Four Masters Match Reports

Four Masters men with the Donegal County GAA squad. Back: Dr Austin O’Kennedy, Paul Durcan, Karl Lacey, Shane Carr, Michael Kelly (County Selector) Front: Michael Doherty, Barry Monaghan and Barry Dunnion. It is the first time that six players from the Four Masters club have been selected to play for their county. Pic: Michael O’Donnell

Division 1A Reserve: Four Masters 1-02 Ardara 0-09
Playing with the aid of a strong breeze, Four Masters went into a 2 point lead early in the first half, with scores from Benny Cassidy and Francis McMullin. Ardara responded later in the half with scores from the impressive half-back Padraig McHugh, with Gerard McCabe and Kevin Gallagher winning a lot of posesion in the half-forward line. With the breeze becoming stronger in the second half, Ardara began to pull away, through scores from McCabe, Ciaran Breslin, Joe O’Connell and Kevin Gallagher. Four Masters, to their credit, responded with a well taken goal by Declan McMonagle but this proved too little too late. Padraig McHugh, Gerard McCabe, Kevin Gallagher and Ciaran Breslin impressed for Ardara. Ronan O’Shea, Enda Bonner, Benny Cassidy and Robert Timoney performed well for Four Masters.

Division 1A: Four Masters 0-13 Ardara 1-11
Goals win matches, and that proved to be the case at a windy Tir Chonaill Park on Saturday evening. As with many of their recent encounters, there was little to separate these teams, after Four Masters raced into an early 4 point lead. With 2 points each from Benny Byrne and Garry McGinty. Ardara then scored three consecutive points through Gareth Concarr, Darren McIvor and the impressive Martin Sweeney. The half finished with two frees from Peader Espey and a score from play by Sweeney, leaving Four Masters in front by 2 points at the break. The Ardara full back line were struggling to come to terms with full-forward Byrne, but as the supply slowed up against the breeze, roles were reversed with the Ardara full-forward line of Concarr, Gildea and Shovlin beginning to make inroads, Concarr scoring two frees and second half substitute Hugh Brennan adding a score from play. The turning point of the game was Ardara’s goal. With Barry Monaghan injured, the Four Masters full-back line went to sleep. A high ball into three unmarked Ardara forwards resulted in Peter McHugh finishing to the net. A good away win for Ardara.
Four Masters: M. Cassidy, D Cassidy, D Monaghan, S Browne, B Dunnion 0-1,B Monaghan, C Rooney, S Carr, C Gallagher, K Cassidy 0-1, G McGinty 0-2, G Britton, J Carr, B Byrne 0-2. P Espey 0-5 (5 frees). D McGinty -2 for C Gallagher Ardara: - J Gallagher, D Gallagher, E Doherty, P Gallagher, S Byrne, S McHugh, S McGill, D McIvor 0-2, K Byrne, M Doherty 0-3, P McHugh 1-0, M Sweeney 0-3, M Shovlin, G Concarr 0-3 (2 frees), S Gildea. H Brennan 0-1 for S Gildea, B O’Brien for M Sweeney, T McIvor for M Doherty. Sean Dunnion.

Rugby Notes

The veil is drawing down gradually on another rugby season. The Firsts completed their league programme with a home match against aspiring league champions Strabane, before winding up the campaign in Virginia. The home game was lost against Strabane by 10 points to 3 with the Donegal points coming from the boot of Vinny Murray.
Donegal had good performances in this game from Anthony McInaw and Enda Travers. Up in Virginia the boys wound up the league in style with a good 11-5 victory. Vinny Murray struck over two penalties and Ivan Corrigan left the Virginia side dizzy with a weaving run from 40 metres out that culminated in him touching down in the corner. Jamie Wray and Patrick Gillespie were the pick of the Donegal side.
The annual award presentations took place last Friday night in the clubhouse with Niall Gillespie deservedly picking up the award for ‘First Team Player of the Year’ and Brendan Griffith being voted ‘Second Team Player of the Year’. There was a tie for the most improved player of the year. What a tie it was with Enda and Shane Travers picking up the award. Gary Prendiville was a very popular winner of ‘Club-Person of the Year’. Congratulations to them all.
There is still some life left in the season and we have English tourists arriving to the Holmes on Saturday 22 April. The touring side is bringing over an U19 team and a senior side. We have also got Horse, Camel and Pig racing to look forward to in O’Donnell’s Bar on Friday 21 April. So, ladies of the club, now is your chance to enter your other half in the pig race. In closing, if anyone spots a bouncy castle in the area could they bring it down to Mouncharles! THE RUCKER

Letterbarrow crowned champions

Letterbarrow captain, Patrick Burke being presented with the CT Ball Div. 2 Cup on Sunday at Eany Park by Cathal Toland (right) and Nigel Ferry, Donegal League

On Sunday March 26th, Letterbarrow Celtic were crowned champions of Div 2 of the Donegal League. The game, which was switched to Eany Park in Inver, ended with a 1-0 victory for Letterbarrow over Arranmore Utd.
The final whistle sparked jubulant scenes from both players and supporters alike. It was a fitting ending to an incredible season.
Denis O’Gorman took over at the helm in July and ably assisted by Michael ‘Ruddock’ Meehan set about assembling a squad they believed could contest the league season. Initially securing the committment of the existing panel, they added a wonderful blend of young talent, like Barry Rose, Stewart Johnston, Conor Rooney, Johnny ‘Butcher’ McLoone, Dara Gallagher and John McAloone to play alongside more mature players like Malachy Byrne, Tom Dunlevy, John McGroary, Alan McGroary and Charlie Bonner to name but a few. The aquisition of the excellent Shane Leonard as goalkeeper, and the appointment of Paddy Burke as captain were two master-strokes by the management.
The season started very badly for this team. After the first five matches they had only an away win over neighbours Drumbar Utd to show for their efforts. Persistance, self belief, and a huge determination to improve, resulted in a remarkable run of nine wins, one draw and one defeat over the course of the last eleven games of the season.
This culminated in the final game of the season, when a superb goal by the brilliant young striker Barry Rose secured the points and the championship for Letterbarrow Celtic. Letterbarrow last won the league in 1996, ten years later this victory was just as well celebrated. A special thank you should be noted to people from neighbouring clubs who travelled on Sunday to join this popular club in their celebrations, particularly Eany Celtic for the use of their pitch on Sunday.
One special mention must go to James McGroary of both Letterbarrow FC and the Donegal League. Understandably overcome with emotion and happiness, this tireless worker for club and league largely goes unmentioned.
It is indeed a fitting that this success coincides with the opening of Letterbarrow’s new football pitch at Tymeen.
So well done and hearty congratulations to all the players who have this year represented Letterbarrow Celtic - and now on to greater things.

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