Four Masters take control in second half to ease past Killybegs

Four Masters eventually took control against Killybegs and ran out easy winners in the end of this opening SFC encounter in Tirconaill Park on Sunday.

Killybegs owned the opening quarter and a couple of two pointers had them 0-6 to 0-1 ahead on eight minutes but from then on Four Masters gradually began to get on top and Killybegs wilted in the second half as the Donegal Town men pulled clear.

The speculation that Seamus Coleman might be togged for the Fishermen was just that - speculation. But he was there as a supporter.

He watched as his side had a great opening with Hugh McFadden hitting a two pointer inside 90 seconds while Christopher Mulligan and Jack McSharry doubled the lead.

Four Masters got a lucky break when referee Cathal Boland penalised the Killybegs ‘keepeer for delaying the kick-out and Oisin Doherty popped over the free.

Jack McSharry fired over another two pointer before Oisin Doherty (free) and from play cut the lead. Josh Coyler made a great catch under his crossbar on 20 minutes and it led to Evan Broderick pointing at the other end.

The Killybegs goal had a lucky escape when a Thomas Lenehan effort dropped short but Paddy Reid got a touch but Cillian Gildea made a great stop on the line.

Before half-time Tomás Carr and Thomas Lenehan hit vital points to leave just two between at the break - Killybegs 0-7, Four Masters 0-5.

Evan Broderick pushed Killybegs three clear within two minutes of the re-start but they would not score again for 23 minutes.

Four Masters, while not threatening two pointers, chipped away with points from Tiarnan McBride, two from Killian Faulkner and Oisin Doherty also hit two (one free, after Paddy Reid fielded from his brother Conor and was fouled).

Faulkner fisted another while the Reids and Leo McHugh fired over points for an 0-14 to 0-8 lead on 23 minutes.

Hugh McFadden had a Killybegs point from a free on 25 minutes and from the kick-out Niall Carbery suffered a nasty fall in an accidental collision and was stretchered off.

With play stopped for a period Conor Cunningham had Killybegs final point from a free while Tiarnan McBride, with an outrageous dummy, fired over the final score.

Killybegs were without the injured Eoghan Ban Gallagher and on this form seemed to lack fitness in the second half. Four Masters will hope to welcome back some of their players in the US as they head for a tougher task in Kilcar next weekend. In truth the second half was a drab affair although the tussle between Leo McHugh and Hugh McFadden was always entertaining.

Four Masters scorers: Oisin Doherty 0-5,3f; Killian Faulkner 0-3; Tiarnan McBride 0-2; Conor Reid, Tomás Carr, Thomas Lenehan, Paddy Reid, Leo McHugh 0-1 each.

Killybegs scorers: Jack McSharry (1tp), Hugh McFadden (tp,f) 0-3 each; Evan Broderick 0-2; Conor Cunningham (f), Christopher Mulligan 0-1 each.

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Eoghan O’Neill, Leo McHugh, Caolan Sweeney; Caolan Loughney, Tiarnan McBride, Callum McCrea; Conor Reid, Tomás Carr; Thomas Lenehan, David Monaghan, Oisin Doherty; Killian Faulkner, Paddy Reid, Alex McCalmont.

Sub: Dylan Kennedy for Sweeney (41).

Killybegs: Josh Coyler; Niall Carbery, Cillian Gildea, Ethan Byrne; Charlie Breslin, Seamus Og Byrne, Ryan Carr; Hugh McFadden, Evan Broderick; Rory Coyler, Jack McSharry, Odhran McGuinness; Conor Cunningham, Jon Ban Gallagher, Christopher Mulligan.

Subs: Eddie McHugh for O McGuinness (50); Owen Gallagher for Carbery (59)

Referee: Cathal Boland (Ardara)