Four Masters get the victory over Ardara in low scoring affair

Four Masters got a narrow victory in what was a poor spectacle in Pearse Park. At the end both sides were reasonably happy to be in the preliminary quarter-finals.

The wind played a big part but Ardara probably deserved at least a draw,  especially after playing for a big part of the game with 14 men.

Against the strong wind Four Masters got off to the perfect start with a point inside two minutes from Jamie Crawford and they followed that with frees from Seanán .Carr and Richard O’Rourke, both impressive efforts against the breeze.

In between Ardara did have a goal chance with Ryan Haughey denying KJ Molloy at point blank range and from the resultant ‘45’ CJ Molloy flicked wide of the post.

KJ Molloy got Ardara on the board on 10 minutes but a minute later they were reduced to 14 when Kevin Whyte was shown red by Mark Dorrian after an incident with Oisin Reid.

Richard O’Rourke thought he had added a point from play with everyone including referee Mark  Dorrian about to write it down but the wind stalled the effort and it dropped into the ‘keeper’s hands. Seanán Carr did add a fourth point from a free on 16 minutes but the Donegal Town men did not raise another flag in the half.

Johnny McHugh pointed after taking a free from John Ross Molloy and Ryan Haughey denied Paul Walsh after he was put through by  CJ Molloy.

The final point of the half came on 26 minutes with KJ Molloy converting a free to  leave it 0-4 to 0-3 in favour of Four Masters at the break.

The second half was something of a damp squib with Four Masters lucky in the end to eke out a result. Conor Classon was outstanding for Ardara, as was John Ross Molloy.

Both sides got just two points in the second half. Ardara levelled matters on 32 minutes through a Johnny McHugh free with no further score until the 50th minute, Conor Reid pointing a free.

John Ross Molloy was denied by a post for a goal on 51 minutes before KJ Molloy levelled matters again on the stroke of time.

But in the third minute of added time Aaron McCrea hit a winner for Four Masters which they barely deserved.

Ardara scorers: KJ Molloy 0-3,2f; Johnny McHugh 0-2,2f.

Four Masters scorers: Seanán Carr 0-2,2f; Richard O’Rourke (f), Conor Reid (f), Jamie Crawford, Aaron McCrea 0-1 each.

Ardara: Paddy Gallagher; Shane Mooney, Shane Whyte, Charlie Bennett; Danny Walsh, Paddy McGrath, Darragh Hennigan; Conor Classon, Kevin Whyte; Paul Walsh, Johnny McHugh, Cailum Malley; John Ross Molloy, CJ Molloy, KJ Molloy.

Subs:Oisin O’Donnell for J McHugh (60); Niall McCrossan and Shane Sweeney for P Walsh and CJ Molloy (60+1)

Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Callum McCrea, Dylan Kennedy, Brian Fegan; Caolan Loughney, David Monaghan, Aaron McCrea; Oisin Reid, Conor Reid; Joe Leape, Jamie Crawford, Richard O’Rourke; Alex McCalmont, Killian Faulkner, Seanán Carr.

Subs: Sean McKiernan for Fegan (50); Jason Duignan and Patrick Reid for Crawford and O Reid (both 53).

Referee: Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhánada)