Goal-getters Termon blast their way past Four Masters to lift Division 1 title 

Goal-getters Termon are the new All-County League Division 1 champions after seeing off Four Masters by eight points in O’Donnell Park. 

Caolan McDaid’s side’s ability to find the net, coupled with some wayward Four Masters shooting, made this one a little more comfortable than it had been anticipated for the Burn Road outfit. 

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Barry Dunnion’s side were off target 14 times over the hour while a much more economic Termon fluffed their lines just three times in front of the posts

Termon led 2-7 to 0-7 at the changeover and although a fast start to the second stanza by the Donegal Town outfit threatened to drag Termon back into a game, a third goal on 48 minutes killed off that danger. 

Termon couldn’t have got off to a better start as Conor Cassidy waltzed through, just two minutes in and even though his effort was blocked down, Ryan McFadden was on hand to hit the net. 

Daire McDaid followed that up from the ‘45 before a fine two-pointer from Ryan McFadden made it a six-point game as many minutes in. 

Oisin Harkin was next to dance through a static Masters rearguard as he confidently moved his side to 1-4. 

The Donegal Town outfit were creating their own chances but were worryingly off cue on most of those occasions. Indeed, by the quarter-hour mark alone, they’d amassed six wides. 

They were off the mark on ten minutes thanks to Carr. However, matters took another steep turn when Termon grabbed a second goal on 16 minutes. 

A brilliant ball from McDaid, on the counter, left Four Masters vulnerable. And with Ricky Gallagher squaring across to the lurking McFadden, the same player nailed his and his side’s second maximum. 

Such was Four Masters’ plight in front of the posts, they sent stopper Lewis McCaughan up to strike over their next dead ball opportunity and he made no mistake, off the ground, from just outside the two-point arc. 

The excellent McFadden and Carr traded points as 2-6 led 0-4, seven minutes out from the break. 

And Killian Faulkner made his presence felt for the first time soon after as the deficit was trimmed to seven.

Aaron McCrea then got up from corner back to post as Masters looked to end the half strong. 

Still, their old failings in front of the posts was still prevalent as McCalmont shot his side’s eighth wide off the first period. 

Good work from Faulkner and Oisin Reid almost forged a goal chance for Masters while Carr was on hand moments later to creep one just inside the top of the upright.

Still, McDaid would nail a late free for the leaders and six split the teams at the changeover. 

There was a real momentum shift right at the start of the second-half as Masters, and Turlough Carr in particular, stepped it up. 

Carr launched over three efforts on the bounce, including a pair of frees as the gap was reeled into three. 

Termon, with a little help from their opponents, then rattled off a pair of frees of their own through McDaid with one of those gifted due to a Masters ‘three up’ breach. Richard O’Rourke then got in on the act to leave four in it. 

But entering the last quarter of an hour, another turnover by Termon allowed them to counter directly. 

And a little like their second green flag, McDaid’s fingerprints were also all over this one. 

He won a long ball on the breakaway before releasing McFadden and with replacement Ciaran Cassidy to his right, the former took the right option to tee as Termon jumped 3-10 to 0-11 clear. 

McDaid (free) and McFadden would bring the curtain down on the winners’ scoring while Masters’ best player Carr ended with a late brace. 

Termon scorers: Ryan McFadden 2-5,1tp; Daire McDaid 0-6,3f 1’45; Ciaran Cassidy 1-0; Oisin Harkin 0-1. 

Four Masters scorers: Turlough Carr 0-8,2f; Lewis McCaughan 0-2, 1tpf; Killian Faulkner, Richard O’Rourke and Aaron McCrea 0-1 each 

Termon: Emmett Maguire, Conor Cassidy, Cormac Gallagher, Oisín Cassidy, Patrick Fegan, Kevin McGettigan, Ricky Gallagher, Oisín Harkin, Aaron Reid, John James Sweeney, Jack Alcorn, James McSharry, Dáire Mc Daid, Bobby McGettigan, Ryan McFadden

Subs: Cromac Brady for K McGettigan (32), Ciaran Cassidy for McSharry (43), Steve McDaid for Alcorn (53), Gary McGettigan for Sweeney (59), Barry McGeehin for R McFadden (60).

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan, Dylan Kennedy, Aaron McCrea, David Monaghan; Callum McCrea, Caolán Loughney, Patrick Reid; Conor Reid, Richard O'Rourke; Killian Faulkner, Senan Quinn, Cian Gavigan; Alex McCalmont, Kevin Muldoon, Turlough Carr. 

Subs: Daniel McGinty for Gavigan (ht), Joe Leape for A McCrea (47), Emmett Doogan for McCalmont (58), Jamie McCrea for Muldoon (60+3).

Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara).