Limavady United manager Paul Owens is still searching for his newly promoted side’s first points of the Irish Premiership season, but he is already beating the drum about the positives. His squad took two tough Ls to kick off their top-flight debut after 18 years, falling to Glentoran in the opener before a 2-1 defeat at home to Carrick Rangers. But don’t let those early results fool you. Owens sees a squad on the cusp of figuring it out.
Belief in the Youth Movement
Forget the scoreboard for a second. Owens is laser-focused on his young offensive talent, and he sounds pumped about it. “We have five forward players in the squad and they’re all under 23,” Owens told BBC Sport NI, full of conviction. He’s got “full belief that they’ll be fine and they will score goals at this level.” That’s the kind of confidence you love to hear from a manager when his team is finding its footing in a “really ruthless league.” He believes what they need is “just a wee bit of belief.” Sound familiar? Owens pointed out they “probably went through similar last year at times then all came good towards the end of the season.” If history repeats, this team could be building towards something big.
Close Calls and Crucial Lessons
The Carrick Rangers match, their first Premiership game at Limavady Showgrounds since 2008, showed flashes of that potential. The crowd was impressive, and the team nearly pulled off an epic comeback. Alfie Gaston pulled one back, and suddenly, the energy shifted. “They were flat at half-time, there is no doubt about that,” Owens admitted. But that goal energized them, proving “one goal could change us.” They grew in confidence, created multiple chances, but just couldn’t find that equalizer. It’s a brutal lesson in a top league, but a lesson they’re “all learning on the job,” including Owens himself.
The message is clear: the belief is there, the talent is there, and the lessons are happening. Limavady might not have the points yet, but Owens has “no doubt they’ll come good here again.” They’re finding their rhythm in the big league, and with that youth talent, the first points of the season are surely on the horizon. The question isn’t *if* they’ll score goals, but *when* those young guns find their stride and make some noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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