Four Masters pull off big win against Naomh Conaill in Division 1

Four Masters, despite being short a good number of players, got the better of Naomh Conaill with a late winner from Alex McCalmont  in Tirconaill Park.

In what was a close contest throughout, the second half was held up for some 30 minutes due to a medical incident in the stand.

But in the end the young Donegal Town side got a massive result which could mean they will contest the Division 1 final. They have just one game left, away to Gaoth Dobhair, and if they can win that game they are almost guaranteed a final place.

It was a case of points versus goals in the opening half with the three pointers for Naomh Conaill keeping them in the contest.

Kevin McGettigan opened the scoring but Four Masters were three ahead after seven minutes thanks to an opening point from Alex McCalmont, a two point free from Lewis McCaughan and a fourth from Senan Quinn.

Naomh Conaill were back level thanks to a magnificent run from Max Campbell through the Four Masters defence and a clinical finish.

Four Masters added three points from Oisin Doherty (2) and David Monaghan but once again Naomh Conaill were level on 19 minutes when Odhrán Doherty cut through to fire home.

By the 25th minute Four Masters had edged four clear again with a massive two point free from McCaughan from 56m and one pointers from Caolan Loughney, Senan Quinn and Alex McCalmont.

But for the third time the McGettigans Kevin and Eoghan created an opening for Kieran Gallagher to palm home a third goal on 27 minutes.

Before half-time Oisin Doherty hit a free to leave Four Masters ahead by 0-13 to 3-1 at the break.

The second half saw Naomh Conaill start well and a Charlie McGuinness goal and a two pointer from  Mark McDevitt edged them ahead.

But Four Masters  kept plugging away with substitute Conor Reid and Patrick Reid hitting points and a goal from Senan Quinn was important.

Coming down the stretch Naomh Conaill edged ahead thanks to another Charlie McGuinness palmed goal but Alex McCalmont finished the game with late points, the winner with the final play of the game.

READ NEXT: Donegal paired with Meath in All-Ireland semi-final

Four Masters scorers: Senan Quinn 1-2; Lewis McCaughan 0-4,2tpf; Alex McCalmont 0-4; Oisin Doherty 0-3,3f; Conor Reid (tp), Turlough Carr 0-2 each; David Monaghan, Patrick Reid, Caolan Loughney 0-1 each.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Charles McGuinness 2-0; Odhrán Doherty, Kieran Gallagher, Max Campbell 1-0 each; Mark McDevitt 0-2,tp; Brendan McDyer 0-2; Kevin McGettigan 0-1.

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Aidan McHugh, Dylan Kennedy, David Monaghan; Caolan Loughney, Callum McCrea, Aaron McCrea; Patrick Reid, Senan Quinn; Emmett Doogan, Turlough Carr, Jamie Crawford; Alex McCalmont, Ethan McNulty, Oisin Doherty.

Subs: Kevin Muldoon for Crawford (ht); Conor Reid for O Doherty (35); Killian Faulkner for E McNulty (36)

Naomh Conaill: Jordan O’Donnell; Oran Doherty, Kealan McGill, AJ Gallagher; Max Campbell, Kevin McGettigan, Mark McDevitt; Kieran Gallagher, Seamus Corcoran; Brendan McDyer, Eoghan McGettigan, Odhrán Doherty; Tiarnan Ward, Charlie McGuinness, John O’Malley.

Subs: Neil Francis Boyle for Corcoran (44); Shea Malone for T Ward (44); Daniel Gildea for B McDyer (52); Jason Campbell for M McDevitt (58)

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)