Four Masters first half display in Ulster semi-final was near perfect - says joint manager Doherty

For only the second time in the history of the Ulster Minor Club Tournament run by St Paul’s of Belfast, Four Masters are in back-to-back finals after what could only be described as a perfect performance in blowing away Monaghan champions Castleblayney in the semi-final on Sunday last.

Not since  Killybegs back in the 1980s has any Donegal club managed to reach the final for two years in-a-row. Killybegs were winners in 1984 and 1985, while Aodh Ruadh are the only other Donegal side to win the tournament (1992).

And while the Donegal Town side were confident that they could win on Sunday last, the manner of the victory (6-14 to 1-1) was something of a surprise.

“It was a shock to us. We weren’t expecting to win it that convincingly. We had done a bit of homework on Castleblayney and we felt they were a good side. And the scoreline probably doesn’t do them justice and maybe flatters us a wee bit,” said joint manager, Greg Doherty.

“We just got a run on them in the first half. They won the toss and went against the breeze. Once we got motoring with the wind, it was just one way traffic for most of the first half.”

The former Naomh Columba man said there was a breeze and they took advantage of it.

“It was pretty strong, but they did make a couple of forays into our half and created one or two goal chances, but we managed to snuff them out. But when you put it in perspective we scored only 1-3 in the second half.”

But by the turnover the game as a contest was over with Four Masters leading by 25 points and it was arguably a perfect first half.

“Well it was really. In fairness we are always guilty as managers of grumbling and always having some gripe. But we couldn’t have any complaints with that first half, scoring 5-11, even if it was with the wind.

“It was just one of those halves where everything stuck. The lads’ handling, really and truly the last six or seven minutes in that Magherafelt game, our boys were fully tuned in. Ball handling was back to where it has been all summer, and we really just continued on from that.

“There wasn’t one dropped ball; there wasn’t one dropped pass. Lads were looking up and playing the way we like to play; if it’s on, kick it long, if not hold possession and wait until it’s on.

“Our inside men were phenomenal. Everything that went in stuck and that gives you a great platform for lads coming running through then,” said Doherty.

When put to him that it was a performance similar to the Donegal county final against Buncrana, Doherty agreed: “It was yeah. The first quarter really, it blew them away in that first quarter, and I don’t say that lightly. At the end of the day they were Monaghan county champions and they had five lads on the Monaghan county minor team that made it to the All-Ireland final this year.

“I think after the first quarter they were shell-shocked. When you concede four goals in the first 17 or 18 minutes of a game you are giving yourself a serious job to do to come back from that.”

It’s not often that a team management can sit back and enjoy a game, but it must have been so for the Four Masters backroom team on Sunday.

“It certainly was two ends of the scale from the previous week. We weren’t enjoying much of the Magherafelt match until two minutes after we took the lead for the first time with Tiarnan’s (McBride) goal. And even then, we couldn’t relax.

“But on Sunday after the first half on Sunday it was almost surreal that we were in that position and we were obviously able to give lads on the bench a run. It’s not something that you expect to get in an Ulster semi-final,” said Doherty, who felt playing on grass this time didn’t make that much difference.

“I don’t think it made any difference. We have our astro in Tirconaill Park ourselves and we trained there in the run-up to the Magherafelt game. We went back to  the training pitch (grass) last week. Everyone rathers playing on grass and conditions on Sunday were good. It hadn’t rained all week in Belfast.

“The ball is that bit slower on the grass and it suits every team to play on grass to be honest.”

With the wins in the last two weeks, Four Masters will now have to carry the favourites’ ‘tag after beating what was supposed to be the big two - Magherafelt and Castleblayney.

“That was probably based on the performances of Derry and Monaghan in the All-Ireland minor series. Our experience of being up there last year and again this year, it is very hard to tell how good individual county champions are. You have nothing to gauge with.

“It is a minefield. We went up on Sunday expecting a tough, tough game,” said Doherty, and he said it will be no different in the final as Mayobridge of Down beat a very good St Paul’s team while Cavan Gaels just scraped over the line against Irvinestown.
https://www.donegallive.ie/news/sport/1376750/mac-s-view-good-level-of-fitness-and-sharpness-shown-by-donegal-against-roscommon.html

“There is very little between the teams. If we played Castleblayney again this weekend, I’m sure it wouldn’t be a 20 points plus game,” said Doherty, who pointed out that it can be difficult when you come through to Ulster with an unbeaten run and then you are in a difficult game, something you hadn’t experienced.

“It happened to us going into the first game. We had come through Donegal unbeaten and we were probably lucky in the first half against Magherafelt to keep out the goals.

“It is a big shock to the system to a team that has been dominating their county championship and then come in at half-time seven or eight points behind. And in Castleblayney’s case, even further behind after 15 minutes.”

The Four Masters management can now sit back and prepare for the final and they will also  get another look at their opponents as the Mayobridge-Cavan Gaels semi-final is set for Boxing Day.

“We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t have someone there looking at them. But now with modern technology we can see different teams. The tournament is well covered and you can’t hide anything. Every team is looking at what other teams are doing well in advance.

“We have two weeks but it will be a short two weeks with Christmas in the middle. It’s how players react; it is totally alien for them to be training now. That bunch of lads we have are fierce dedicated. They will be off now on Friday from school and I know my phone will be hopping, lads wanting to go to the pitch; they’ll be looking for the footballs. They are mad into it and wanting to improve themselves.

“It is great to be in back-to-back finals but we will need the rub of the green and the bit of luck,” said Doherty.

It is good for the club and the county according to Doherty. “It’s a proud moment for the players and the club up there yesterday when just a simple thing, the scoreboard has Monaghan and Donegal, not Four Masters and Castleblayney. It gives the lads an extra impetus that they are representing their county as well.”

It was also a proud day for the Carr family with Turlough and Tomas playing for Four Masters in Belfast and Seanán making his Donegal senior debut in Ballyshannon against Roscommon, something which created a bit of a dilemma for father Shane and family.

“I think he was trying to do one half in Belfast and the other half in Ballyshannon. I’m not sure if he succeeded in that. We won’t say which one he went to,” laughs Doherty.