Bradley Walsh's 1-8 helps MacCumhaill’s power past Four Masters in U-21A

The emphatic margin of victory did not flatter an impressive Sean MacCumhaill’s side, as they cantered into the last four of the U-21A Championship after a thoroughly deserved win over Four Masters at the Donegal GAA Centre. 

Sean MacCumhaill’s 1-17 Four Masters 1-5 

MacCumhaill’s were superior in most departments and apart from conceding an early well-worked goal to Masters, were never in any danger. 

Full-forward Joel Bradley Walsh, was the star of the show notching a total of 1-8 and his goal in the 45th minute killed off any faint hopes that Masters may have had of a revival. 

His clinical strike put MacCumhaill’s into an unassailable 1-11 to 1-3 lead. Bradley Walsh was well supported by his corner-forwards Alex McGeehan and Kevin McCormack, who hit a total of 0-7 between them. 

MacCumhaill’s also had a distinct physical edge throughout and this was very apparent at midfield where Fionn McNulty and Andrew Murray held sway. And even though Conor Reid and Richard O’Rourke tried hard to rally their troops, Masters were never really able to penetrate a solid Twin Towns side’s defence. 

Sean MacCumhaill’s were well worth their half-time lead of 0-8 to 1-3 bouncing back well through points from McGeehan, McCormack, Bradley Walsh and Aaron Gilhooley after conceding an early goal where Evan Gallagher coolly finished a six-man move to the net in the fifth minute. 

Gaoth Dobhair ease past Naomh Conaill to reach U-21A semi-final

Gaoth Dobhair had far too much guile and quality for an understrength Naomh Conaill in O'Donnell Park as they coasted into the semi-finals of the championship with 15 points to spare

But it was all MacCumhaill’s thereafter as they extended their lead early in the second half through points from Bradley Walsh and his goal in the 45th minute sealed the deal as he picked up a rebound and goaled with precision. A youthful, outgunned Masters could only manage two points in the entire second half through frees from Dermot Slevin and Shay Travers while MacCumhaill’s hit a total of 1-9, at their ease. 

Sean MacCumhaill’s scorers: Joel Bradley Walsh 1-8, 4f; Alex McGeehan and Kevin McCormack 0-4; Aaron Gillooly and Conor McGinty 0-1. 
Four Masters scorers: Evan Gallagher 1-0; Dermot Slevin 0-2, 2f; Shay Travers 0-2; Alex McCalmont 0-1. 

Sean MacCumhaill’s: Cian Gallen; Sean Breen, Pete Byrne, Owen McGonigle; Cian Mulligan, Aaron Gillooly, Sean Martin; Fionn McNulty, Andrew Murray; Conor Doherty, Conor McGinty, Conor McCormack; Alex McGeehan, Joel Bradley Walsh, Kevin McCormack. Subs: Dylan Doherty for Conor Doherty (47), Josh McMenamin for Alex McGeehan (50), Oisin McGlinchey for Conor McCormack (56), Joe Boyle for Pete Byrne (59). 
Four Masters: Oisin Bryson; Brian Peter Gallagher, James McHugh, Darragh Geary; Joe Leape, Evan Gallagher, Eoin Gorrell; Richard O’Rourke, Ethan McNulty; Senan Quinn, Conor Reid, Alex McCalmont; Dermot Slevin, Killian Faulkner, Shay Travers. Subs: Senan Carr for Ethan McNulty (h-time), David Monaghan for Eoin Gorrell (37), John Bell for James McHugh (48), Caolan Sweeney for Shay Travers (53), Conor Gillespie for Dermot Slevin (59). 
Referee: Stephen Doherty (Red Hugh’s)