Four Masters turned out a performance of style and considerable substance to shock three-time county champions Glenswilly on their own patch in the Donegal SFC Group C fixture this evening, writes Alan Foley
Glenswilly 0-6 Four Masters 2-11
Last week’s draw against Glenfin, with Glenswilly coming from five points down to finish off things at 0-14 to 1-11, wasn’t the worst in the circumstances, although it did reduce the margin of error in a group with little margin for error. This evening though, there was a system-breakdown and the although the chances of progression for Glenswilly aren’t over, they’re certainly remote. Their score difference is in tatters as things went from bad to worse late on.
Four Masters were in control pretty much from the off and hammered home two goals late on through Sean O’Kennedy and Conor McDaid, the scorer of 1-5, to post a mammoth 11-point win. It was a fantastic showing form Pat Campbell’s team, who were relegated to Division 3 this term.
Michael Murphy would prove to be the hosts’ only scorer, only one of which came from play and Joe Gibbons was given a straight red. Glenswilly have famed themselves coming out of seemingly painted corners in recent years, although they’ll need something extra-special next weekend when Milford come to town. They’ll also need Four Masters not to win in Glenfin.
With Murphy, the scorer of seven pointed frees last Sunday, popping one over in the first minute this evening it looked as though Glenswilly had turned in the right direction.
However, Four Masters, whose need was even more following their limp 0-14 to 0-10 loss to Milford on opening night, had fire in their bellies and managed to score the next four points to move 0-4 to 0-1 in front on 17 minutes – Kevin McBrearty, Jamie Crawford and two frees from McDaid made for a more than competent response from the visitors.
Masters would’ve been written off all week and in turn, came out fighting. When Murphy pulled one back for Glenswilly from another free, it was merely a prelude to Caolan Loughney restoring the three-point advantage of Masters at 0-5 to 0-2.
McDaid, this time from play, stretched the lead to four before Murphy’s third free of the half. Again, though, Masters showed they weren’t overawed and Loughney and McDaid, from a free, scored late in the half and suddenly, the lead was 0-8 to 0-3.
Still having not scored from play, a minute shy of the break came the talking point. From a scuffed kickout from Gerard McGrenra, the Glenswilly goalkeeper, a decent move saw Ciaran Bonner and Caoimhinn Marley involved before Oisin Crawford appeared to put the finishing touch on it with a slapped effort.
The ball cannoned down off the underside of the crossbar; Crawford followed up only to see Martin Cassidy, the Masters netminder, bravely spread himself but it seemed irrelevant as the green flag was raised by an umpire. However, the decision was made by match referee Enda McFeely and the umpires that there would be a free put for a free against Crawford for square ball. Saying that, the umpires’ crossing of the flags to show that offence never happened.
John Boyle, with Glenswilly still cursing their luck, pointed to give Four Masters a 0-9 to 0-3 half-time advantage.
From the off in part two, McBrearty drove from the centre of the park to push out the lead of Masters to seven, 0-10 to 0-3.
Glenswilly finally scored from play with Murphy on the mark on 34 minutes. Two more frees and the gaps was cut again, 0-10 to 0-6, but any notion that Four Masters might get hemmed in too much was proven to be a myth when they fashioned a lightening breakaway with Barry Dunnion and Leo McHugh combining before Jamie Crawford drove wide when in on goal. They appeared to be weathering the storm.
McDaid picked up where he left off in the first half and pointed his fifth point and at the other end, Sean O’Kennedy made a fantastic block from Caolan Kelly. With 10 left it was 0-11 to 0-6. Glenswilly needed a goal.
But they didn’t get it. Masters got two. Moments after making a goal-stopping block from Caolan Kelly, O’Kennedy was on the end of a slick move to shoot past McGrenra on 52 minutes.
And after Gibbons, for striking Oisin Reid, was sent off, McDaid added a second goal in injury time to confirm the empathic win with Loughney laying on the pass. Just for good measure, with time thin on the ground, O’Kennedy made another block – this time on the goalline when Neil Gallagher blasted a late free-kick for goal in the hope of salvaging something for Glenswilly. They’ve a major salvage job now. Masters aren’t there yet either, but on this evening’s performance are the best placed of Milford’s three group opponents.
Glenswilly: Gerard McGrenra; Aidan McDevitt, Eamon Ward, Paddy Diver; Ruairi Crawford, Mark McAteer, Caolan Kelly; Neil Gallagher, Caoimhin Marley; Leon Kelly, Oisin Crawford, Joe Gibbons; Brian Farrelly, Michael Murphy (0-6, 5f), Ciaran Bonner. Subs: Donnchadh Gallagher for O Crawford (h/t), Ryan Diver for R Crawford (50), Keelan McFadden for L Kelly (54)
Four Masters: Martin Cassidy; Cathal Canavan, Kevin Breslin, Brian Fegan; John Boyle (0-1), Barry Dunnion, Sean O’Kennedy (1-0); Leo McHugh, Kevin McBrearty (0-2); Jamie Crawford (0-1), Caolan Loughney (0-2), Emmett; Neil Ward, Paddy Reid, Conor McDaid (1-5, 4f). Subs: Oisin Reid for Ward (35, black card), Killian Faulkner for Doogan (55), Eoghan Curley for Dunnion (60), Aidan McHugh for O Reid (60+1).
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary’s, Convoy)
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