Four Masters back in U-21 final after a battling win over Glenswilly in atrocious conditions
Three two pointers in the second half were the difference between the sides with the Four Masters front men a little sharper
Four Masters are back in the Donegal U-21 final after a battling win over Glenswilly in atrocious conditions at the Burn Road, Termon.
It is just difficult to explain just how bad conditions were with the driving wind and rain but to their credit both sides tried manfully.
Four Masters were favourites and they were worthy winners in the end, thanks mainly to three great two pointers in the second half.
In truly miserable conditions both sides tried hard to come to terms and play some football.
The gale force wind was crossfield but Conor McCahill made light of them to fire over the first point on two minutes.
Daithi Gildea replied for Glenswilly and the Glen men then got a real bonus when Shane Tinney found Matthew Enright free inside. His first effort was very well blocked but the rebound fell kindly and he sidefooted to the net.
Four Masters were dominating possession but it was difficult to create anything. Seanán Carr added a second Four Masters point and then after great build-up play Kevin Muldoon added another.
Glenswilly lost Donal Gallagher to injury and after an effort from Seanán Carr was short, Kevin Muldoon picked up the rebound to fire over the equaliser. They also lost Darragh Enright before half-time.
Glenswilly had a great chance to go ahead when they had a free moved on 50 metres but they opted to take it back out and go for a two pointer but Shane Tinney’s effort got caught on the wind.
Conor McCahill with the best score of the half put Four Masters ahead on 30 minutes but then disaster for the Donegal Town men when a lopped ball into the goal from Aidan Friel was allowed to hop and it went over the head of Lewis McCaughan for a second Glenswilly goal.
Seanán Carr had the final point of the half from a free, also moved on, to leave the half-time score: Four Masters 0-6, Glenswilly 2-1.
Whatever advantage the crossfield had, it was probably with Four Masters in the second half and boy did they make advantage of it.
The younger Carr, Tomás, showed the way, lofting a two pointer inside two minutes of the restart to push his side back in front and on 38 minutes Conor McCahill fired over a two point free.
The Donegal side created a good goal chance on 45 minutes but the final pass didn’t go to hand but a couple of minutes later they got the goal which probably sealed the win. It came from the quick-thinking of Turlough Carr, taking a free to the unmarked Thomas Lenihan, who coolly fired to the net. Lenihan was just on the field as a blood substitute but made a telling contribution.
Mark Bonner pulled a point back for Glenswilly but on 55 minutes Seanán Carr hit an outrageous two pointer. All Glenswilly could find in response was a late Daithí Gildea free.
Overall Four Masters were deserving winners with the Carrs, Conor Reid and Conor McCahill especially impressive.
Four Masters scorers: Seanán Carr 0-4,1tp,1f; Conor McCahill 0-4,1tpf; Thomas Lenihan 1-0; Kevin Muldoon 0-2; Tomás Carr 0-2,tp.
Glenswilly scorers: Aidan Friel, Matthew Enright 1-0 each; Daithí Gildea 0-2; Eoghan Scott and Mark Bonner 0-1 each.
Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Caolan Sweeney, Josh McCrea, Eoghan O’Neill; Ross O’Keeney, Callum McCrea, Cian Gavigan; Conor Reid, Tomás Carr; Kevin Muldoon, David Monaghan, Turlough Carr; Conor McCahill, Tiarnan McBride, Seanán Carr.
Subs: Thomas Lenihan for C Gavigan (45); Patrick McGonigle and Ethan McNulty for McBride and O’Keeney (both 51)
Glenswilly: Caolan Curran; Liam McGinley, Jamie McCauley, Dylan McAteer; Donal Gallagher, Mikey Toner, Pauric Devine; Mark Bonner, Darragh Enright; Reid Kelly, Eoghan Scott, Aidan Friel; Shane Tinney, Daithi Gildea, Matthew Enright.
Subs: Mandy Kelly for D Gallagher (20); Paddy Ward for D Enright (25)
Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara)