Late Gillespie goal sinks Naomh Conaill as Four Masters reach another Minor final

Four Masters once again showed their never say die attitude as Finn Gillespie hit a late goal to defeat Naomh Conaill in the Under-18 All-County Division 1 Cup semi-final in the Donegal GAA Centre.

Thomas Lenehan top scored for the Donegal Town side with 1-3, his goal coming in the first half as they led by six, but that was cut in half by a Max Campbell two pointer and a Stephen McDevitt free to leave it 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

And with a Donall Breslin goal and a Leon Gallagher McDyre two pointer, Naomh Conaill went ahead for the first time with 15 to play.

Four Masters kept coming back and they levelled twice, even after an Oisin Bonner goal, but Gallagher McDyre’s second two pointer was a huge score on 59 minutes.

But with a bit of fortune and a shot coming off the post, substitute Gallagher hit a goal instantly after to put the reigning Donegal and Ulster champions one ahead, with Lenehan adding a final score soon after to keep their hopes of four-in-a-row at minor level alive.

A slow starting game, which saw a couple of wides against a cross-field breeze, Lewis McCaughan’s super ‘45 was the first score of the game, and a Lenehan point soon followed for the Tírchonaill Park men.

Conall Flannery added a third after a nice swivel, as McDevitt’s free got Naomh Conaill going on 13 minutes.

Conor McCahill pointed next as he shrugged off the tackle, while Lenehan had a goal chance go wide, but he followed it up with another point quickly after.

McDevitt replied with a score, but from the kickou,t Four Masters won the ball and Tomas Carr’s outside of the foot pass bobbled to Lenehan, who raced forward and fired the ball into the corner of the net.

McDevitt hit another free after a breach, while Gethin Mosby opened his account after a good move and he should have had a goal if McCahill got the head up to find his unmarked teammate a couple of yards out, but the county Under-20 star struck for a goal, which was blocked.

Naomh Conaill’s senior goal hero Max Campbell fired over the point of the half with an outside of the boot effort from outside t,he arc which started way outside the right hand post, while McDevitt added a free just on the break to leave it at 1-6 to 0-6.

Conor Farrell and Callum Maskery exchanged scores after the break but the game was soon levelled after a brilliant bit of work from McDevitt, playing a 1-2 with Donnacha Malone before finding Donall Breslin who rifled the ball into the bottom left corner.

McCahill put his side back in front, but Naomh Conaill took the lead for the first time on 44 minutes as Leon Gallagher McDyre fired over a two pointer almost identical to Campbell’s in the first half.

Lenehan tied up the game and McCahill put his side ahead again, but a second goal came for Naomh Conaill with Daithi Molloy and Campbell racing forward, the latter teeing up Oisin Bonner who palmed over McCaughan on 53 minutes.

Turlough Carr hit two quick points, the first a free, to tie the game, but Gallagher McDyre kicked another brilliant two pointer to put his side in control briefly on 59 minutes.

The lead didn’t last, as the kickout went long and Four Masters had bodies forward, Turlough Carr’s effort coming off the post and falling fortunately to substitute Finn Gillespie who was in the right position to fire the ball in from close range.

Lenehan added another point in the final minute and while it went into a fourth minute of added time, Farrell’s effort dropped short and McCaughan punched clear as Anthony Finn blew for full-time.

Four Masters scorers: Thomas Lenehan 1-4; Conor McCahill 0-3; Finn Gillespie 1-0; Turlough Carr 0-2,1f; Gethin Mosby, Conall Flannery and Callum Maskery 0-1 each; Lewis McCaughan 0-1,’45.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Leon Gallagher McDyre 0-4,2tp; Stephen McDevitt 0-4,3f; Donall Breslin and Oisin Bonner 1-0 each; Max Campbell 0-2,1tp; Conor Farrell 0-1.

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Ethan McCrea, Aidan Quinn, Jack McGroarty; Patrick McGonagle, Eoghan O’Neill, Alan McHugh; Tomas Carr, Conall Flannery; Callum Maskery, Turlough Carr, Cian Gavigan; Conor McCahill, Gethin Mosby, Thomas Lenehan.

Subs: Conor Griffin for Flannery (45), Finn Gillespie and Jake Quinn for Mosby and Maskery (57)

Naomh Conaill: Darragh Kennedy; Eoghan Quinn, Niall Roarty, Seaghan Boyle; Thomas McDevitt, Daithi Molloy, Leon Gallagher McDyer; Max Campbell, Jamie Byrne; Oisin Bonner, Stephen McDevitt, Donall Breslin; Donnacha Malone, Conor Farrell, Logan Melly.

Subs: Orin Brannigan for Bonner (54)

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille)