Four Masters finish strong to see off Termon and top U-21 A group

Four Masters took another step in defence of their Donegal U21 A championship crown with a win over Termon on Saturday afternoon in Tir Chonaill Park.

A point up at the three-quarter mark, the reigning champions turned on the style in the closing 15 minutes to hit a goal and seven points to Termon’s two to run out nine-point winners at the final whistle.

Second-half substitute Oisin Doherty scored the Masters’ goal on the stroke of full-time after Doherty, Tiernan McBride, Thomas Carr, Kevin Muldoon and Conor Gallagher McCahill kicked the Masters points.

Oisin Cassidy, with a two-point free, got Termon’s only score in those closing exchanges.

Termon began the game well with two quick-fire points from Ciaran Conaghan and Shea Boyle and a Gary McGettigan goal after he first timed to the Masters’ net when the ball broke

in a crowded goalmouth.

That was seven minutes into the tie and propelled the men from the Burn Road into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead. Conor Gallagher McCahill kicked the Masters and the game's opening score.

Four Masters slowly got up to the pitch of the game and, courtesy of points from Gallagher McCahill, Kevin Muldoon and a Lewis McCaughan ‘45, they were up and running and two points down by the end of the first quarter.

But with Patrick Fagan and Cormac Brady shading the midfield exchanges and Gary McGettigan at full forward having his moments in front of the posts, Termon were back to four up, 1-5 to 0-4 by the 20-minute mark.

After four wides in a row, the locals found the range and rattled six points without response to lead 0-10 to 1-4 with only two minutes left in the half. Gallagher with two, Jack McGroarty with a booming two-pointer, and Muldoon raised the Masters flags.

And they were three up 0-11 to 1-6 at the halfway mark after Turlough and Seanán Carr traded late points in the half with Shea Boyle and Ciaran Connaghan.

Seanán Carr and Shea Boyle traded early points on the resumption, and when Ciaran Cassidy converted from just inside the arc 17 minutes into the new half, the Masters’ lead was down to a point, 0-12 to 1-8.

But two quick-fire points from Oisin Doherty, introduced at half-time, and one each from Tiernan McBride and Tomás Carr - sprung from the bench seven minutes in the new half - all of a sudden the John Kennedy-managed side were 0-17 to 1-8 to the good and on their way to a place in the last four of the championship.

Four Masters, with three wins from three games, top their group and automatically qualify for one of the four semi-final places.

Four Masters scorers: Oisin Doherty 1-3,1tp; Conor Gallagher McCahill 0-5,2f; Kevin Muldoon 0-3; Jack McGroarty 0-2,1tp; Seanán Carr 0-2; Lewis McCaughan (‘45), Turlough Carr, Tiernan McBride and Tomas Carr 0-1 each.

Termon scorers: Gary McGettigan 1-1; Shea Boyle, 0-4,1tpf; Ciaran Cassidy 0-3,1tpf; Ciaran Connaghan 0-2.

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Leo McGowan, Ethan McCrea, Caolan Sweeney; Patrick McGonagle, Callum McCrea, David Monaghan; Tiernan McBride, Jack McGroarty; Kevin Muldoon, Turlough Carr, Odhran McMullin; Conor Gallagher McCahill, Seanán Carr, John Glapa.

Subs: Eoghan O’Neill for L McGowan, Oisin Doherty for J Glapa (ht); Tomas Carr for O McMullin (37).

Termon: Ronan Harkin; Eoin Gallagher, Emmett McGettigan, Fionn McGrenra; Charlie Gorman, Ciaran Conaghan, Cormac Cassidy; Patrick Fegan, Cormac Brady; John Cannon, Oran Gallagher, Ciaran Cassidy; Gary McGettigan, Shea Boyle, John James Sweeney.

Subs: Caolan Curran for J Cannon (57).

Referee: Anthony Finn (Naomh Colmcille).