WATCH: The frantic finish from Four Masters' amazing Ulster MFC quarter-final win

Four Masters Ulster minor hero Tiarnan McBride said his side made their own luck late on as they spectacularly pegged back Magherafelt to progress to the provincial semi-finals. 

The Donegal Town lads had trailed by eight points at one stage while the Derry champions still held a five-point advantage seconds out from the end of normal time. 

The dramatic finish to Four Masters Ulster MFC win over Magherafelt, courtesy of Jerome Quinn Media

However, there was to be late, late drama. First, McBride came together with the Magherafelt keeper inside the area and a generous enough looking spot kick was awarded. 

Kevin Muldoon planted to the back of the net. Then, one last throw of the dice from out the field into the mixer resulted in McBride slapping home from close range to somehow hand his side a 2-9 to 0-13 win. 

It was some turnaround but having come out on the wrong end of a similar experience last term, when Dungiven’s own ‘smash and grab’ denied the Tír Conaill Park men provincial title, McBride made no apologies for their own Houdini exploits.  

“It was unbelievable,” he said after. “The scenes, right at the very end there… just brilliant. That's the most amazing finish I've ever played in - it was pure havoc!

'We experienced the heartbreak of losing last year in the last minute so it was good to be on the right side of that this time out. 

“Magherafelt are a serious side and it took a serious effort frm us to beat them. We told them that at the end, that we respected their efforts and we were the first ones shaking their hands before we came off”.

A huge Four Masters contingent travelled to the St Paul’s club grounds in Belfast and McBride says they certainly made their presence felt throughout. 

“The whole town is buzzing with the excitement of the Ulster campaign. We’re happy to be still standing and we’re going to give it a right blast now in the semi-final. We’ll have the exact same support the next day”. 

After a poor first-half, Masters trailed 0-9 to 0-2 at the changeover. But they collected themselves at the break and with kitchen sink in hand, went for broke on the restart. 

“Going in seven down is never easy. But the management team got us shaken out of it and up for the second half. There might have been some nerves, and we don’t have that much experience on the astro. 

“We kinda had to get used to the bounce of the ball. But it came right at the end.” 

The despondent Derry lads would not have been happy with the late penalty awarded against them but with tongue firmly planted in cheek, McBride felt Four Masters made their own luck late on.

“Stonewall penalty for me! Kevin squeezed it through and I got taken down by the keeper. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be awarded. And Kevin stuck it away. 

On the late paw he got to a direct delivery, a goal that won the game, McBride added: “I drifted in there a few times throughout the game and I was just happy to be in the right spot at the right time. 

“It was a great ball in from Turlough Carr and it was so good to see the net bulge”.