Termon back in business following win over Four Masters

Termon are back in business following a hard-fought second round senior championship clash in sweltering heat at the Burn Road. 

After suffering an opening round away defeat to Killybegs, the pressure was on Termon this afternoon against a fancied Four Masters who had begun their campaign with a win, albeit not that impressive against St Nauls, in Tirconaill Park.

In a much improved performance laced with character, spirit, and tenacity, Termon ran out deserving four point winners.

And they did it the hard way as they came from 1-2 to 0-1 down after seven minutes after conceding a second minute goal by Kevin Muldoon.

The lightning-fast Muldoon raced straight down the middle of the Termon defence to coolly slot to the back of Emmet Maguire’s net off the outside of his right boot. A truly brilliant individual goal but a nightmare start for the home rearguard.

And while Daire McDaid converted from a ‘45 shortly after following a good block to deny Jack Alcorn from close range in a crowded Four Masters goalmouth, Conor McCahill from a close in free after a defensive breach extended Masters’ lead out to 1-2 to 0-1.

That was eight minutes into the game, but Masters, who dominated the opening exchanges, did not score again for the next ten minutes as Termon, through the influence and industry of Oisin Harkin, Aaron Reid, and Conor Cassidy, pushed ahead.

And the scores flowed for the wind assisted locals with Ryan McFadden, Bobby McGettigan and Ricky Gallagher landing two point scores, and single strikes from Jack Alcorn and Patrick Fagan saw Termon pull five points clear, 0-10 to 1-2, by the end of the first quarter.

Alex McCalmont ended the Masters barren patch with a well struck point. But it was only a temporary pause as dominant Termon extended their lead to eight points, 0-14 to 1-3. 

However, the Masters had a good closing five minutes to the half and after Joe Leape had struck a point, Oisin Reid netted the Masters' second goal when he first timed to the net after the Termon defence failed to deal with a Conor McCahill’s fisted cross.

The Termon lead was now back to four points, 0-14 to 2-4, and that is how it was at half-time. The momentum was now with the Masters as they trotted off at the break. 

Seanán Carr, who was the man of the match for Donegal Boston in the North America Intermediate championship final last weekend, was introduced at the break,.

But Ricky Gallagher extended the Termon lead with the first point of the second period. Conor Reid responded for the Masters before McCahill cut in from the left wing to drill the ball low and to the net at Emmet Maguire’s left hand post. 

The Termon lead was now back to two points, and the fat was in the fire with 20 minutes still to play. 

With their backs to the wall, Termon displayed admirable character and with strikes from John James Sweeney, Jack Alcorn, Ricky Gallagher and Daire McDaid, they pulled five clear to lead 0-19 to 3-5 by the three-quarter mark. 

It was all hands to the pump in the closing 15 minutes and tenacious defending from Conor Gallagher, Oisin Cassidy and Conor Cassidy and with great assistance from Aaron Reid and Ryan McFadden, restricted the Masters attack to two points in the final quarter hour.

The elusive Daire McDaid kept the scoreboard ticking at the other end to maintain Termon advantage before the locals ran out deserving victors.

It was Termon’s second big win of the season over the Masters as the Burn Road men also defeated the men from Tirconaill Park in the Division 1 League final just before the start of the championship. 

Termon scorers: Daire McDaid 0-5,1'45’ Ryan McFadden 0-4,2tp; Ricky Gallagher 0-4,1,tp; Jack Alcorn and John James Sweney 0-2 each; Bobby McGettigan 0-2,tp; Patrick Fegan 0-1.. 

Four Masters scorers: Conor McCahill 1-1,1f, Alex McCalmont 1-1, Oisin Reid 1-0, Conor Reid 0-2, Turlough Carr, Joe Leape, Killian Faulkner 0-1 each.  

Termon: Emmet Maguire; Cormac Brady, Conor Gallagher, Oisin Cassidy; Patrick Fegan, Conor Cassidy, Ricky Gallagher; Oisin Harkin, Aaron Reid; John James Sweeney, Bobby McGettigan, Steve McDaid; Daire McDaid, Jack Alcorn, Ryan McFadden.

Subs: James McSharry for P Fegan (49); Kevin McGettigan for O Harkin (51). 

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan, Aaron McCrea, Dylan Kennedy, Caolan Loughney; Alex McCalmont, Oisin Reid, Callum McCrea; Patrick Reid, Kevin Muldoon; Richard O’Rourke, Turlough Carr, Conor Reid; Conor McCahill, Killian Faulkner, Joe Leape. 

Subs: Seanán Carr for A McCalmont (h/t); Cian Gavigan for J Leape (54); David Monaghan for A McCrea (56); Jamie McCrea for S Carr (60). 

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada)