Four Masters survive late Magherafelt rally to retain Ulster title

fonaCAB Ulster MFC final

Four Masters 1-8
Magherafelt 0-9

By Michael McMullan
at St Paul’s

FOUR Masters retained their Ulster minor title at St Paul’s on Wednesday with victory over Derry champions Magherafelt.

Playing in their third successive final, the Donegal town side have emulated fellow Donegal winners Killybegs who won back-to-back Ulster titles in the eighties.

A Darragh Griffin goal early in the second half proved the decisive score as Four Masters held control after a rampant Rossa opening quarter.

The Donegal side’s play and use of the ball was the key point in a game they should’ve killed off.

Three Conall Higgins points pulled the Derry men back into contention, leaving two between the teams, deep in stoppage time.

When a late ball dropped into the Four Masters’ square, Kevin Muldoon flicked a Kian Maynes the ball off the line.

It was the last action with referee Colm McDonald blowing his final whistle.

Kevin Muldoon was named as the Anne Marie Donnelly player of the final. The fact last year’s winner Conor Gallagher McCahill, Turlough and Tomás Carr were leading contenders highlighted their greater overall slickness.

Magherafelt were without injured playmaker Caolan Higgins with a hamstring injury from their semi-final win over Clann Éireann and lost Michael Higgins before half time.

The Derry champions were out the blocks in the first 11 seconds. With the breeze at their back, a ball to Cathir Spiers led to a point for Jude Beattie on the run.

Spiers notched a free and Magherafelt looked to have settled. Michael Higgins stopping Kevin Muldoon’s initial run was another gain but Rossa didn’t make use of the wind, dropping efforts short and rushing other chances.

A high ball to Tiarnan McBride made a score for Gallagher McCahill before a Karl Campbell 45 had Magherafelt 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after 15 minutes.

Gallagher McCahill converted a free before a Tomás Carr 45 into the teeth of the wind reduced the gap to a single point as Four Masters found their feet.

A move involving Callum McCrea and Tomás Carr opened the door for an Oisin Doherty shot he blazed over with a glimmer of a goal chance on.

It was one of three first half goal chances Four Masters failed to take. Gallagher McCahill pulled one wide with Muldoon having one clawed to safety by Ronan Conway.

With the score poised at 0-4 all, the wind died in the second half and the Donegal side scored the game’s only goal.

Tomás Carr’s first involvement after being moved out to midfield was to send a high ball to the Four Masters’ square where McBride’s touch was finished to the net by Darragh Griffin.

Gallagher McCahill added a sweet score to open a four-point gap. Lorcan Higgins replied with a first Magherafelt point for 24 minutes.

It was their last until the final push late on. The Carr brothers added scores to put Four Masters firmly in the driving seat.

Incorrect shot selection from Gallagher McCahill and Muldoon – trying for goal when a point would’ve kept the scoreboard ticking – left Magherafelt with a chance.

They very nearly took it. Four Masters were lucky not to concede a goal when Theo Colhoun’s crossfield ball was intercepted by Lorcan Higgins who danced forward before being hauled down by Eoghan O’Neill.

It was three Conall Higgins points than eventually pulled Magherafelt back into the game.

Conall Higgins and Cathir Spiers missed late chances to force a draw before Four Masters survived the late goal scare to retain their title.

Scorers:

Four Masters: Conor Gallagher McCahill 0-3 (1f), Darragh Griffin 1-0, Tomás Carr (1 45), Oisin Doherty (1f) 0-2 each and Turlough Carr 0-1

Magherafelt: Conall Higgins 0-3 (2f), Cathir Spiers (f), Karl Campbell (45), Rory Small, Lorcan Higgins, Kian Maynes (f) and Jude Beattie 0-1 each

Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Daniel McGinty, Eoghan O’Neill; Patrick McGonagle, Cian Gavigan, Callum McCrea, Aidan Quinn; Tomas Carr, Tiernan McBride, Theo Colhoun; Turlough Carr, Oisin Doherty; Conor Gallagher McCahill, Darragh Griffin
Sub: Alan McHugh for Griffin (52)

Black card: Turlough Carr (63)
Yellow cards: Tomás Carr (37), E O’Neill (59)

Magherafelt: Karl Campbell; Turlough Cartin, Zack Gavigan, Ronan Conway; Michael Higgins; Michael McKenna, Rory Small, Cathair Kerr; Jude Beattie, Cathir Spiers; Callum Leacock, Conall Higgins, Emmett Spiers; Lorcan Higgins, Kian Maynes
Subs: Michael Lavery for M Higgins (22), Ronan Ferris for E Spiers (52)

Black card: M Lavery (62)
Yellow card: L Higgins (43)

Referee: Colm McDonald (St Gall’s)

This week’s Gaelic Lives looks ahead to the All-Ireland semi-finals this weekend and we have Ulster minor winning reaction.