Four Masters land back-to-back U-16 titles in seeing off Glenswilly

In the end, it was a two-point margin of victory, but a more direct Four Masters side were well worth this second U-16 county title on the trot as the footballing renaissance continues at pace in and around Donegal Town.

With four minutes left, they led by 1-11 to 0-9 but a game Glenswilly refused to fold and a long lob from midfielder Cahair Daly somehow ended up in the Masters net to set up a frenetic finish.

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Suddenly, a game that seemed to be in their control had taken a dramatic twist as Neil Gallagher’s men went route one on the Masters goal.

But the Donegal Town boys did what they did throughout the game - they turned a ball over and broke at lightning pace and Conal Parsons finished to the net, but referee Alan Finn ruled a square ball after playing two minutes of extra time.

Masters had a dream start when outstanding full forward Finn Gillespie made up for an earlier miss when he pounced on an error from Glen keeper James Toner to tap the ball to an empty net after just two minutes.

To their credit, Glenswilly who had almost all the possession, rallied bravely and levelled matters through fine points from Matthew McGinley, a great effort from Eli Casburn and the impressive Jonah Cannon.

Gillespie put the South Donegal men into the lead when he converted a fine 45. Man of the Match Conor Griffin then made it 1-2 to 0-3.

Glenswilly had loads of possession but were just not able to penetrate a well-organised Four Masters defence, who were using three sweepers at some stages but broke at lightning pace on turnovers and had the sharper forwards, although Glenswilly hit four wides which were scorable.

Jay Cullen, made it 1-3 to 0-4 at the break for the Masters. But it was the third quarter that Masters really pulled away, even though Ronan McGrenra hit a superb point for Glenswily from the sideline to leave just a point in it.

However, Masters retorted with three points in almost as many minutes from Cullen, Gillesie and Griffin to put Conal Gallagher’s boys into a 1-6 to 0-5 lead after 35 minutes.

It could have been even more, only for a superb interception from Lee McCauley denied the pacey Daire Slevin an almost certain goal.

The powerful Griffin went through the centre of the Glen defence and hammered over a point to put his side into a 1-7 to 0-5 lead.

But Glenswilly were growing into the game and a pointed free and one from play left Masters leading by 1-7 to 0-7.

However, the inspirational Gillespie struck a deadly two-pointer to put his side into a 1-9 to 0-7 lead ten minutes from time.

Jamie McMonagle went through the Glen defence and blazed over the bar when a goal looked on.

Glenswilly needed a goal, but it was Griffin who hit the final point for Masters as they led by 1-11 to 0-7 five minutes from time.

The Glenswilly bench urged their boys to go route one and maybe they should have tried that tactic earlier as they hit 1-2 in those final, frantic minutes. But time ran out, as Masters deservedly hung on for yet another underage title.

Four Masters scorers: Finn Gillespie 1-5, 1tp; Conor Griffin 0-3; Jay Cullen 0-2; Kian Gallagher 0-1.

Glenswilly scorers: Jonah Cannon 0-3, 2f; Cahair Daly 1-0; Zac Gallagher 0-3, 2f; Mathew McGinley 0-1; Eli Casburn 0-1; Ronan McGrenra 0-1.

Four Masters: Noah Kennedy; Michael Masterson, Max O’Reilly, Rian Downey; Thomas McHugh, Eoghan Thomas, Fintan James; Conor Griffin, Kian Gallagher; Jamie McMonagle, Odhran Plunkett, Conall Parsons, Jay Cullen, Finn Gillespie, Daire Slevin.

Glenswilly: James Toner; Edward Callaghan, Paddy McHugh, Lee McCauley; Seamus Boyle, Matthew McGinley, Eli Casburn; Conor McDaid, Cahair Daly; Ronan McGrenra, Zac Gallagher, Liam McEldowney; Jonah Cannon, Tiernan Fries, Tristan Guzsmans.

Subs: Sean Enright for Guzsmans (ht).

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille).