FOUR MASTERS 2-12 V 3-08 GWEEDORE. Four time All Star and 2012 Footballer of the year Karl Lacey kicked five points from play as his club Four Masters came from three points down at half-time to beat Gweedore by one and secure two vital points in their battle against relegation from Division One of the All County League as Charlie Collins Reports. The visitors fielded a starting fifteen which was missing many regulars but fought hard throughout this keenly contested encounter. Eamonn Collum knocked over a early free for Gweedore but Four Masters took over then scored 1-03 without reply in the next ten minutes. Sean Meehan and Lacey kicked points from play and then Meehan blasted to the Gweedore net after taking a Darragh Quinn pass and turning his marker. Neil Ward added another fine point from play and the home side were five points ahead in the 13th minute at 1-03 to 0-01. By the 22nd minute the sides were level as Gweedore hit back. James Carroll, Kevin Cassidy from play and another free from Collum left two in it, Thomas Mc Gowan replied with a Masters free but in the 23rd minute Michael Carroll and Collum combined to open the home defence and when the latter’ shot was saved by Eamonn Jordan, young wing-forward Daniel Mc Lochlainn was on hand to volley it to the net to make it 1-04 apiece. Micheal Carroll gave Gweedore the lead, Thomas Mc Gowan equalised but on the stroke of half-time Gweedore got a second goal. Daire O Baoill burst forward from his own half, exchanged passes with Cassidy and James Carroll and when his piledriver came back off the crossbar young Daniel Mc Lochlainn was on hand again hammer the rebound to the net to leave it 1-05 to 2-05 at the break. Four Masters came out of the traps quickly at the start of the second-half, McGowan, Lacey and Patrick Reed all kicked points and when Gweedore made a complete mess of a free close to their own goal area Darragh Quinn Palmed the ball to the net to put the home side three in front. That very quickly became six as Lacey doubled his tally with two super scores from the right and McGowan converted a free to make it 2-11 to 2-05 in the 52nd minute. However the visitors weren’t finished and when Eamonn Collum blasted in their third goal it was game out again. Cassidy burst through but his goal effort was just too high and there was two points in it. Karl Lacey again showed his class with a fifth point from play to restore the three point lead but points by Cassidy and James Carroll plus six minutes of injury-time made it a anxious finish for Four Masters but the held on for a vital win. This was only their third win in 14 league games and while they remain in the bottom spot in the table they have closed the gap on those directly above them and have games in hand on a couple of them so all is not yet lost. The defeat wont concern Gweedore too much but of much concern, with a vital championship game against Glenswilly in less than two weeks, will be the ankle injury picked up late in the game by County player Michael Carroll which saw him helped from the pitch in much discomfort. FOUR MASTERS; Eamonn Jordan, Enda Bonner, Leo Mc Hugh, Darragh Quinn ( 1-0 ), Aaron Mc Crea, Dylan Kennedy, Barry Dunnion, Karl Lacey ( 0-5 ), Kevin Mc Brearty, Josh Lacey, Neil Ward ( 0-1 ), Caolan Loughrey, Thomas Mc Gowan ( 0-4f ), Patrick Reed ( 0-1 ), Sean Meehan ( 1-1 ). SUBS; Dylan Farren for Josh Lacey ( 47mins ), Fergal O Callaghan for Ward ( 57mins ), Barry Monaghan for Loughrey ( 59mins ). GWEEDORE; Christopher Sweeney, Ryan Kelly, Gary Mc Fadden, Proinsias Gallagher, Neasan Mc Bride, Eamonn Mc Gee, Conor Mc Cafferty, Michael Carroll ( 0-1 ), Odhran Ferry, James Carroll ( 0-2 1f ), James Gallagher, Daniel Mc Lochlainn ( 2-0 ), Eamonn Collum ( 1-2 ), Kevin Cassidy ( 0-3 ), Daire O Baoill. SUBS; Sean O Baoill for Michael Carroll ( inj 46mins ). Referee; Val Murray ( Aodh Rua B/S ).
Chris McNulty
Author of 'Boxing In Donegal: A History (2021)' - the definitive history of the sport in County Donegal - and 'Relentless: A Race Through Time', the 2019 memoir of former Irish Athletics Team Manager Patsy McGonagle. From St Johnston and now based in Letterkenny, Chris was a nominee for NUJ Sports Journalist of the Year in 2010. Honoured by the Donegal Boxing Board in 2016 for his coverage on the sport.