U21 Championship: Naomh Mhuire 1-14 Four Masters 0-11

U-21 Team pictured before the 1st Round game with Four Masters (12/07/2011)

Played on a glorious Summer's evening in the Banks the U-21's came away with a great victory against Four Masters.
The game started at a quick pace where both teams attacked with intent. Both teams had efforts which dropped short in the first five minutes as well as 2 wides for the home team. Four Masters got off the mark first on seven minutes with a well taken point from midfielder Luke  Keaney. Naomh Mhuire responded a minute later when wing forward Ciaran McCafferty slotted over their first point. Four Master's corner forward Conor McDaid then tapped over a fourteen yard free before Dara White drove a free from the 45 metre line over the black spot to make it all square on eleven minutes. Some quick thinking from Four Masters allowed Kevin McBrearty to get on the end of a quick free and run through the middle and take a score from 30 yards to put the visiting side one point ahead. At the midway point in the half, Naomh Muire's half forward, Harry Harden then got on the end of a great pass and with a lovely turn converted a nice point to level matters once again. Four Masters where pressing all the time and was it not for some great work by Conor Devenney in the Naomh Mhuire goal they may have had a number of goals. Luke Keaney blasted one of these efforts over the bar when a goal seemed more likely. Having soaked up the pressure It was in fact the home team that registered the first goal. A shot from midfielder, Dara White, dropped short in the square where the alert Francis Gallagher out-jumped the goalkeeper to tap home a goal, leaving two points in it ten minutes from the break. Two quick points from Four Master soon had the game level again. Corner forward Conor McDaid was again on the scoreboard when he turned well while tightly marked by Thomas Devenney to score a nice point. Oisín McGinty, playing at centre half forward then ran through the middle to convert the second point in as many minutes. The final score of the half came when the Four Master's goalkeeper was deemed to have over carried the ball and Dara White tapped over the resulting 14 yard free to leave the half time score:
HT: Naomh Mhuire 1-04 Four Master 0-06
The game was level for the fifth time within a minute of the restart when half back Shaun O' Kennedy kicked a point following a good run. Shaun Duffy was in for Martin Sharkey in the only change for the home side. Luke Keaney was doing well at midfield now for Four Masters and launched a massive kick to push Four Masters ahead again. Keaney's midfield partner, Kevin McBreaty then registered his second score to edge Masters further ahead after a good run from midfield. Naomh Muire responded with points from Francis Gallagher with the outside of the boot and Owen Grant, who may have opted to shoot for goal but decided to take his point. Level again! Dara White who had now been switched from the edge of the square to midfield played a quick free into the out rushing Shaun 'The Yank' Boyle. Boyle flicked the ball up and turned well to slot over his first point of the day mid-way through the second half. Oisín McGinty leveled matters again shortly afterwards. Harry Harden soon had Naomh Muire ahead again following a free kick for a late tackle on Owen Grant. The turning point of the game came then when Naomh Muire enjoyed a purple patch where they scored four points in as many minutes. Corner forward Shaun 'The Yank' was combining well with Harry Harden and Dara White, who was by now getting on top in midfield. Some great interplay and good running saw the corner forward score two points within a minute from the clubhouse side of the field, near the endline. Owen Grant then added a further point a minute later and Dara White landed a massive point from near the sideline to put the home side four points ahead with three minutes of normal time remaining. Four Masters pushed forward looking for a late goal but had to settle for a point from a free, Conor McDaid converting his third point of the day two minutes into injury time. Naomh Muire where not finished however. Two nice points followed, one from Seoirse Boyle and Shaun 'The Yank' Boyle rounded off a good performace to score his fourth point four minutes into injury time, leaving the full time score:
FT: Naomh Mhuire 1-14 Four Masters 0-11

Naomh Muire: 1. Conor Devenney  2. Thomas Devenney  3. Robbie O Donnell  4. Martin Sharkey  5. Hugh Martin  6. Aidi O' Gara  7. Laurence Coyle  8. Seoirse Boyle (0-01)  9. Hugh McGeady  10. Harry Harden (0-02, 1f)  11. Owen Grant (0-02)  12. Ciaran McCafferty (0-01)  13. Francis Gallagher (1-1)  14. Dara White (0-03, 2f)  15. Shaun Boyle (0-04) 16. Shaun Duffy  17. John Walsh  18. Hugh Boyle
Subs: 16. Shaun Duffy for 4. Martin Sharkey (Half Time)

Four Masters: 1. Shaun Martin   2. Niall Harvey  3. Darren Walsh  4. John Boyle  5. Ronan Harvey  6. Jamie McCrea  7. Shaun O' Kennedy (0-01) 8. Luke Keaney (0-03)  9. Kevin McBrearty (0-02) 10. Jason Duignan 11. Oisín McGinty (0-02)  12. Ciaran Cornyen  13. Stephen Graham  14. Dillion Mulldoon  15. Conor McDaid (0-03, 2f) 16. Daniel Harley
Subs: 16. Daniel Harley for 13. Stephen Graham (52 minutes)

Referee: Martin Coll (Gaoth Dobhair)

Please check Gallery for photographs

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