Ballinamallard may be enduring a disappointing run of results on the pitch in recent weeks, but amid the frustration of Friday night’s defeat to Carrick Rangers there was a glimpse of what may be the start of a bright future for the club. 
When many of his more experienced teammates were struggling to make an impression in the second half against Carrick Rangers on Friday night, Niall Owens’ brief cameo on the left wing gave home fans a glimpse of the exciting pace and skill of the 16 year old who is determined to make himself a Ferney Park regular.
The St. Michael’s student made his home team debut in the high pressure environment of the relegation play off against Institute last season. 
Since that performance he has gone on to make five substitute appearances during this campaign, as well as one start against Portadown earlier this month. Niall admits he is loving his taste of the first team.
 “It has been challenging but I am relishing the challenge,” he said.
 “It is completely different to youth football. The tempo of the game is really fast and you don’t have nearly as much time on the ball, so you have to do everything so much quicker. It is far more physical as well. 
“The first time I played was in the play-off game, the last game of last season. I was very nervous for that game because we were losing at the time and I thought we were going to get relegated, but I’m not as nervous now when I get on to the pitch.
“ I just see it as a game of football and I don’t think too much into it.”
When Gavin Dykes was appointed as manager in the summer it was his previous experience of developing youth that was a key factor in the board appointing him to follow in the footsteps of Whitey Anderson. 
Gavin has since repeatedly stressed the importance of getting more players coming through from the youth academy.
 He has put that philosophy into action in recent weeks, with Owens being joined in the Premier League club by the likes of Calum Frempong and Ben McCann, and Niall admits the advice and praise he has received from the manager has been key in his development. 
“I feel Gavin has improved me a lot since he came in,” he said. “I feel like I have played well, and Gavin has said I have done well when I have come on. He gives me loads of confidence and explains stuff really well.”
Niall is a graduate of the Ballinamallard Youth academy, having played his first football at the club when he was just four years old.
 He worked his way through the youth teams and has received international recognition, representing Northern Ireland at the recent European Under 17 Championships in September. 
“It was an unreal experience,” he admitted.
 “We were outclassed by Spain, beaten in injury time against Slovakia, and then we beat San Marino. Playing against Spain was something else. They were something special. I have never played against a team at my own age group that were that good.”
That experience has helped him come to terms with the standards required to compete in the premier League, and he has been as frustrated as the rest of the squad with the recent results.
 “It was very disappointing against Carrick and the dressing room wasn’t very upbeat,” he acknowledged.
 “We know what we can achieve and we know that we can play well against teams. 
“We went on a run of four games unbeaten and we know that if we put in the performances then we can get results, but we’re just not putting the performances in at the minute and not getting results. 
“We just need to get a run of games going and then we will be fine.”
Next up for the Mallards is a tough trip to Solitude to play Cliftonville, and Niall is hoping that he is once again a member of the squad that makes the journey to Belfast so he can make a contribution to reversing the current poor run of results. 
“My target would be to get a run of games, and to help the team get a few more points on the board so we don’t have to worry about relegation,” he said. 
“I would like to get more starts but I am only sixteen so I don’t really mind at this stage!”