Four Masters on fire in final quarter to overwhelm Naomh Conaill in U-21 final

Four Masters put on a masterclass in the final quarter as they completely overwhelmed Naomh Conaill to retain their U-21A title at Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon.

A minute’s silence was observed prior to the game in memory of the late Mickey McLoone, and he would have really enjoyed the performance of the Donegal Town front men in this final.

With 10 different scorers, it would have been impossible to pick a man of the match. Seanán Carr got the nod but one player who didn’t score, Callum McCrea, must have been close, such was his influence on the final.

The front men of Four Masters were on fire with Conor McCahill and Seanán Carr extremely lively from start to finish while behind them McCrea, Conor Reid and the younger Carrs kept the tempo high.

This young group of players have had a remarkable run at underage and with only a few of them overage next year, the future at this age group looks very strong.

Naomh Conaill got a dream start with the ball in the net on 45 seconds. Finnbarr Roarty was going for a  point but the ball dropped short and was contested by the ‘keeper Lewis McCaughan and Shea Malone. It broke and Danny Brown, following up, first timed to the roof of the net.

Brown added a point on three minutes but  Four Masters slowly began to exert their influence. Seanán Carr got them on the board with a free on six minutes and Kevin Muldoon should have taken another point but blazed wide when going for goal.

Then Four Masters had a great four minutes from the 11th minute. Cian Gavigan pointed after missing one earlier before Callum McCrea started the move which saw Conor McCahill find the corner of the net and the lead for Four Masters.

McCrea then set up Seanán Carr to point and Lewis McCaughan converted a ‘45’ after the Naomh Conaill ‘keeper denied Tiarnan McBride from point blank range.

Seanán Carr was denied a goal chance but from the rebound he hit his third and Tiarnan McBride lofted a two pointer from near the sideline for a 1-7 to 1-1 lead.

Naomh Conaill finally found their mojo again with points from Tiarnan Ward, Finnbarr Roarty and Jack McGlynn in quick succession. They also were denied a goal when Lewis McCaughan made a great save from Danny Brown.

Four Masters finished the half well with further points from Conor McCahill, Tomás Carr and Conor Reid to  be six ahead at the break, 1-10 to 1-4.


Four Masters celebrate U-21 success

The second half was a slow burner for the third quarter with Four Masters adding three points from Seanán Carr, Conor McCahill (free) and Conor Reid before Naomh Conaill replied with a Shea Malone two point free and minors from Stephen McDevitt and a Tiarnan Ward free to leave it 1-13 to 1-8 after 48 minutes.

Then Four Masters went into overdrive to hit 1-9 in the remaining minutes. Turlough Carr contributed four with left and right; Tomás with left and fist; Seanán, Patrick McGonigle and McCahill added the others with Callum McCrea at the fulcrum of so many moves.

Substitute Ethan McNulty got on the end of a high ball to fist the second goal near the end for a comprehensive win.

Four Masters scorers: Conor McCahill 1-3,1f; Seanán Carr 0-5,1f; Turlough Carr 0-4; Ethan McNulty 1-0; Tomás Carr 0-3; Tiarnan McBride (tp), Conor Reid 0-2 each; Lewis McCaughan (45), Cian Gavigan, Patrick McGonigle 0-1 each.

Naomh Conaill scorers: Danny Brown 1-1; Shea Malone 0-2,tpf; Tiarnan Ward 0-2,1f; Jack McGlynn, Finnbarr Roarty, Stephen McDevitt 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: Patrick McGonigle for O’Keeney (ht); Thomas Lenihan for Muldoon (52); Ethan McNulty for McBride (57); Terence McGovern for McCahill and Conor Meehan for O’Neill (both 60).

Naomh Conaill: Dylan McGlynn; Jacky Chen, Thomas McDevitt, Niall Roarty; Jack McGlynn, Finnbarr Roarty, Oran Doherty; Max Campbell, Daithi Molloy; Mark McDevitt, Danny Brown, Jamie Byrne; Stephen McDevitt, Shea Malone, Tiarnan Ward.

Subs: Daniel Breslin for D Molloy (41); Leon Gallagher McDyer for O Doherty (49); Peter McGlynn and Sean Doherty for J McGlynn and J Byrne (both 55); Conan Brannigan for N Roarty (60).

Referee: Martin McCormick (Glenfin)