It was an evening of mixed emotions last Sat, 20th July as our Reserve team lost their league final by conceding a last goal, and on the flip side our Senior team scored a late goal to take the lead and win their League final. Match reports below.
SENIOR REPORT by Matthew Wilson
Four Masters: 1-7
Buncrana: 0-9
A 62nd minute free from Seanan Carr secured the Division 2 title for Four Masters against Buncrana on Saturday.
The Donegal Town men were four adrift at the break however, rallied back in the second half to seal a first trophy senior trophy since 2010.
The game got off to a slow start but Kevin Treacy got the games first score in the tenth minute.
Buncrana grew in strength from here and kicked the contest’s next three points courtesy of Aaron Cleary, John Campbell and Dylan Mulholland to move four clear.
It took the Donegal Town men 22 minutes to get off the mark but they eventually did when Killian Faulkner slotted a free between the posts.
However, Gary Duffy’s side hit straight back with two great scores from the boot of Dylan Mulholland to stretch the lead to five.
On the stroke of half time, Four Masters kicked their second of the evening with Senan Quinn pointing to leave four between the teams at the break.
Buncrana made the perfect start to the second stanza, kicking over the bar after just 15 seconds to restore their five point advantage.
Kevin Sinclair’s men rallied back though and cut the deficit to three with Seanan Carr and Senan Quinn pointing for Four Masters.
However, Buncrana hit back immediately when Oisin Crawford fired over after a great run.
Killian Faulkner and Dylan Mulholland traded scores before the Tir Conaill Park faithful found their groove and began to dominate.
On 48 minutes, Richard O’Rourke burst through the Buncrana defence before slotting it over the bar to reduce the arrears to three again.
Five minutes from time, the game’s key score took place. Oisin Reid dropped a long ball into the square, which found his brother Patrick Reid who slotted it low past Adam Harrigan and into the net to level the scores.
Sinclair’s men continued to pile on the pressure in search of a winner and the opportunity arrived on 62 minutes.
Kevin McGinley awarded the Donegal Town men a free close to goal and Seanan Carr stepped up and converted to seal a fine victory for Four Masters.
Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Aidan McHugh, Dylan Kennedy, Brian Fegan; Sean McKiernan, Caolan Loughney, Aaron McCrea; Oisin Reid, Jason Duignan; Joe Leape, Senan Quinn (0-2,0-1f), Richard O’Rourke (0-1); Killian Faulkner (0-2,0-2f), Conor Reid, Jamie Crawford. Subs: Patrick Reid (1-0) for Duignan (15 mins), Seanan Carr (0-2,0-2f) and David Monaghan for McCrea and McHugh (Half-time), Callum McCrea for McKiernan (41 mins).
Buncrana: Adam Harrigan; William McLaughlin, Sean Doherty, Oisin Grant; Andrew Davison,, Oisin Crawford (0-1), John Paul McKenna; Peter McLaughlin, Caolan McGonagle; Aaron Cleary (0-1), Michael Bernard McLaughlin, Kevin Treacy (0-1); Dylan Mulholland (0-4,0-1f), John Campbell (0-2,0-1f), Oisin O’Flaherty. Subs: Evan McCallion for McGonagle (16 mins), Aedan Stokes for Cleary (44 mins), Billy Duffy for Treacy (48 mins), Daragh Cory for O’Flaherty (58 mins).
Referee: Kevin McGinley (Naomh Columba).
RESERVE REPORT by Matthew Wilson
Four Masters: 0-9
Termon: 1-8
The evening’s scoring commenced in the second minute when Conor Meehan struck over a free kick, before the same man doubled their advantage five minutes later.
Termon rallied back however, and were level on 13 minutes following points from Jamie Gallagher and a Paul Mallon free.
The game’s next four points were traded two apiece, with Callum Dunnion and Tiernan McBride pointing for the Donegal Town men and Mark Gallagher and Paul Mallon scoring for the Burn Road men.
However, Leo McGowan slotted between the posts on the stroke of half time to give Damien Dunnion’s men a slender one point lead at the break.
Termon began the second stanza well and levelled the game within two minutes through Aaron Reid however, this was immediately cancelled out through Tiernan McBride.
The Donegal Town men would continue to impress and pushed the lead out to three points when Caolan Sweeney and Conor Meehan superbly converted.
Termon fought back however, and kick started their comeback with a great point from Paul Mallon on 49 minutes.
On 54 minutes Jamie McFadden made it a one point game when he slotted the ball between the posts before they found the back of the net.
Full-forward, Mark Gallagher received the ball in the square and fell to the ground before regaining his footing and slotting it low past Oisin Bryson.
Shortly afterwards, Paul Mallon pointed to extend his team’s advantage to three points.
Four Masters tried to rally back and cut the deficit to two when Emmett Doogan found the white flag however, Termon saw out the remainder of the game to seal their win.
Four Masters: Oisin Bryson; James McHugh, Terence McGovern, Michael McMullin; Caolan Sweeney (0-1), Daire Quinn, Leo McGowan; (0-1) Tiernan McBride (0-2), Ethan McNulty; Conor Gillespie, Gerard McBrearty, Daniel McIntyre, Conor Meehan (0-3,0-1f), Callum Dunnion (0-1), Ross O’Keeney. Subs: Emmett Doogan (0-1) for Dunnion (48 mins), James McMullin for McBrearty (57 mins), Dan Dunnion and Josh McCrea for McNulty and McMullin (62 mins).
Termon: Thomas Cannon; Eoin Gallagher, Shane Callaghan, Ciaran Cassity; Jack O’Neill, Emmett McGettigan, Jamie Gallagher; Gary McGettigan (0-2), Oisin Harkin; Martin Steel, Oran Gallagher, Paul Mallon (0-4,0-2f), Caolan Curran, Mark Gallagher (1-1), Conor McFadden. Subs: Aaron Reid (0-1) for Gallagher (half-time).
Referee: Daniel Carlin (Naomh Padraig, Lifford).
