FOUR MASTERS ROSE TO the top of Division 2 thanks to a hard-earned win over Naomh Columba last night.
Four Masters 0-9 Naomh Columba 0-7
By Conor Breslin
It almost seemed impossible to separate these two teams but the donegal town men were celebrating at the final whistle on a wet miserable day.
Both teams opened the game with high class football with Christopher Byrne getting on the scoreboard in the second minute followed by a free from full forward Ryan Gillespie in the seventh minute.
[adrotate group=”37″]Four Masters hit three wides before getting their first score from the speedy corner back Caolan Loughney who sprinted from one end of the field to point it from 35 metres out.
They didn’t stop their two well worked points from wing forward Conor McDaid, one a fisted point and a high flying shot put the men in blue ahead by two.
The Glen men didn’t panic the speed and strength of centre half back Michael McGuire charged down the centre of the field and fired at goal only to be denied from the giant in nets, Ryan Haughey.
[adrotate group=”45″]It occurred again two minutes later from the lively corner forward Pauric Cunningham but another superb save by Haughey put the ball out for a ’45, which was scored by Paddy Byrne.
Glen would not score again for 24 minutes.
Through two excellent frees from the left boot of the talented Dillon Ward and an unfortunate shot hit off the bar by Leo McHugh put the Four Masters ahead at half time by two points, 0-5 to 0-3.
Glen made three half time switches with the introduction of Paul Doherty, Jamie McNern and Stephen Jones.
This didn’t bother Four Masters, as they seemed to take complete control at the start of the second half with two more points from Dillon Ward.
Glen did hit their purple patch after referee Andrew Mullin showed Four Masters midfielder Patrick Reid a black card and sent him to the line.
This inspired the men from west donegal to fight back with two points in a minute from former county minor Philip McNern and Christopher Byrne.
It was neck and neck stuff with repeated scores from both sides with a free hit by Conor McMonagle and followed on the other side by Ryan Gillespie.
A final well-worked Four Masters point from Darren Doherty still did not seal anything as Glen drove in numbers for goal though was often cleaned up by the strong presence of Kevin Breslin in full back.
[adrotate group=”46″]A final free from Ryan Gillespie in 31 minute was not enough as Four Masters walked out relieved with a two point win.
Overall an exciting well fought match in such hard, dirty conditions with outstanding performances from leading captain Sean O’Kennedy, goalkeeper Ryan Haughey, high-class full-back Kevin Breslin and the dinky corner forward Dillion Ward.
Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Darren Walsh, Kevin Breslin, Caolan Loughney; Enda Bonner, Leo McHugh, John Boyle; Patrick Reid, Sean O’Kennedy; Darren Doherty (0-1), Conor McMonagle(0-1, 1f), Conor McDaid (0-2); Kevin McBrearty, Dillion Muldoon, Dillion Ward (0-4, 2f). Subs: Michael Doherty for Reid (13), Barry Farragher for McDaid (25)
Naomh Columba: Pauric O’Donnell; Barry Carr, Kieran McBrearty, Philip Doherty; Martin Cunningham, Michael Maguire, Philip McNern (0-1); Christopher Byrne (0-2), Declan McGuire; Paddy Byrne (0-1, 1 ’45), Kevin McNern, Ryan McNern; Pauric Cunningham, Ryan Gillespie (0-3, 3f), Pauric O’Neill. Subs: Paul Doherty for P Cunningham, Jamie McNern for Pauric O’Neill, Stephen Jones for M Cunningham (all half-time).
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