Four Masters chalk up a second U-21 A win against Gaoth Dobhair

Four Masters made it two wins from two games with a hard-fought win over a dogged Gaoth Dobhair at a damp and misty Magheragallon on Saturday afternoon.

Just four points separated the sides at the final whistle, with Alan McHugh and Oisin Doherty scoring the crucial Masters goals.

McHugh got on the end of a sweeping Masters move in the closing minutes of the opening half for the first of the green flags.

And Doherty, one of the Masters’ standout performers, struck for the second of his side’s green flags in the early minutes of the second half.

Four Masters lined out without senior players Tomas, Turlough and Seanán Carr - on holiday - and the injured Thomas Lenehan.

Goal scorer Doherty capped a fine performance with three points, and the Masters top scorers Conor McCahill, Caolan Sweeney, Conor Meehan, Theo Colhoun, Finn Gillespie and Kevin Muldoon were also among the point scorers.

Goalkeeper Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde led the Gaoth Dobhair scoring charge and ended the game with a tally of six points to his name. His tally was made up of two two-pointers and a free and a ‘45.

Goath Dobhair started well and played away from the clubhouse end, and with Colm Ó Dochartaigh, Cathal Mac Aoidh, Joey Ó Colla, Jordi Gribben and Sean Paul Ó Gallachóir playing well, the locals dominated the early exchanges.

They led 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter hour courtesy of points from Oisin Duibhír, Mac Giolla Bhríde, Johnny Mac Giolla Bhríde and Sean Paul Ó Gallachóir.

Conor McCahill scored the Masters' early point.

A feature of the opening exchanges was the amount of possession the two teams coughed up with a poor final pass.

The locals were the most guilty of the two, and they left the door open for the men from Tirchonaill Park.

And prompted by good play from Caolan Sweeney, Kevin Muldoon and Oisin Doherty, the Masters finished the half strong.

And thanks to points from Sweeney, McCahill and McHugh’s goal, they were ahead 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time.

While leading Gaoth Dobhair scorer Mac Giolla Bhríde pulled a point back on the resumption after half-time, the Masters stamped their authority on the game as they struck 1-2 without reply.

Oisin Doherty’s goal was sandwiched in between points for second-half substitute Finn Gillespie and McCahill as they led 2-8 to 0-10 by the middle of the second period.

The locals pressed in the closing minutes but were guilty of a number of bad wides and balls dropping short in the grateful arms of Lewis McCaughan, between the Four Masters posts.

Mac Giolla Bhríde with a late two-pointer kept the game alive.

But Oisin Doherty fittingly brought the curtain down with an insurance point deep into injury time.

Gaoth Dobhair scorers: Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde 0-6,1tpf,1tp,1’45, 1f; Johnny Mac Giolla Bhríde 0-2,1tp; Colm Ó Dochairtaigh 0-2; Oisin Ó Duibhír, Tadgh Ó Baoill and Sean Paul Ó Gallachóir 0-1 each.

Four Masters; Oisin Doherty 1-3; Alan McHugh 1-1; Conor McCahill 0-2; Caolan Sweeney, Conor Meehan, Theo Colhoun, Finn Gillespie and Kevin Muldoon 0-1 each.

Gaoth Dobhair; Padraig Mac Giolla Bhríde; Dallan Ó Baoill, Tiernan Misteal, Jamie Ó Gallachóir; Liam Breathnach, Jordi Gribbin, Cathal Rua Ó Gallachóir; Cathal Mac Aoidh, Joey Ó Colla; Alan Ó Dochartaigh, Colm Ó Dochartaigh, Tadhg Ó Baoill; Sean Paul Ó Gallachóir, Oisin Ó Duibhír, Cronan Mac Phaidín.

Subs: Johnny Mac Giolla Bhríde for O Duibhír (11, inj); Aodhan McGarvey for S P Ó Gallachóir (39).

Four Masters; Lewis McCaughan; Leo McGowan, Ethan McCrea, Caolan Sweeney; David Monaghan, Patrick McGonagle, Cian Gavigan; Theo Colhoun, Kevin Muldoon; Alan McHugh, Oisin Doherty, Darragh Griffin; Conor Meehan, Conor Gallagher McCahill, Daniel McIntyre.

Subs: Odhran McMullin for L McGowan, Conor Griffin for D Griffin (40); Callum Dunnion and Finn Gillespie for Conor Meehan and Daniel McIntyre ( 52);

Referee: James Connors ( St Eunans).