fonaCAB Ulster MFC Final: Four Masters 1-8 Magherafelt 0-9
FOUR Masters retained their Ulster minor title in a dramatic finale following a controlled team performance.
Despite holding many of the aces, the Donegal champions needed a Kevin Muldoon block to prevent Kian Mayne’s late goal chance – in a crowded goalmouth – winning the game for Rossa with the last kick.
It was a third successive final appearance for Four Masters, who lost to Dungiven in 2022. While they were made to hang tough, they were deserving winners.
In Kevin Muldoon, Conor Gallagher McCahill, Turlough and Tomás Carr, there was stiff competition for the Anne Marie Donnelly player of the final with Muldoon getting the nod.
“It’s a huge achievement to go back-to-back,” said Four Masters joint-manager Greg Doherty. “The likes of Glen have done it, Killybegs have done it, Ballinderry have done it.
“In the senior championship, you have club teams trying to go win an Ulster Championship and an All-Ireland, then the following year trying to come back and do it again and it’s extremely difficult.
“We’re delighted with that and this ranks even higher than the achievement last year but we’re just blessed,” added Doherty, who manages the team with Odie McBride.
Outside of a lively first quarter and spirited finale, Magherafelt played second fiddle to the champions.
They were without playmaker Caolan Higgins and lost Michael Higgins before half-time.
It was the second quarter where Four Masters laid their first footprint. After twice trailing by three points, they began to get their key players working in tandem.
Despite weaved moves of play, they failed to hit the net from any of their three first-half goal chances before going in level 0-4 each after playing against a stiff wind that died somewhat at the break.
Points from Jude Beattie, Cathir Spiers and Kian Maynes (mark) had Magherafelt three clear before Gallagher McCahill opened the scoring for Four Masters.
Tomás Carr, who was a doubt with an ankle injury, drilled over a 45 into the teeth of the wind.
Oisin Doherty blasted over after a fine move from Callum McCrea and Tomás Carr.
Muldoon had a shot hooked off the line by Ronan Conway after a Zak Gavigan block and Gallagher McCahill pulled an earlier shot across goal.
Like he did at the start of the game, Tomás Carr began the second half at full forward before a call from the line to switch with Tiarnan McBride going inside.
Carr’s first involvement in the roving commission was to send a high ball to the Four Masters’ square where McBride’s touch was finished to the net by Darragh Griffin.
“Our plan was with Tomás…we’ve told him at the beginning of each half to stay in and see if we can get a high ball in,” Doherty added.
“It wasn’t happening, so we told him to come out. One of us always gives him a shout after a couple of minutes.
“It was a brilliant ball in but he wasn’t supposed to be kicking the ball today with the outside of the foot,” Doherty added of Carr’s injury.
Within seconds, Gallagher McCahill added a sweet score to open a four-point gap, 1-5 to 0-4.
Eventually, Magherafelt kicked a point from Lorcan Higgins, their first score 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, with Turlough’s the point of the game.
With Four Masters having the chance to close the game, incorrect shot selection could’ve been costly.
Gallagher McCahill and Muldoon tried for goal when points would’ve kept the scoreboard ticking. It 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 incepted by Lorcan Higgins who danced forward before being hauled down by Eoghan O’Neill.
It was three Conall Higgins points that 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.
While there was delight in the winning dressing room, Magherafelt manager Ciaran Higgins was on the other side of the emotion. In devastation, he was both gracious and full of praise for his side.
“It’s an absolute credit to our lads for sticking at it,” he said of the Rossa comeback.
“We had seven u-16s playing there today. That’s some reflection on young players, that they can play at that level against a quality team.
“Ultimately, it came down to the last ball at the end. It looked like it might have been flicked to the net to give us the win.
“I am seriously proud of the effort from our lads against a really good Four Masters team. They’re deserving winners in the day and they’ve proved that they’re an exceptional team over the last couple of years.”
Four Masters: L McCaughan; D McGinty, E O’Neill; C Gavigan; P McGonagle, C McCrea, A Quinn; Tomás Carr (0-2, 1 45), T McBride, T Colhoun; Turlough Carr (0-1), O Doherty (0-2, 1f); C Gallagher McCahill (0-3, 1f), D Griffin (1-0)
Sub: A McHugh for Griffin (52)
Black card: Turlough Carr (63)
Yellow cards: Tomás Carr (37), E O’Neill (59)
Magherafelt: K Campbell (0-1 45); T Cartin, Z Gavigan, R Conway; M Higgins; M McKenna, R Small (0-1), C Kerr; J Beattie (0-1), C Spiers (0-1f); C Leacock, Conall Higgins (0-3, 2f), E Spiers; L Higgins (0-1), K Maynes (0-1m)
Subs: M Lavery for M Higgins (22), R Ferris for E Spiers (52)
Black card: M Lavery (62)
Yellow card: L Higgins (43)
Referee: C McDonald (St Gall’s)