Paul McGirr Cup quarter-final
Casement’s Portglenone 1-7 Four Masters (Donegal) 2-11
Despite a superb individual performance from midfielder Odhran Doherty, Casement’s Portglenone were forced to succumb to an excellent all round Four Masters of Donegal in the quarter-final of the Paul McGirr Cup in Dromore on Sunday.
Doherty covered every blade of grass of Gardrum Park and accounted for all but one of his sides total over the hour but the Donegal champions had greater strength in depth throughout the field and that proved the difference in the end.
Doherty got the Antrim champions off the mark from a pointed free in the opening minute but Four Masters replied with a vengeance as Gethin Mosby found the net with four minutes gone.
Mosby’s goal seemed to fire the boys in Blue into action and they added points from Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan and a fine long range effort from Thomas Carr before Slevin fired home their second major of the evening with only 11 minutes on the clock.
Portglenone looked rattled as they tried to cope with the movement of the Masters but they did reply through two fine points from the impressive Odhran Doherty, much to the approval of the good crowd who had travelled to support them.
Thomas Lenehan, who was impressing on the ‘40’ replied for the Donegal side and Thomas McHugh moved them further ahead before Odhran Doherty brought his and his sides total to four for the half to leave Four Masters 7 ahead at the break
Half Time: Casements 0-4 Four Masters 2-5
The Bannsiders needed a good start to the second half if they were to turn this one around but in the event it was Four Masters who continued to call the shots as Finn Gillespie, Thomas Carr and Thomas Lenehan 0-2 moved the 11 ahead after14 minutes.
The Antrim side had yet to register in the second half and might have been further behind but Eoghan Smith pulled off a great save to deny the opposition when a goal looked certain.
Gethin Mosby moved the Donegal side 12 ahead before Odhran Doherty final opened the Casement’s second half account with a point in the 20th minute and it brought about a response.
Casement’s were still battling hard and it took a superb point blank save from Fintan James to deny the excellent Doherty as he tried to drag his side back into the contest.
Conor Burns became the second Portglenone player to get his name on the score sheet with a point in the 22nd minute and Doherty was finally rewarded for his efforts when he found a way past James in the Four Masters goal with five minutes remaining.
It was too little-too late with Lenehan replying with a point in the 26th minute but it was fitting that the final score of the game would fall to man of the match, Doherty as he brought his personal total of the evening to 1-6.
A good season for this excellent Portglenone side who have won the Antrim U16 championship and Breslin Cup but on the day they came up against a bigger and stronger Four Masters side.
More than half of today’s Casement’s side are under age next year again and they should again be serious contenders in the year ahead.
Four Masters: Fintan James, Eoghan Thomas, Ethan McCrea, Sean Sweeney, Thomas Healey, Jack McGroarty, Odhran McMullin, Thomas Carr, Thomas Griffin, Daire Slevin, Thomas Lenehan, Rory Doherty, Finn Gillespie, Gethin Mosby, Thomas McHugh.
Casement’s: Eoghan Smith, Cillian McKenna, Conall Morgan, Cillian McDonnell, Thomas Douthart, Christy McDonnell, Tom Duffin, Odhran Doherty, Rory O’Kane, Eoghan McErlean, Tom Convery, Conor Burns, Frank McAleese, James McVeigh, Conor McKeever
Referee: Paul Gallagher (Castlederg)
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