Hopefully this can be a platform for senior success for Four Masters - McCrea

Four Masters need to use the success of their U-21s as a platform now for success at senior level. That was the message from their youthful joint manager, Aaron McCrea, speaking immediately after watching his side get the better of Glenswilly in a really exciting and enjoyable U-21A county final in Fr Tierney Park, Ballyshannon on Sunday.

When the final whistle was blown, Four Masters were three points to the good (1-15 to 2-9) but the result was in doubt right to the end thanks to a gritty performance from the men from Glenswilly.

For Aaron McCrea it was a big win and he knew it wouldn’t be easy as the sides had met earlier and the men from the Glen had prevailed.

“Glenswilly gave us the hardest game of the season so far and they deservedly beat us up in Glenswilly. We knew they weren’t coming down here to lie down.

“They have a lot of talent and a lot of grit and they showed that there.

“We got a bit ahead of them in the first half, the first 15 minutes, but they stuck with us and then got two goals at an important stage. They carried that into the second half and stuck with us through the whole game.”

McCrea agreed that there was a big turning point in the game just before half-time with Four Masters six ahead and Conor McCahill took the ball soccer style towards the Glenswilly goal. He got a nudge and the ball went wide before Glenswilly came upfield to find the net.

For the neutrals in the crowd it was the score that was needed and when they got another quick goal the sides were level at the break.

“They have talent all over the field. Conor dropped that ball and they went up the pitch and scored a goal and then got a second. They really matched us for pace all over the pitch and that shows because we have a talented bunch.

“It showed there and it showed in their senior team too as a lot of them boys would have played senior this year. Commiserations to Glenswilly because they put in a great fight there.”

But for McCrea, this was an important victory for the club. “In fairness we earmarked this competition. It’s been 23 years since we won the competition and had only won it twice. And I think 16 of the last 17 U-21 titles were won by the big four teams. So hopefully this can be a platform for us to build our senior team on.

“It is a credit to the boys that were playing today. They are absolutely fabulous and the effort and time they have put in is second to none.”

When it was put to him that having to win a very tight game will stand to the players in the future, he agreed.

“It will. I wouldn’t say we had easy games, but we won games well, which sometimes takes the gloss of it. But they had to fight for that today. The chips were down, the momentum was with Glenswilly, it was not with us. The boys stood up, Conor Reid, Conor McCahill. Conor Meehan, he was probably hard done by not starting all season; he worked hard and scored two brilliant points.

“Daniel (McGinty) wouldn’t be renowned for his scoring, he would tell you that himself. But he put in a lot of work at the back and kept us in it in the first half and then got up and pointed to kick start our comeback.

“Our full-back-line was good today. They had dangerous forwards in there and they really stood up,” said McCrea.