Minors Win County Championship Four Masters 1-12 Termon 2-05 Four Masters put in an excellent team performance to win the Donegal Minor Division 2 Championship against a determined Termon side that fought until the final whistle. The game was played in blizzard like conditions for large parts in St Mary’s (Convoy), with both teams starting thirteen a side due to Termon togging out sixteen players. Termon got of the a good start with danger man Caolan McDaid pointing for thrity metres out after a foul on full forward Shane Doherty. Nathan Ward responded instantly with a lovely curled effort on the left hand side of the pitch after a nice dummy solo. Termon fullback Joe McCusker then made a fantastic block on the line to save a goal bound shot from Thomas McGowan after a mix up saw goalkeeper Shay McElwaine lose the ball under pressure while soloing the ball out. A number of chances were created and squandered in the next five minutes from both teams before great fielding from Paddy Reid on a Termon kickout lead to first goal. An excellent kick pass from Paddy after his catch saw Darren Doherty bearing down on goal after cutting in past the full back. An excellent low finish to bottom right corner gave the Termon goalkeeper no chance. Jack Keaney caught the next kickout and was fouled twenty five metres out from goal after a driving run down the middle, Nathan Ward tapped over the free to extend the lead. The growing influence of Jack Keaney and Darren Doherty created Termon lots of problems with Jack hitting another point. Termon responded with a close in free from Caolan McDaid after Shane Cannon was adjudged to have pulled Enda McCormacks jersey. Termon kicked the next point as well, an excellent long range effort under pressure from James McSharry. Half time saw the score 1-04 to 0-03 in favour of Four Masters, with lots of people going to their cars to warm up. Four Masters started the second half in excellent form with Darren Doherty and Jack Keaney hitting quick points to extend the lead further. Termon struck back from the penalty spot after Shane Doherty was fouled in the square in what looked a harsh decision on full back Shane Cannon. Enda McCormick made no mistake from the spot hitting into the left hand side giving Ryan Haughey no chance. Four Masters responded straight away with a Jack Keaney free kick after an excellent Paddy Reid catch. A fantastic team score from Four Masters then followed. An excellent shoulder from Gareth Cleary on the halfway forced a turn over before quick interplay between Darren Doherty and Jack Keaney, saw Aaron McCrea in front of the posts. He teed up Thomas McGowan for the point to put five point between the teams. Points then followed from Caolan McDaid (free kick) and Darren Doherty (after good work from Calvin McShane) before Ryan Haughey then made another one on one save to keep Termom at bay. A high James McSharry shot to the top right hand corner was then saved from Haughey. Both teams began to tire in the last ten minutes with Four Masters forcing a turn over which resulted in a Jack Keaney point from the right hand corner after an excellent switch of play from Thomas McGowan. Points from Sean Meehaan and Daire Quinn left Four Masters eight points up with a couple of minutes left to play. A high ball into the Four Masters square went all the way into the net without a touch. Termon then struck another point from a Caolan McDaid free kick before the final whistle sounded leaving Four Masters minor champions on a score line of 1-12 to 2-05. Well done to both teams for putting on an excellent game of football in terrible weather conditions. Four Masters pressing of the Termon backs caused lots of turnovers as well as the strong running of Jack Keaney, Darren Doherty, and Daire Quinn. Four Masters were well served by Ryan Haughey in goals who made a couple of superb saves at important times in the game, Jack Keaney who both set up or finished most moves, and by Darren Doherty, Dylan Kennedy, Paddy Reid, Neil Ward and Daire Quinn who provided leadership when it mattered most. Termon were well served by Caolan McDaid on the forty, Caolan Mellett and James McSharry who never gave up and brought the fight to Four Masters. Great credit must go to manager Michael Breslin and his backroom team of Daniel Ward, Liam Currams, Corny Carr, Joe Cannon, Luke Keaney, and David Keaney for helping the team improve greatly throughout 2014. The minors started training back in January in what was a long and drawn out season due to Donegal minors reaching the All Ireland Final in Sepetember. Well done lads! Four Masters team: Ryan Haughey, Calvin McShane, Shane Cannon, Gareth Cleary, Aaron McCrea, Dylan Kennedy, Daire Quinn, Paddy Reid, Jack Keaney, Darren Doherty, Neil Ward, Thomas McGowan and Nathan Ward. Subs used: Sean Meehan and Tom O’Grady. Unused subs: Oisin Gilespie, Colum McDonnell, Fergal O’Callaghan, Joe Ruck, Paul Cannon, Seamus Carr, Iarlaith Cox, Conor Breslin, Dylan Johnson, Matthew Oates, Adam Gallagher,and Niall McGroarty. Termon team: Shay McElwaine, Evan O Donoghue, Joe McCusker, Lee Doherty, Nathan McElwaine, Barry Gallagher, Stephen Doherty, Caolan Mellett, James McSharry, Caolan McDaid, Conor O Grady, Enda McCormick, Shane Doherty. Subs: Alfie Duggan, Eoin Doherty, Brian Alcorn, Darragh Moyne, Mark Sweeney. Report by Pauric Harvey.
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 17:05:04 +0000