Four Masters dig deep against Glenswilly in added time to advance to last eight

Four Masters dug deep in added time to hit three late points and advance to the Donegal SFC quarter-finals at the expense of Glenswilly in O’Donnell Park.

The Donegal Town side started well with an early Conor McCahill goal and they led by four after the first quarter.

Two pointers from Gary McFadden and Caoimhin Marley helped Glenswilly to go ahead, but it would be the only time they led as Kevin Muldoon’s free put Four Masters one ahead at the break.

A second goal from Turlough Carr had Masters six up with 20 to play, but Glenswilly hit the next five scores and a two pointer from Eoghan Scott levelled the game on 59 points.

But added time points from Turlough Carr, Seanán Carr and Kevin Muldoon ensured a final eight spot for the Tírchonaill Park men where they will face Dungloe.

Four Masters wasted no time in getting the first score with Under-20 pair linking up, Seanán Carr finding Conor McCahill on the left for an early point.

Mark Bonner shot low at the other end and Caoimhin Marley nearly directed it into the goal but it came at him too quick before Four Masters hit the net after a sweeping counter, seeing the ball come to McCahill again out on the left and he fired the ball into the top corner with the outside of the boot.

Seanán Carr and Donal Gallagher traded scores before Conor Reid kicked a first score on the right to go five up.

But points from Oisin Crawford and Shane Tinney either side of a Gary McFadden two point free left a point in it on ten minutes.

Carr hit a free and one from play and a Callum McCrea shot at goal was blocked by Oisin Crawford, but Kevin Muldoon kicked the ‘45 to go back into a four point lead.

But Glenswilly showed their ability from range, first as Caoimhin Marley’s shot at goal was superbly saved by Lewis McCaughan, but Kealan Dunleavy converted the free.

Caoimhin Marley then fired over outside the arc from the right, while Gary McFadden did similar from the left as Gary McDaid’s side went into the lead for the first time.

Conor Reid levelled the game and just on 30 minutes, the Tírchonaill Park men nearly got another goal, another good move which saw McCahill lay it off to Carr and his shot beat Caolán Kelly, but Jamie McCauley got back on the line to push it wide.

Muldoon kicked another ‘45 to end the half and give his side the one point lead at the break, 1-8 to 0-10.

Carr added another point from a tight angle on the left, but Mark Bonner responded after a mazy run, kicking over from off the ground.

But a quick 1-2 from Four Masters followed, firstly Turlough Carr kicking over and from the kickout, his brother Seanán won it high up and played in Turlough who rounded Kelly, soccer style, and fired into the top corner off the ground.

Again the Donegal Town side won the kick out and after a good dummy to beat his man, Muldoon fired over with a laces effort to go six ahead with 20 minutes to go.

But Glenswilly continued fighting and two Gary McFadden frees, along with two high balls in ended in another two points, Cormac Callaghan’s pass brilliantly caught and converted by substitute Paddy Ward, while Jack Gallagher’s ball in fell to his brother Donal who fired over.

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Kealan Dunleavy then fired over a brilliant score under pressure on the right, while McCahill squandered a huge goal chance with Seanán Carr to his left, as he shot for a point from close in and fired wide.

Richard O’Rourke made it a two point game again after a good burst of pace, but substitute Eoghan Scott kicked over a crucial two pointer with 90 seconds to go in normal time.

But Four Masters bounced back and as Glensiwlly committed an offensive breach, Seanán Carr had an easy free to convert, and when Turlough Carr won the kick out and innovatively found Muldoon, they built forward and Turlough eventually finished off a great team move.

They won the next two kick outs, the first wide, but with space behind, Killian Faulkner found Muldoon and with a simple 1-on-1, he opted to first over which would be the last action of the game.

Four Masters scorers: Turlough Carr 1-2; Seanán Carr 0-5,2f; Conor McCahill 1-1; Kevin Muldoon 0-4, 2’45; Conor Reid 0-2; Richard O’Rourke 0-1.

Glenswilly scorers: Gary McFadden 0-6,1tp,1tpf,2f; Caoimhin Marley and Eoghan Scott 0-2,1tp each; Donal Gallagher 0-2; Kealan Dunleavy 0-2, 1’45; Oisin Crawford, Shane Tinney, Mark Bonner and Paddy Ward 0-1 each.

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

Subs: Killian Faulkner for McCalmont (56).

Glenswilly: Caolán Kelly; Jamie McCauley, Sean Collum, Cormac Callaghan; Liam McGinley, Jack Gallagher, Oisin Crawford; Kealan Dunleavy, Gary McFadden; Mark Bonner, Donal Gallagher, Pauric Devine; Caoimhin Marley, Shane Tinney, Daithi Gildea.

Subs: Eoghan Scott for Devine (ht), Reid Kelly for Crawford (38), Paddy Ward for Tinney (46), Jake Kelly for McGinley (52).

Referee: Martin McCormick (Glenfin).