Four Masters power home in final quarter against Dungloe to reach semi-final

Four Masters are through to the semi-final of the senior championship after a blistering final quarter to overrun Dungloe in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon.

After a lacklustre first half the healthy attendance were treated to a much better spectacle in the second half and it looked as if we might have a close contest as the sides were level four times in the new half at 0-10 each.

But then Four Masters turned on the turbo and the Carrs were to the fore as they hit the final 11 points to come from 0-9 to 0-10 down to finish double score winners.

Apart from the Carrs, the Reids also played their part, as did Richard O'Rourke, Kevin Muldoon and Callum McCrea. In the end they had an impressive 11 different scorers.

A heavy shower made it difficult for the players in the opening few minutes and Dungloe lost Shaun McGee to injury after just three minutes.

Conor McCahill got the scoreboard ticking with a free on seven minutes but Karl Magee burst through midfield to level a minute later. Ryan Connors had a half chance of a goal but fired over for the lead for Dungloe.

Both sides were struggling to find their feet with plenty of turnovers. Kevin Muldoon pointed a free and Richard O'Rourke had Four Masters back in front on 16 minutes.

Barry Curran levelled but then Four Masters went three clear with Conor McCahill getting a second free and Alex McCalmont found a big hole in the Dungloe defence and took advantage. Seanán Carr added their sixth point from a free.

Dungloe needed something before the break, given that they were playing with the slight breeze. And it was Darren Curran who provided a spark when he cut through but he was denied by a great save by Lewis McCaughan. However, the rebound came to Barry Curran to point.

Luke Clerkin completed the first half scoring with a free to leave it Four Masters 0-6, Dungloe 0-5 at the break.

Dungloe started the second half well with Barry Curran having the sides level in the first minute. Luke Clerkin pushed Dungloe ahead for the second time in the contest while Four Masters hit three wides and Conor McCahill went for goal when it wasn't really on.

Conor Reid eventually got Masters back on terms on 38 minutes. Kevin Muldoon added another for the lead but Matthew Ward made a great run and won a free, of the soft variety, and Danny Rodgers landed the first two pointer for a 0-9 to 0-8 lead on 42 minutes.

Conor Reid and Dylan Sweeney traded points a minute later but then Four Masters took over in the final quarter. They hit 10 unanswered points for a result that didn't look likely at that stage.

Oisin Reid started the run with a one-two with Seanán Carr to fire over. Turlough Carr hit the first two pointer from play and his brother Seanán added one from a free.

Turlough, Callum McCrea, Seanán Carr and Joe Leape added to their tally as the Dungloe challenge collapsed. The Rosses Park side finished with 14 after Aaron Neely was shown a red card in the final stages.

Four Masters scorers: Seanán Carr 0-5,1tpf,2f; Turlough Carr 0-3,1tp; Conor Reid, Conor McCahill (2f), Kevin Muldoon (1f) 0-2 each; Callum McCrea, Caolan Loughney, Richard O’Rourke, Oisin Reid, Alex McCalmont, Joe Leape 0-1 each.

Dungloe scorers: Barry Curran 0-3; Danny Rodgers (tpf), Luke Clerkin (2f) 0-2 each; Karl Magee, Darren Curran, Dylan Sweeney 0-1 each.

Dungloe: Danny Rodgers; Jason McBride, Aaron Ward, Mark Curran; Barry Curran, Karl Magee, Aaron Neely; Darren Curran, Ryan Connors; Dylan Sweeney, Daire Gallagher, Matthew Ward; Luke Clerkin, Ryan Greene, Shaun McGee.

Subs: Oisin Bonner for S McGee (3); Ryan Greene and Conor O’Donnell for C Greene and M Ward (52); Noel McBride for Clerkin (59); Patrick O’Donnell for R Connors (60)

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

Subs: Killian Faulkner for McCalmont (42); Joe Leape for McCahill (58); Jamie Crawford for Loughney (59)

Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara)