Four Masters captain Richard O’Rourke happy to get result

Four Masters had three points to spare over neighbours St Naul’s in the opening round of the Donegal senior championship and captain Richard O’Rourke was just happy to get the win.

“We knew, regardless of how the league went for most of the teams, we would come in here and it would be tough right down to the final whistle.

“We were a point up at half-time and we probably could have been a bit more if we had taken our chances. But they did what they had to do, they sat in lying deep and used the wind well. Thankfully we came out in the second half and used the wind to our advantage and clipped on the scores when we could,” said O’Rourke.

The game, however, remained close even though Four Masters always held the advantage to the end.

“We probably had a chance or two to put it to four but we got caught in the corner and in the senior championship if one or two men get around you in the corner it’s as good as handing back possession. And obviously with the new rules we knew with the three county boys, Gavin (Mulrean) came up there for that last attack. We knew the county boys would work that two pointer.

“So we just pushed up on that two point arc and you just throw yourself at the boot at that stage, do anything to stop it going over or towards the goal at that stage.”

O’Rourke is happy to be back fit after an injury curtailed the start of the season for him.

“I was out at the start of the year. I think I missed the first four or five games. I  wouldn’t mind, I was training all pre-season but it was just bad timing. I’m delighted to be back, the new rules have freshened things up.

“We might have been criticised last year for being a bit defensive but this year you can’t do that; you have to go at, 15 to 15, and it’s brilliant.”

Even though still very young, O’Rourke is one of the senior members of what is a very young Four Masters side and he agrees that team selection is always very difficult with such talent available.

“I’m delighted it’s nothing to do with me. It’s up to Barry (Dunnion) at the end of the day. We just have to put it in during the training sessions.”

The thoughts of Four Masters now turn to their second game which is away to Termon, whom they lost to in the Division 1 League final.

“We played Termon twice already this year in the league. We got them up in the Burn Road and it was a draw but to be fair to them they really put it on us in the league final. So we know how good they can be; no game in the senior championship will be easy. Every team is going into it with the title on their minds.

“I’m sure they’ll be thinking about that this week so we’ll have to go and look for a result again.”

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Four Masters could have Seanán Carr back for that game as he has been in Boston for the summer.

“We know the quality Seanán has, so if he’s home happy days. He should have had two hat-tricks back to back last year in the early rounds. So he’ll be a great addition to have back as well,” said O’Rourke.