Four Masters prove doubters wrong with a superb win against Gaoth Dobhair

Championship ambushes rarely materialise when they’re talked up in advance. 

That’s why Tír Conaill Park was a unique place to be on Sunday afternoon when Four Masters toppled Gaoth Dobhair on a 3-9 to 1-7 scoreline. 

Whatever way the Donegal Town team manager Kevin Sinclair wants to underplay it going forward, there’s no doubt that his side have proven that they are a coming-of-age team and worthy to compete with the best in the county. 

Despite their years of suffering in the lower leagues of the county, they have now shown that fellow senior clubs will doubt them at their peril going forward. 

Forewarned is forearmed? Perhaps. But in truth, Four Masters were well deserving of their victory, as they continued to hold a narrow lead throughout, and it wasn’t until Alex McCalmont palmed home his third goal after Seanán Carr struck the crossbar, they the stamp was firmly sealed for a Four Masters’ win. 

The home side started the better of the two teams with Joe Leape nailing two points over which was followed by a Conor Reid free to give the boys in blue a flying start. 

Gaoth Dobhair took time to settle into the game but knew with their experience across the pitch, they just needed to find their groove and put scores on the board. 

That eventually happened when county man Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde fired over from distance after 17 minutes of action. 

Reid would keep his side in front with another free as Four Masters remained relatively comfortable on the ball, but Gaoth Dobhair kept asking questions with rapid attacking scores from defenders Danny Curran and Aodán Breathnach to make it a one-point game. 

For the home side, this was more than just about hanging in with one of the top teams in the county, the manner of their attacking game highlighted a winning attitude and killer instinct. 

That was eventually portrayed when the younger Reid brother, placed a perfect long ball into Carr, who drifted in behind the Gaoth Dobhair defence to slot home on the 25th minute. 

Eoin de Burca nailed over the final score of the half, which put a goal between them at the break – 1-4 to 0-4 - in what was a fair reflection between one side who were looking to lay down a marker on their home turf, while the other, could never get up to speed. 

There was no waiting around with Conor Reid again on hand to fire over for Four Masters to open the second half, with his county U-20 teammate Carr following suit from a free moments later. 

Gaoth Dobhair needed a response quick to avoid any upset, with Ethan Harkin eventually finding range, while Cathal Gillespie pointed over to put a goal back between the sides with 20 minutes remaining. 

The home side erupted with fury when Senan Quinn’s goal chance was disallowed with the fisted shot failing to fully cross the line, but Masters continued to keep their opponents at bay with Caolan Loughney raising his own white flag with a fisted effort, with Gaoth Dobhair’s Breathnach responding with his second point. 

Despite a complete collapse in performance, it looked like it was going to be Four Masters’ day. Again, with superb vision going forward, Aaron McCrea spotted substitute Killian Faulkner who nailed home his side’s second goal to make it 2-7 to 0-7. 

The final five minutes saw a Helter Skelter performance. Following Faulkner’s goal, Gaoth Dobhair eventually found their much-needed goal with Dáire Ó Baoill’s penalty sailing past Ryan Haughey after Niall Friel was fouled by Brian Fegan inside the box. 

However, it never looked like Masters were going to relinquish this lead with huge credit going to their defenders who thwarted away any opposition attack as they kept Gaoth Dobhair scoreless for the remainder of the match. 

Richard O’Rourke and McCalmont would add further blows to any chance of a Gaoth Dobhair win, before the latter poked home his team’s third goal in injury time to seal an incredible eight-point win. 

Scorers – Four Masters: Seanan Carr 1-1, 1f; Alex McCalmont 1-1; Conor Reid 0-3, 2fs; Killian Faulkner 1-0; Joe Leape 0-2; Richard O’Rourke and Caolan Loughney 0-1 each. Gaoth Dobhair: Dáire Ó Baoill 1-0, 1 penalty; Aodán Breathnach 0-2; Ethan Harkin, Eoin de Burca, Cathal Gillespie, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde and Danny Curran 0-1 

Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Callum McCrea, Dylan Kennedy, Brian Fegan; David Monaghan, Caolan Loughney, Aaron McCrea; Oisin Reid, Conor Reid; Joe Leape, Senan Quinn, Richard O’Rourke; Alex McCalmont, Jamie Crawford, Seanán Carr. Subs: Patrick Reid for Oisin Reid (40 mins); Killian Faulkner for Quinn (45 mins); Sean McKiernan for McCrea (55 mins); Aidan McHugh for Leape (57 mins). 

Gaoth Dobhair: Daithí Roberts; Aodán Breathnach, Gary McFadden, Danny Curran; Kieran Gillespie, Niall Friel, Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde; Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhríde, Micheal Roarty; Fionnan Coyle, Steven McFadden, Dáire Ó Baoill; Eoin de Burca, Cathal Gillespie, Ethan Harkin. Subs: Cian McEntee for C Gillespie (42 mins); Fiachra Coyle and Adam Mac Íomhar for Roarty and N Mac Giolla Bhríde (53 mins), Mark McFadden for Fionnan Coyle (55 mins) 

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)