GAOTH DOBHAIR registered their first points of the season with a 15-point victory over Four Masters, with the Machaire Gathlán men hitting the net four times in the opening half.
Gaoth Dobhair 4-12 Four Masters 0-9
The home side registered their first league points this year Gaoth Dobhair played without county players Micheál Carroll and Kieran Gillespie, who were ruled out due to injuries, and Four Masters were without the influential Karl Lacey.
Four Masters were first on the off with a well taken free by Conor McDaid with two minutes on the clock. A minute later, Éamon McGee, wearing the Number 15 jersey for Gaoth Dobhair, was taken down in the small rectangle and Odhrán Mac Niallais put the ball in the back of the net to put Gaoth Dobhair 1-0 to 0-1 up on three minutes.
Dáire Quinn raised a white flag for the visitors with six minutes gone. Gavin McBride had a chance on goal on eight minutes to put Gaoth Dobhair four ahead but his effort went wide. Dáire Ó Baoill was also unlucky not to raise a green flag for the home side minutes later.
Four Masters had a purple patch half way through the first half, and hit four unanswered points between the tenth and the 22nd minute, with a free from Conor McDaid, and points from play from Seán O’Kennedy, Kevin McBrearty and Patrick Reid, putting Four Masters three points ahead, taking advantage of the strong breeze behind them in the opening half.
Gaoth Dobhair went a full 20 minutes without a score since MacNiallais hit the net from the penalty spot, until Éamon McGee, playing at full forward position, rattled the Four Masters net on 23 minutes, putting the sides level.
Mac Niallais put Gaoth Dobhair one ahead three minutes later with a point from play. Gavin McBride raised a third green flag for the home side after good work from Odhrán Ó Fearraigh and Naoise Ó Baoill, feeding the ball to McBride on the edge of the square.
Neil McGee added to the Gaoth Dobhair tally on 28 minutes before Odhrán Mac Niallais hit the net again just before half time. Half time score, Gaoth Dobhair 4-2 Four Masters 0-6.
Gaoth Dobhair took full advantage of the wind in the second half and were first to register a score, coming from Gavin McBride with just 20 seconds played.
The home side scored a total of five points in the opening nine minutes of the second half. McBride added to his tally two minutes from the opener with a free, leaving the score at Gaoth Dobhair 4-4 Four Masters 0-6.
This was followed by points from Naoise Ó Baoill, a free from Odhrán Mac Niallais and a point from play from Niall Friel. With nine minutes of the second half played, Gaoth Dobhair led by thirteen points. Conor McDaid closed the gap with two frees for Four Masters half way through the half.
Neil McGee and Gavin McBride added to Gaoth Dobhair’s tally with points from play on the 44th and 47th minutes. Conor McDaid scored his third free of the second half for Four Masters on 24 minutes, but Gaoth Dobhair finished strongly with a point from play from Gavin McBride, followed by a point from Niall Friel and a free from Gavin McBride.
Scorers:
Gaoth Dobhair: Odhrán Mac Niallais, 2-02, Éamonn McGee, 1-0, Gavin McBride, 1-05, Neil McGee, 0-2, Niall Friel, 0-2, Naoise Ó Baoill 0-1.
Four Masters: Conor McDaid, 0-5, Dáire Quinn, 0-1, Seán O’Kennedy 0-1, Kevin McBrearty 0-1, Patrick Reid 0-1.
Gaoth Dobhair: Criostóir Mac Suibhne; Ryan Ó Ceallaigh, Gary Mac Pháidín, Jamie Mac Raghnaill; Odhrán Ó Fearraigh, Niall Mac Aoidh, Niall Ó Fríl; Peadar Mac Aoidh, Odhrán MacNiallais; Naoise Ó Baoill, Cian Ó Maolagáin, Dáire Ó Baoill, Neasán Mac Giolla Bhríde, Gavin Mac Giolla Bhríde, Éamonn Mac Aoidh
Four Masters: Ryan Haughey; Caolán Loughrey, Kevin Breslin, Enda Bonner; Seán O’Kennedy, Dáire Quinn, Barry Dunnion; Leo McHugh, Kevin McBrearty; Seán Meehan, Emmet Doogan, Patrick Reid; Darren Doherty, Conor McDaid, Josh Lacey
Réiteoir: Robbie O’Donnell, Naomh Muire
Tags: