens in the number three jersey since the two-time All Star underwent heart surgery in the New Year. Brady is still suffering from the back injury that kept him out of his side's semi-final with the Oak Leafers, and O'Rourke has rated the defender's situation as 'touch and go' ahead of the final.
"Hugh still has the back problem. He is a worry. It's touch and go," said O'Rourke.
Most Read Stories