By Matthew Wilson
Four Masters 1-23
St Michael’s 2-15
A late Kevin Muldoon goal helped Four Masters on their way to a superb win over St Michael’s at Tir Conaill Park on Sunday afternoon.
The visitors led for large spells of this encounter and held a two-point advantage as we entered the closing stages.
However, the Donegal Town men concluded proceedings the stronger of the two and secured a fine home victory to preserve their one hundred percent record.
St Michael’s made a flying start to this encounter, racing into an early five-point lead.
Carlos O’Reilly got the afternoon’s scoring underway, fisting the ball over the bar after just 15 seconds before further scores were added through Daniel McLaughlin (3) and Max Roarty.
Four Masters got off the mark after seven minutes when Patrick Reid fisted the ball over after Tomas Carr’s effort dropped into the box.
The next four points of the contest were traded two-apiece, with Conor Reid and Carlos O’Reilly both firing over a pair of fine attempts for their side.
On the quarter hour mark, the visitors landed their first major as Edward O’Reilly won possession inside and slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give his team a seven-point lead.
Barry Dunnion’s charges responded well to this setback and they kicked the encounter’s next five points.
This fruitful spell was sparked by a fine effort from Oisin Doherty, before further scores from David Monaghan, Alex McCalmont and two more from Doherty’s boot, including a free, reduced the arrears to two points.
However, the Bridge residents hit back with their second goal of the opening half.
A long kick-out from Oisin Cannon broke the way of Daniel McLaughlin who darted towards goal before squaring it to Andrew Kelly and he rifled the ball into the back of the net.
The Donegal Town men replied with a pair of points from the lively Doherty (one free) to cut the deficit to three at the interval.
The teams traded the first two scores of the second stanza, with Michael McGinley and Seanan Carr adding their names to the scoresheet.
The Donegal Town men went on to kick the next three points of the afternoon as Monaghan slotted over a close-range effort before Doherty saw the orange flag raised for his attempt to level proceedings.
Carlos O’Reilly and Oisin Doherty (free) swapped scores before Four Masters substitute Kevin Muldoon made an immediate impact by pointing to give the hosts the lead.
They weren’t ahead for long though as Daniel McLaughlin hit back with a tidy effort for the away outfit.
The Bridge residents came close to adding a third goal as we approached the final quarter but Lewis McCaughan made a great save to deny Carlos O’Reilly from finding the net.
St Michael’s were soon back in front as Michael Langan converted 45’ before Patrick Francis Spier fired over a superb laces effort to see them lead by two.
The home side were quickly back on level terms courtesy of back-to-back points from Thomas Lenehan and Seanan Carr.
However, two successive scores at the other end through Colin McFadden and Daniel McLaughlin had the visitors two in front again with five minutes left on the clock.
Thomas Lenehan and Carlos O’Reilly exchanged the game’s next two scores before Doherty struck over a superb two-pointed free for the hosts to leave us all-square.
However, there was to be late drama as the Tir Conaill Park residents landed a huge score in the form of a major in the closing stages.
Kevin Muldoon drove through the St Michael’s defence and rifled the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give the home side a three-point cushion.
The visitors tried to respond but Turlough Carr added a pair of late points for the Donegal Town men to secure a fantastic victory on home soil.
Teams
Four Masters: Lewis McCaughan; Eoghan O’Neill, Dylan Kennedy, Caolan Loughney; Leo McHugh, Callum McCrea, David Monaghan (0-2); Conor Reid (0-2), Tomas Carr; Alex McCalmont (0-1), Turlough Carr (0-2), Seanan Carr (0-2); Oisin Doherty (0-10,1tf,0-2f), Patrick Reid (0-1), Killian Faulkner. Subs: Thomas Lenehan (0-2) for Faulkner and Kevin Muldoon (1-1) for McHugh (41 mins), Joe Leape for Loughney (47 mins).
St Michael’s: Oisin Cannon; Fionn Chernick, Stephen Doak, Seamus Ferry; Oisin Langan, Patrick Francis Spier (0-1), Max Roarty (0-1); Martin McElhinney, Michael Langan (0-1,0-1 45’); Colin McFadden (0-1), Daniel McLaughlin (0-5,1tpf), Andrew Kelly (1-0); Edward O’Reilly (1-0), Michael McGinley (0-1), Carlos O’Reilly (0-5).
Referee: Ryan Walsh (Realt na Mara).