fonaCAB St Paul’s Ulster Minor Tournament semi-final
Four Masters v Fr Rocks
Thursday Dec 26, 1pm, St Paul’s
And now lies a chance for a third successive final at St Paul’s. Dungiven shattered Four Masters’ dreams in 2022. Last year it was their turn to pip Magherafelt at the post in their opener.
Joint-managers Greg Doherty and Odie McBride both had sons on that squad two years ago, though neither donned the ‘Bainisteoir’ bib at the Ulster Minor Tournament until last year.
But Belfast just so happens to be the summit of a mountain they have scaled with a bunch of boys who have become young men as Doherty well knows:
“Last year was our first year in charge. This has been our group right up through the ranks. We always encourage the lads to play with the heads up.
“Move the ball on to a better position, whether that’s mixing it long or short, keep the opposition guessing.
“There’s no secret to it, and in fairness the lads have done a good bit of both.”
Doherty wagers that the Four Masters trek to Belfast is as long as anyone’s. His charges have become rather accustomed to the two stop offs on the three and a half hour coach trip, as has he.
Rounding up the troops on those stops is not the kind of duty one thinks of when throwing the hat into the manager gig’s ring. On any team, there’s always one who’ll go gallivanting. Doherty jokes Four Masters are blessed with a few in that category.
But it’s those characters a squad of any description need too to get them through.
This year the challenge is slightly different than 2023, with a semi-final fixed for St Stephen’s Day a tricky one to negotiate:
“We both (Doherty and McBride) had sons on the 2022 panel, so we saw up close how they prepared for that Boxing Day semi-final.
“Last year we were before Christmas, and obviously now the lads are U18 rather than U17, so that brings added challenges during Christmas!
“But the lads are almost professional in the way they prepare. We’ll tell them to enjoy their Christmas, yes have one eye on the semi-final but we trust the lads and we know that they’ll be ready to go on Boxing Day.”
Doherty was impressed by Fr Rocks’ extra-time win over Mayobridge, and courtesy of whatever sources the Tír Chonaill men could get their hands on, they’ve come to describe the Cookstown outfit as “the comeback kings”.
The manner in which Four Masters held out against Scotstown could well stand them in good stead against a side who never know when they are beaten:
“We know a little bit about them. We saw the Mayobridge game, and they didn’t start well, they kicked a few wides in the first half, but they never let it derail them.
“They had a superb second half against the wind, and I think in the first half of extra time they kicked five or six points.
“We’re under no illusions. They are Tyrone champions, and the underage scene in Tyrone has been strong. It will be a massive battle.”
The quarter-final win over the Monaghan champions was the Donegal outfit’s first match in seven weeks, winning county honours in October.
But the experience of Doherty and McBride’s men is something few can match, with Callum McCrea skippering the side for a second year in succession.
Turlough Carr is one of ‘ten or twelve’ in the squad that get a third opportunity in Belfast, having played against Dungiven two years ago.
But Doherty knows that means little on any given day:
“We have a bit of experience, and that’s never any harm to have an idea of what’s coming down the tracks, but you still have to out the hard work in.
“That’s what we would put the success down to in the last two years.”