Four Masters storm into U-21 county final with dominant win over Naomh Conaill

Four Masters reached their first U-21 county final since 2001 after an imperious display that blew aside the challenge of Naomh Conaill in miserable conditions in Ballyshannon. 

This was a most impressive and composed display from a side, teeming with talent as they look forward to a county final tilt with Glenswilly next weekend. 

The winners were always in control and this match was effectively over at the break as a wind-assisted Masters led by 2-8 to 0-2 at the break. 

And they had leaders all over the park, especially towering midfielder Conor Reid and all six forwards looked capable of winning this match on their own, with Conor McCahill, Senan Quinn, Turlough Carr, Seanán Carr, Kevin Muldoon, and Oisin Doherty all putting in match-winning performances. 

The power, pace, and accuracy of that sextet was pretty awesome with McCahill and Doherty grabbing the first-half goals and Sligo Rovers player Muldoon striking a superb third goal in the second half. 

For an outgunned Naomh Conaill, Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell, and Daniel Gildea tried hard but were unable to make any inroads on a very well-organised Masters’ defence. 

Turlough Carr and Reid had early points for the lively-looking Masters. 

It got even better in the ninth minute when McCachill held off four challenges before rocketing home a great goal to put his side into a 1-2 to 0-0 lead. 

Tiarnan Ward replied with a pointed free for Naomh Conaill.  

But already the signs were ominous for Naomh Conaill. They had a great chance of a goal when Roarty powered through, and Campbell found Tiarnan Ward, but his shot was brilliantly blocked by Masters goalkeeper Lewis McCaughan. 

Meanwhile, Doherty, Reid, and Muldoon pushed Masters to a 1-6 to 0-1 lead before they struck for the killer goal in the 25th minute when Doherty finished a mesmerising six-man move to the net from very close range. 

McCahill and Reid had further points for Masters, as Ward responded with a pointed free just before the break for the Naomh Conaill men as Four Masters led by 2-8 to 0-2 

Naomh Conaill had the breeze on the restart but it had little effect on the outcome. 

Turlough Carr kicked a fine long-range point for Masters with Shay Malone replying for Naomh Conaill. 

Muldoon and Doherty added two more points for an increasingly rampant Masters with Malone responding from a free for Naomh Conaill as Muldoon hit a wonder goal to garnish a fine display as they finished strong and go into their first U-21 final in 23 years. 

Four Masters scorers: Conor McCahill and Kevin Muldoon 1-2 each; Oisin Doherty 1-1; Conor Reid 0-3, 3fs; Turlough Carr 0-3; Seanan Carr 0-1.  
Naomh Conaill scorers: Tiarnan Ward 0-3, 3fs; Shay Malone 0-2, 2fs. 

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Ross O’Keeney, Josh McCrea, Daniel McGinty; Caolan Sweeney, Callum McCrea, David Monaghan; Conor Reid, Tiarnan McBride; Senan Quinn, Turlough Carr, Kevin Muldoon; Conor McCahill, Seanán Carr, Oisin Doherty. Subs: Patrick McGonigle for O’Keeney (36), Conor Meehan for Quinn (43), Theo Colhoun for Turlough Carr, Daniel McIntyre for Kevin Muldoon and Ethan McNulty for Tiarnan McBride (all 54). 

Naomh Conaill: Aodhan Brown; Conan Brannigan, Thomas McDevitt, Fergus Campbell; Jack McGlynn, Robbie McDonald, Peter McGlynn; Finnbarr Roarty, Max Campbell; Odhran Doherty, Daniel Gildea, Tiarnan Ward; Danny Brown, Shay Malone, Mark McDevitt. Subs: Conor Gildea for McGlynn (37), Michael Trimble for Brown (53). 

Referee: Val Murray (Aodh Ruadh)