Gaoth Dobhair were deserving winners of this exciting Division One Minor League final at the Donegal GAA Centre against a battling Four Masters side who were missing five key performers.
Four Masters, were minus the injured Conor McCahill and Turlough Carr, Cian Gavigan, Daniel McGinty and Lewis McCaughan all have senior commitments.
Despite this obvious handicap, the Donegal Town lads opened the scoring with a point from Conor Flannery in the second minute.
But that was to be their last score for a full fifteen minutes as a physically powerful Gaoth Dobhair, who were minus Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde, took over and used the strong wind to their advantage.
It took
Gaoth Dobhair a while to settle before the powerful Cathal Rua Gallagher opened their account with a soaring point in the sixth minute.
Jinking corner forward Tadhg Ó Baoill then hit a point and a two pointer to put his side into a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the eighth minute.
It was then the elegant John Paul Gallagher who was next to fire over a fine two pointer.
It got even better for Gaoth Dobhair when an attempt at a two pointer fell short, and Ó Baoill reacted quickest as he turned the ball into the Masters’ net soccer for a 1-6 to 0-1 lead.
Masters ended their scoring famine with a pointed free from target man Thomas Lenehan and the lively Geithin Mosby made it 1-6 to 1-3 after 20 minutes.
Flannery narrowed the gap for Masters before the impressive Jordi Gribben pointed for the Gaeltacht men and Colm Ó Dochartaigh raised the orange flag with a fine two pointer to put his team into a 1-9 to 0-4.
But Masters hit back with a scrambled goal as a Gaoth Dobhair attempt at clearing from defence saw the ball break and Gethin Mosby poked the ball to the net to leave the Magheragallon men leading by 1-9 to 1-4 at the break.
Wind-assisted Four Masters had a bright resumption and Mosby and two Lenehan cut the lead to 1-9 to 1-7.
John Paul Boyle (free) and Tomas Carr traded scores, but JP Gallagher stretched the lead back to three points for Gaoth Dobhair by the 45th minute.
Fionn Bonner added another point for Gaoth Dobhair, but a fine two pointer from Lenehan and a single point from Jake Quinn left a point in it.
Colm Doherty for Gaoth Dobhair and Quinn for Masters closed out the scoring in an exciting finish where Gaoth Dobhair shaded it on a score of 1-14 to 1-12.
Gaoth Dobhair scorers: John Paul O’Gallchóir 0-6,2tp; Tadhg O’Baoill 1-2; Colm O’Dochartaigh 0-4,1tp Jordi Ó Gribín 0-1 Alan O ‘D’ochartaigh 0-1.
Four Masters scorers: Thomas Lenehan 0-5,1tp,2f; Gethin Mosby 1-2; Conall Flannery 0-2; Tomas Carr 0-1; Jake Quinn 0-1. Odhran McMullin 0-1.
Gaoth Dobhair: Frainc MacGrianna; Joey Ó Colla, Cathal MacAoidh, Fionn Cnaimhsi; Jamie Ó Gallchóir, Dallan Ó Baoill, Cathal 'Rua' Ó Gallchóir; Jordi Ó Gribín, Padraig Piaras Ó Domhnaill; John Paul Ó Gallchobhair, Domhnall Doran, Alan Ó Dochartaigh; Colm Ó Dochartaigh, Brian MacFaidín, Tadhg Ó Baoill.
Subs: Aaron O’Colla for Domhnall Doran (46).
Four Masters: Fintan James; Ethan McCrea, Aidan Quinn, Jack McGroarty; Thomas Healy, Eoghan O’Neill, Odhran McMullin; Tomas Carr, Patrick McGonagle; Callum Maskery, Alan McHugh, Jake Quinn; Conall Flannery, Thomas Lenehan, Gethin Mosby.
Subs: Jack Grapa for Eoghan O’Neill (47).
Refereee: Daniel Carlin (Naomh Pádraig, Lifford)
