MacCumhaills progress but are pushed all the way by Four Masters

A brilliant display from Oisin Gallen pushed MacCumhaills to a narrow but thoroughly deserved SFC preliminary quarter-final victory over Four Masters in challenging conditions in Davey Brennan Memorial Park on Saturday. 

MacCumhaills 0-15 Four Masters 3-4 

MacCumhaills were dominant for long periods, but will not be happy with conceding three goals, which made for an anxious finish. 

And the sweat was on when Richard O’Rourke’s 63rd minute pointed free left just a point between the sides. 

Masters even had a chance to force a dramatic draw, but MacCumhaills sub Sean Breen landed a much-needed insurance point to eventually leave them two point clear at full-time. 

But it could have been much more as they led by 0-14 to 2-3 ten minutes from the end. 

However, Masters’ second goal was a pretty freakish one where MacCumhaills keeper Eoin Gallen fumbled a routine shot from Seanan Quinn and David Monaghan got a touch to put Masters back in the hunt as MacCumhaills led by 0-10 to 2-2, ten minutes into the second half. 

Joe Leape’s third goal in the 29th minute set up some nervous moments for MacCumhaills but they should not have been in this position at all.   

Conditions were treacherous with a swirling cross-field win and driving rain making good football very difficult. 

MacCumhaills had a slight advantage with the breeze as the in-form Gallen opened the scoring with a pointed free in the second minute. 

He then set up wing-back Sean Martin for a second point in the sixth minute. 

Four Masters had loads of possession but were unable to make any real impression on a well organised MacCumhaills side. 

Carr eventually got Masters off the mark with a pointed free in the twelfth minute. 

But, despite being double and sometimes treble teamed, Gallen somehow found space and hit a great left-footed point from the wing. 

Aaron Gillooly added another fine effort from the wing as MacCumhaills began to push up on their opponents. 

Gallen and Joel Bradley Walsh made it 0-6 to 0-1 with two superbly struck efforts. 

But Masters were gradually growing into the game and were rewarded when O’Rourke’s punt down the centre of the MacCumhaills defence found Killian Faulkner and the latter stayed ice cool as he roundedEoin Gallen and calmly tapped the ball to the net. 

Suddenly Masters had renewed hope but it was MacCumhaills who closed out the half the stronger side and Steven O’Reilly hoofing over a huge effort and the inevitable Gallen made it 0-8 to 1-1 at the break. 

MacCumhaills extended their lead early in the second half through Ruairi Callaghan and another corker from Gallen to leave the Twin Town sides leading by 0-10 to 1-2. 

Carr replied with a pointed free before Monaghan’s opportunist goal. 

That score shook MacCumhaills but they responded through O’Reilly and the inevitable Gallen. 

Faulkner landed a free for Masters but Chad McSorley made it 0-13 to 2-3 and Gallen hit another brilliant soaring effort into the breeze to leave five points between the teams. But Leape's third goal set up a nail-biting finish. 

MacCumhaills scorers: Oisin Gallen 0-7,2f; Steven O’Reilly 0-2; Joel Bradley Walsh 0-2; Aaron Gillooley 0-1; Sean Martin 0-1; Sean Breen 0-1; Chad McSorley 0-1. 

Four Master’s scorers; Killian Faulkner 1-1,1f; David Monaghan 1-0; Joe Leape 1-0; Seanan Carr 0-2,2f; Richard O’Rourke 0-1,1f. 

MacCumhaills: Eoin Gallen; Cian Mulligan, Aaron Gillhooley, Ruairi Callaghan; Shaun McMenamin, Andrew McCloskey, Sean Martin; Steven O’Reilly, Chad McSorley; Jack Duffy, Jamie Keegan Chad McSorley; Oisin Gallen, Joel Bradley Walsh, Conor McGinty. 

Subs; Adam Lynch for Chad McSorley (53), Sean Breen for Jack Duffy (57). 

Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Darragh Geary, Aidan McHugh, David Monaghan; Sean McKiernan, Caolan Loughney, Jamie Crawford; Oisin Reid, Jason Deignan; Conor Reid, Seanan Carr, Richard O’Rourke; Alex McCalmont, Killian Faulkner, Joe Leape  

Subs: Senan Quinn for Alex McCalmont (h-time), Ross O’Keeney for Sean McKiernan (56). 

Referee; Martin Coll (Gaoth Dobhair).