Four Masters’ hurlers look ahead to final showdown

By Ryan Ferry

THE Four Masters senior hurling team have waited a long time to play a final, and they can’t wait for Saturday’s Junior decider.

Peter McFarlane is in charge of the Four Masters team and he is thrilled with how the home grown side have been building in recent years, and would love to cap that off with a championship title.

“It’s our first final at senior level in over 20 years.

“It’s great for the team because they have all played over the last number of years. We have no new players in as such.

“Around 95 per cent of them are from the area and have come up through the underage ranks with Four Masters.

“One or two players have moved here but they are a long-time established with the club now.

“We were ranked as the lowest team in Donegal at the end of the 2023 season.

“We have come on a lot since then but it won’t be easy to beat St Eunan’s on their home turf.

“I would say it will come down to who is the most accurate team. There won’t be much between them in the middle of the field.

“It’s great to see hurling in the spotlight with three finals on the one day.

“We can’t wait. We’re buzzing for it.”

McFarlane is joined on the sideline by Fergal McAlister, Eddie McMahon, and Ronan O’Donovan.

They have enjoyed the season and have steadily improved as the campaign developed.

The Donegal town side won all their games in the round-robin and defeated Setanta by 2-15 to 1-6 in their semi-final.

“We played in the Ulster League at the start of the year and we had a good run in that.

“We lost against St Finbarr’s from Derry in the final by four points but we took a lot from that.

“We’re old school and we enjoy the team bonding. We’re well used to being underdogs and that won’t bother us.

“We beat Setanta in out semi-final and it was tighter than the final scoreline suggests. We had a serious battle with Burt when we played, and there was nothing in it when we played St Eunan’s either.

“They were missing a few players that day and you’d expect them to be playing.

“Our only problem is that we have lost a few players. Gary Bushell, Martin Galway and Ian Phillips are all injured. Cahair McBrearty and Dylan Thomas have emigrated too.

“We would like to have them but the boys that play will give it their all.”