Four Masters minors aiming to join unique Ulster club on New Year's Day

For the second year in-a-row there will be an exodus from the Donegal Town area on New Year's Day heading for Shaws Road, Belfast with Four Masters back for a another bite at winning the Ulster Minor Club Tournament.

The annual event run by the St Paul's Club in Belfast is one that has seen just two  Donegal clubs return successful. Killybegs did the double back in 1984/'85 while Aodh Ruadh were successful in the 1992 tournament.

The tournament has almost had a great competitive nature with the final played on New Year's Day. Back when it started some of the quarter-final and semi-final games were played at other Ulster venues but in more recent times all games take place in Belfast, normally at the St Paul's grounds at Shaws Road or on the astroturf at Coláiste Beal Feirste.

Four Masters were denied by a late goal in the final last year against a very good Dungiven team but this year they have overcome two of the big guns, Magherafelt of Derry in the quarter-final (thanks to late goals from Kevin Muldoon and Tiarnan McBride) and in the semi-final they blew away the challenge of Monaghan champions, Castleblayney, with a performance that will see them carry the favourites' tag when they take on Cavan Gaels on Monday (throw-in 1 p.m.)

This year's final pairing has a novel aspect as it is the first time that two clubs from outside the Six Counties are contesting the decider.  Cavan Gaels are contesting their fifth final and they won it on one occasion, back in 1999 beating Slaughtneil 3-9 to 2-7. Like Four Masters they were back in the final a year later but lost out to Pearse Og of Armagh.

Cavan Gaels overcame Irvinestown of Fermanagh in the quarter-final while they needed extra-time on Boxing Day to overcome Mayobridge of Down (1-7 to 1-5) after they finished level at 1-5 each in normal time. In a low scoring game, defences were on top with the sides level at half-time at 0-2 each.

The big players on the Cavan Gaels team include Joshua Shehu and Ben Tully in the forwards and Conor Doyle in defence.

Four Masters have carried a large minor panel of 31 players and they have a healthy backroom team as well, which includes last year's captain Caolan Sweeney.

Unlike years ago, teams are much more familiar with the opposition in this competition in recent times with very little left to chance when preparing for games.

Four Masters, after winning the Donegal title when they defeated Buncrana, had the luxury of watching a few of the other county finals and among those were the Cavan final and Monday's opposition, Cavan Gaels. They were also present on Monday when Cavan Gaels defeated Mayobridge to reach the final.

"We would have watched them and we also have videos of all the games," said Four Masters joint manager, Odie McBride. "But will that give a true indication of the kind of opposition they will be? We respect all opposition, especially up in Ulster, they are all county champions.

"We will spend some time on them but we will mostly spend the time preparing our own team," said McBride, who added that they were devastated when they didn't get over the line last year.

Four Masters had a few days off at Christmas but are back at it now. "Hopefully, we can get over the line. I can't believe that it hasn't been won in Donegal since 1992 when Ballyshannon won it. It's too long for a county like us."

McBride agreed that there was a big difference between their two games to date with a last gasp win over Magherafelt and a runaway win over Castleblayney.

"We're in a no man's land really, but the boys have put in a big effort. You cannot look for anything more than that. We are happy with the squad that we have. The weather is not great, but then it is the same for both teams," said McBride, who agreed that there was a lot of talent in the squad and a very good balance.

"Absolutely, and I've said that from early on in the year. I have to give it to last year's squad, they put in some shifts for four games. This year's panel is very balanced, we have boys that we can move around and we have subs that can come in that are as good as the boys that are on. They might not have had that last year."

Being back in the final is also down to the experience that has been gained. "The way they warmed up for Castleblayney, they were really up for it. They knew they were going back to the grass pitch at St Paul's and that's where they like to play.

"If we have the same attitude and the same way of working the next day, it will be exciting.

"It is a massive honour to be representing Donegal. But then going up is one thing, but being competitive is another. We didn't go with any expectation apart from the first game. Because in Ulster you can't look ahead."

Getting a start like they did in the semi-final when they blitzed Castleblayney would be ideal, says McBride. "Obviously every team would like to get that start, but if we don't there are different ways to operate. If it's not working for you, you have to keep chipping and looking for breaks and gaps. But when you get the chances, you have to be ruthless," said McBride.

"Listen, I'm just pinching myself. Looking back at some of the days we have been since U-10, down in Dooey and the wind blowing us off the pitch.

"It is some journey and it's a nice feeling. Watching them grow up from small boys to  young men. They all have their own wee characteristics, but whenever they get out on the pitch, they are one-minded, to give their best," said McBride, who is very proud of what they have achieved so far.

Four Masters panel: Lewis McCaughan, Eoghan O’Neill, Daniel McGinty, Terence McGovern, Cian Gavigan, Callum McCrea, Aidan Quinn, Tiarnan McBride, Theo Colhoun, Tomas Carr, Kevin Muldoon, Patrick McGonagle, Conor McCahill, Oisin Doherty, Turlough Carr, Alan McHugh, Lee McNamee, Darragh Griffin, Calum Dunnion, Jake Quinn, Fintan Quinn, Jack Glapa, Niall Feeney, Callum Maskery, Cormac Carr, John Flannery, Cian Gallagher,  Dylan McGrory, Joseph Jordan, Cillian Sweeney, Sean Meehan

Management: Greg Doherty, Odie McBride, Barry Monaghan, Hugh McNamee, Shane Cannon, Michael Feeney, Caolan Sweeney, Oisin Reid, Ryan Haughey.

PATHS TO THE FINAL

Quarter-final: Four Masters 2-9, Magherafelt 0-13

Four Masters scorers: C McCahill 0-5,2f; T McBride 1-0; K Muldoon 1-0,1pen; T Carr 0-1; Turlough Carr 0-2; T Colhoun 0-1. 

Magherafelt scorers: Conall Higgins 0-8,2f; E Spiers 0-1; J Beatte 0-1; M McKenna 0-1; B McCormick 0-1; C Spiers 0-1,1f. 

Four Masters: L McCaughan; A McHugh, D McGinty, T McGovern; C Gavigan, C McCrea, A Quinn; T McBride, T Colhoun; Tomas Carr, K Muldoon, P McGonagle; C McCahill, O Doherty, Turlough Carr.

Subs: E O’Neill for C Gavigan (47), L McNamee for A McHugh (59), C Dunnion for A Quinn (63)

Magherafelt: K Campbell; T Cartin, Z Gavigan, C McCabe; E Spiers, R Small, C Kerr; J Beattie, Conall Higgins; M McKenna, Caolan Higgins, L Higgins; B McCormack, C Spiers, M Higgins

Subs: K Maynes for B McCormack (38), T Beattie for C McCabe (54), M Lavery for C Kerr (54)

Referee: C McDonald (St Gall’s)

Semi-final: Four Masters 6-14, Castleblayney 1-1

Four Masters scorers:  Conor McCahill 3-2; Oisin Doherty 1-4,1f; Patrick McGonagle, Theo Colhoun 1-0 each; Tomas Carr, Turlough Carr 0-2 each; Callum McCrea, Tiarnan McBride, Calum Dunnion 0-1 each.

Castleblayney Faughs scorers: C Murphy 1-0; S Broderick, T Nugent 0-1.

Four Masters: L McCaughan, E O’Neill, D McGinty, T McGovern, C Gavigan, C McCrea (0-01), A Quinn, T McBride, T Colhoun, T Carr, K Muldoon, P McGonagle, C McCahill, O Doherty, T Carr.

Subs: A McHugh for T Colhoun (45), L McNamee for K Muldoon (50), D Griffin for P McGonagle (50), C Dunnion for C McCahill (50), J Quinn for C Gavigan (50).

Castleblayney Faughs: J Flanagan, D Function, P Carville, A Higgins, H McQuillan, T Carey, T McGeough, S Hanratty, C Murphy, S Broderick, T Nugent, B Sherry, M McGinnity, L Mone, C Conlon.

Subs: S Miller for B Sherry (36), T McMahon for S Broderick (57), D Flanagan for A Higgins (57).

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Galls)

CAVAN GAELS

Quarter-final: Cavan Gaels 0-16, St. Molaise Irvinestown 1-8

Cavan Gaels: Emiliano Vennettilli, Daniel Sommers, Conor Doyle, Elvinis Griksas, Ciaran Galligan (0-1), Bobby Hanley, Martin Anthony McDonagh, Ben Tully (0-3,1f), Michael Monaghan, Cormac Crotty, Joshua Shehu (0-7,2f), Daniel Olude, Jakub Jaskiewicz (0-1), Josh Dunne (0-1), Finn Crowe (0-2,one mark).

St. Molaise Irvinestown: Jamie McDonnell, Daire Swift, Ben Stewart, Aaron Hall, Caelan McGoldrick, Oisin Swift, Bernard McElholm, Alfie McCaffrey, Patrick Hughes, James Hanna, Mattie McDermott, Joseph McDonnell, Odhran McGovern, Barry Goodwin, Ryan McMulkin.

Semi-final: Cavan Gaels 1-7, Mayobridge 1-5 (after extra-time)

Cavan Gaels: E Vennettilli, D Sommers, C Doyle, E Griksas, C Galligan, B Hanly, MA McDonagh, B Tully (1-3, 3f), M Monaghan, C Crotty (0-1), J Shehu (0-2,1f), F McNamara, J Jaskiewicz, F Crowe (0-1), J Dunne. Subs: S Kolimar for C Galligan, D Olude for D Sommers (49), S Clarke for J Dunne (53), M Holko for J Jaskiewicz (53). 

Mayobridge: M Gallagher, R Magone, B Kelly, J Keenan, O De Rose, D McMahon, C Colhoun, D O’Keeffe, C Keenan, D Carr, C Clerkin (0-02, 0-01f), P Woods (1-01), R Coulter, D Poland (0-02), C McPolin. 

Referee: Brendan Toland (Lámh Dhearg)