Four Masters minors retain their Ulster title in final win over Magherafelt

Four Masters created more history in retaining the St Paul’s Minor Tournament when they held on to defeat O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt in the final at Shaws Road.

The Donegal Town side were made to sweat at the finish as Magherafelt came back and had a goal chance in the final seconds which almost snatched victory, but Four Masters were fully deserving winners, adding to their success in the competition when they overcame Cavan Gaels 1-10 to 2-4 last year.

They are the fourth club in the tournament’s history to do the double, matching the feat of Killybegs in 1985 and 1986 - the only other Donegal side to go back-to-back. 

In centre-forward Turlough Carr, they had a great leader while Kevin Muldoon was named Man of the Match. They were ably assisted by captain Callum McCrea, the first player ever to lift the trophy twice in the tournament.

READ NEXT: In pictures: CLG Chloich Cheann Fhaola celebrate past, present and future

Tomás Carr, Oisin Doherty, Conor McCahill and in the final quarter, Theo Colhoun, all played a big part in the success also. Four Masters had to play against the stiff breeze in the opening half and they looked a little unsettled in the first quarter.

The Derry side got the perfect start with Jude Beattie winning the throw-in and driving through to fire over with just 12 seconds played. They added two points from frees in the third and seventh minutes as the referee appeared pretty fussy. Cathir Spiers had the second and Kian Maynes fired over the third.

It took Four Masters some 22 minutes to get on the scoreboard when they were in last year's final but they opened their account on 12 minutes. An Oisin Doherty shot for a point dropped short and Tiarnan McBride did trojan work to win possession in the ruck and get the ball out to Conor McCahill, who pointed.

Magherafelt went three up again on 16 minutes when their 'keeper, Karl Campbell, came forward to fire over a '45'.

But they wouldn't score again in the opening half as Four Masters began to get a grip with Callum McCrea, Turlough Carr and Kevin Muldoon getting on a lot  of ball and Oisin Doherty looking sharp.

They got their second point on 18 minutes when Turlough Carr sent a probing ball towards McCahill,  who won and pointed the free from 20m.

Then the score of the half came when young Tomás Carr, a doubtful starter with an ankle injury, fired over a '45' into the wind. 

The Donegal Town boys were now finding their feet and started to create goal chances. Kevin Muldoon and Turlough Carr created an opening for McCahill, who saw his first time effort go just past the right hand post.

A minute before  half-time Callum McCrea made a great break and it ended with Oisin Doherty through but he fired just over the crossbar with a goal.

Two minutes into added time Four Masters had another goal chance, this time Kevin Muldoon on one of his trademark runs, but his point-blank effort was blocked. Half-time: Four Masters 0-4, O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt 0-4.

The cup is presented to Terence McGovern and Callum McCrea

Four  Masters got the start to the second half they would have dreamed off with Turlough Carr firing long and Darragh Griffin got the perfect touch to see the ball in the net.

Turlough Carr followed up with possession again and he combined with Callum McCrea to set up Conor McCahill to fire over after just three minutes of the half.

Lorcan Higgins pulled a point back for Magherafelt after 37 minutes but Conall Higgins missed a great chance from a free three minutes later.

The playmaker Turlough Carr made the pass for his brother Tomás to fire over on 42 minutes and Oisin Doherty added another from a free after McCahill was fouled to take Four Masters five clear, 1-7 to 0-5.

Four Masters weren’t happy when the referee got in the way and it resulted in Rory Small getting a point for Magherafelt on 50 minutes.

Turlough Carr responded with a magnificent run and score. Conall Higgins cut the lead to four with six minutes to go. Four Masters should have had a second goal when Theo Colhoun put Kevin Muldoon through but his effort was stopped by the ‘keeper on the line.

With just over four minutes left Conall Higgins pointed a free to cut the lead to three. Oisin Doherty was inches wide from a ‘mark’.

The Derry side were almost in for a goal a minute later when a Four Masters player hit a wayward pass and Lorcan Higgins was fouled as he went for goal. Conall Higgins fired over the free.

The referee punished Turlough Carr for charging which looked very harsh but Higgins was wide from the free as two minutes of added time was indicated.

Theo Colhoun did well to win the kick-out and find Kevin Muldoon, who was fouled with Lavery black carded. Conor McCahill should have put three between the sides but his effort came back off the post and Turlough Carr was black carded.

Thankfully, it didn’t matter but the Derry side did have a late chance when they won a free and lobbed the ball in and when it broke to corner-forward Maynes, whose shot from point blank range was deflected for a ‘45’. With time up the referee called time with Magherafelt unhappy that time was not allowed for the ‘45’.

Four Masters scorers: Darragh Griffin 1-0; Conor McCahill 0-3,1f; Tomas Carr 0-2, 1'45';  Oisin Doherty 0-2,1f; Turlough Carr 0-1.

O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt: Conall Higgins 0-4,3f; Lorcan Higgins, Jude Beattie, Karl Campbell ('45), Cathir Spiers (f), Kian Maynes (f) 0-1 each. 

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Eoghan O'Neill, Daniel McGinty, Cian Gavigan; Aidan Quinn, Callum McCrea, Patrick McGonagle; Tiarnan McBride, Theo Colhoun; Kevin Muldoon, Turlough Carr, Oisin Doherty; Darragh Griffin, Tomás Carr, Conor McCahill. Subs: Alan McHugh for Griffin (51)

O'Donovan Rossa Magherafelt: Karl Campbell; Turlough Cartin, Zack Gavigan, Ronan Conway; Emmett Spiers, Rory Small, Cathair Kerr; Jude Beattie, Cathir Spiers; Callum Leacock, Michael McKenna, Lorcan Higgins; Kian Maynes, Conall Higgins,  Michael Higgins. Subs: Michael Lavery for Michael Higgins (27); Ronan Ferris for Emmet Spiers (50)

Referee: Colm McDonald (Antrim).

The Four Masters panel pictured before the game