Irvinestown 2-10 Four Masters 5-05

Goals proved costly for Irvinestown on Saturday as they made their exit from the St. Paul’s Ulster Minor Club Tournament at Colaiste Feirste in Belfast at the hands of Donegal champions Four Masters.

The St Molaise side had more than held their own for long periods but the concession of goals at key times was decisive as they eventually lost out by four points.

Irvinestown joint manager Shane McDermott felt that Four Masters pace was an issue for Irvinestown.

“Their speed did the damage for us and they were a good all round team. I felt that we were competitive but then the goals killed us and they came from the pace that they brought to it,” he said.

However, he is hoping that Irvinestown will take the lessons from the defeat.

“It is a learning experience and hopefully we can use that going forward.

“I suppose we would look on it as a missed chance as we felt we had a fairly decent team but as I say, hopefully we can use the lessons from this game going forward,” he added.

Irvinestown made a bright start to the game with Barry Goodwin landing the first point of the game and although Four Masters replied with their opening goal from Seanan Carr, the St Molaise continued to enjoy the better of the exchanges.

Conor O’Hanlon knocked over their second point and this was followed by an exquisite score from a sideline ball by Mattie McDermott. McDermott then converted a free to put Irvinestown into a 0-04 to 1-00 lead.

Just when they appeared to be taking a grip on the game though Irvinestown were hit by a second Four Matsers goal, Carr again the scorer with a strong run and finish.

Conor O’Hanlon and Conor Meehan then traded points but two points from Goodwin, one from a free and one from play, levelled things up at 0-07 to 2-01.

Four Masters though followed up with their best spell of the half as Meehan and Kevin Muldoon rattled over points and this was followed by a Muldoon goal to put six between the sides.

However, just before half time Goodwin raised a green flag for Irvinestown to leave it 1-07 to 2-04 at the break.

As conditions became trickier, scores were at a premium in the second half but Meehan registered a fourth goal for the Donegal Town side while Muldoon tagged on a point to stretch their lead out to seven points.

Irvinestown though continued to battle and Oisin Swift fired to the net to cut the deficit back to four with ten minutes to go.

But, substitute Oisin Doherty hit a crucial fifth goal for Four Masters to take the game away from Irvinestown and although McDermott (2) and Goodwin notched late points it was not enough as Four Masters finished up 5-05 to 2-10 victors.

 

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