O’HARE BANG ON TARGET
THE pain of missing out on playing in a dominant, treblewinning Edge Hill United outfit is the motivation behind Crios O’Hare’s outstanding start to the FNQ Premier League season.
O’Hare is in rare form in the opening weeks of the 2020 campaign, scoring his first hattrick of the year to take his season tally to six goals from three games.
It matches his haul from 2019, which came in eight injury-affected games, and has helped ensure the Tigers are unbeaten and on top of the league as they look to defend the championship, premiership and Crad Evans Shield.
Except, this time, O’Hare intends to be on the pitch.
Injuries ruined his 2019 campaign. It was supposed to be a year in which O’Hare proved he could be the on-field leader many believed he was, a year in which the former FNQ Heat and Cairns FC player lifted the silverware.
While he still got to hold the trophies in his capacity as the Tigers coach, O’Hare always intended to be on the field.
It still grates at the man who is equally at home in the midfield and attacking line, and it’s why he’s so driven to succeed.
“It’s nice scoring goals but just getting involved again is great for me,” O’Hare said.
“We had a really successful year last year and coaching the side to the treble was great, but I’m still a player.
“I did want to be part of it. It’s different when you’re on the sideline.
“But it’s great to be back playing now, and great to be part of such a good squad.”
After a tight win at Southside Comets to open their account, Edge Hill United has strung together two impressive 5-0 victories in as many weeks against the teams sitting second and third.
The club, which won the league by 16 points last year, could be an even better outfit this season, and O’Hare is the man with half of his side’s goals so far.
They’ve come from a variety of sources, proving Edge Hill United’s depth, the options they have in attack, and highlights just how lethal those options are in front of goal.
“They’ve all come from really good lead-up play,” O’Hare said.
“I think Pinny (Joshua Pin) created the first two for me (against Leichhardt), but my job is the easiest part.
“If I hadn’t have been on the end of them, I’m sure someone else would have been there.”
Pin, who returned to Cairns after a few years in the UK, has scored two goals, as has fellow attacker Joshua Taylor.
Edge Hill United will host Stratford at Tiger Park, Manunda, on Saturday night.
Fourth-placed Stratford have as even a record as any team possibly can: one win, one loss, one draw, and a goal differential of zero.