Kieran Galvin
Published: Mon 26 Sep 2022, 4:44 PM
Last updated: Mon 26 Sep 2022, 6:26 PM
A general view of MW Hire O'Moore Park, Portlaoise. Photo: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Bizarre own point in club football clash
In yesterday's Westmeath SFC semi-final, Peter Murray of The Downs was unfortunate to 'score' an own goal. Murray was trying to deal with a delivery into the goalmouth from Tommy Ryan of Tyrrellspass, but the defender inadvertently diverted the ball past his goalkeeper Trevor Martin.
The Downs recovered from that setback and eventually won by 3-10 to 1-13, to reach their first Westmeath SFC final in 17 years.
However, far more bizarre was an 'own point' in the Laois SFC semi-final between O'Dempsey's and Courtwood, also on Sunday.
At a blustery MW Hire O'Moore Park in Portlaoise, O'Dempsey's corner-back Johnny Kelly scored an 'own point' when his misplaced kick from a free cleared his own crossbar.
Similar to the situation in The Downs v Tyrrellspass match, the strange score not prove costly in the end as O'Dempsey's emerged victorious by 1-16 to 0-11. They will meet Portarlington in the final after the defending champions overcome Portlaoise, 0-9 to 0-8, in the other semi-final.
In any case, the highly unusual score can be watched HERE
There was also an 'own point' in a club hurling match in Roscommon earlier this year.
In the Roscommon Senior Hurling League final between Four Roads and St Dominic's, an own point was scored from a sideline cut. Jason Martin of St Dominic's was the unfortunate player in that case.
It was described in the Westmeath Independent report on the game as "one of the most unusual scores to ever have been registered".
"A long ball into the right corner of the Four Roads attack overshot everyone and rolled out for a sideline, which Jason Martin attempted to cut back to Cormac Miley (goalkeeper). His pass was slightly overhit, leading to the sliotar sailing over Miley's head and over the crossbar for an 'own point' that led most people to wonder if their eyes were deceiving them," stated the report.
Four Roads forced extra-time with an injury-time point and eventually won the final by 0-26 to 2-16, leaving Dominic's camp to ponder what the outcome would have been if they hadn't conceded that peculiar point.