Four Masters come strong in the second half to advance to the last eight of the SFC

To say it was a game of two halves would be an understatement, but it in no way will worry Four Masters who hit a strong purple patch in the second half to see their way into the last eight of the Donegal senior championship with a 0-8 to 0-4 point win over Killybegs on Sunday afternoon in Ardara. 

The joke at half time was that there were higher scoring soccer games throughout Donegal that day than there were between these two Division 2 sides, but no doubt the objective was to win by any means necessary with the Four Masters men taking a 0-2 to 0-1 point score advantage at the break with the weather playing hardly any factor. 

With both teams mirroring each other in the first half, neither team was willing to show their hands, with the first score not occurring until the 15th minute when Conor Reid took his first shot from a free, 45 metres out to sail the Donegal Town side into the lead, one which they failed to relinquish. 

Killybegs had close chances with frees inside the Masters half, but Hugh McFadden and Ryan Cunningham were both off target on both occasions which proved costly in the end. 

Credit had to go to Killybegs’ defence, especially with the return of Eoghan Ban Gallagher who brought an extra level of physicality and sharpness, resulting in a number of Four Masters turnovers, but unfortunately the Fishermen couldn’t land the points on the scoreboard. 

Evan Broderick would level the game on the 24th minute when he broke the Donegal Town defensive line to punt over off the laces of the boot, but the nippy Seanán Carr would follow up with a tight free in the corner before half-time to give his side a one-point advantage at the break. 

Whatever was instructed at half-time to the Donegal Town men is proved worthwhile with Four Masters opening the floodgates of the Killybegs defence as they landed some outrageous points, despite Killybegs levelling the match from the opening when Rory Colyer received the ball from Ryan Cunningham inside to swing over off the right. 

But as Masters found gaps inside, Carr and Killian Faulkner found their groove, with them finding space to exploit the Killybegs defence with the former hitting over two close-in frees to sail his side into a two-point lead. 

Broderick was on hand on the 40th minute to replicate his first-half score with another punted kick point, but his side would not score again for 16 minutes. 

The star of the show Conor Reid, who was superb around the middle landed his first point from play, when he struck over the Killybegs defensive line 45 metres out – a crucial point that turned the tide and proved to be the boost his side needed as they kicked on from there. 

Richard O’Rourke and substitute Alex McCalmont would follow this up with two long-ranged points, while half-back Aaron McCrea found a gap inside to perhaps shoot for a goal, but was put off-balance as he kicked off the left, resulting in the ball sailing over the bar. 

Masters had more chances from Callum McCrea and Carr, but both sailed right of the post, while Killybegs opted for a long-ball option inside, but Dylan Kennedy and David Monaghan were ever present in tidying up the loose ball as Four Masters held on with ease to cruise to the last eight of the championship on a 0-8 to 0-4 scoreline. 

Four Masters scorers: Seanán Carr 0-3, 3fs; Conor Reid 0-2, 1f; Alex McCalmont, Richard O’Rourke, and Aaron McCrea 0-1 each. Killybegs scorers: Evan Broderick 0-2; Rory Colyer and Jack McSharry 0-1 each. 

Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Callum McCrea, Dylan Kennedy, Brian Fegan; Caolan Loughney, David Monaghan, Aaron McCrea; Oisin Reid, Patrick Reid; Conor Reid, Senan Quinn, Richard O’Rourke; Jamie Crawford, Killian Faulkner, Seanán Carr. Subs: Alex McCalmont for Patrick Reid (40); Joe Leape for Crawford (46); Jason Duignan for Quinn (49); Shaun McKiernan for Faulkner (58). 

Killybegs: Josh Colyer; Charlie Breslin, Cillian Gildea, Ryan Carr; Eoin Mulligan, Seamie Óg Byrne, John Ban Gallagher; Evan Broderick, Rory Colyer; Chris Mulligan, Jack McSharry, Odhran McGuinness; Ryan Cunningham, Hugh McFadden, Eoghan Ban Gallagher. Subs: Paul Cunningham for Chris Mulligan (55); Eoin McGing for Breslin (58). 

Referee: Enda McFeeley