Ulster Club SFC semi-final: St Galls 1-11 Four Masters 0-9 Although their confidence was not exactly shattered, Donegal champions Four Masters were clearly on the back foot and playing catch-up after conceding a first-half penalty in an end-to-end Ulster club championship football semi-final clash with worthy winners St Gall's of Antrim, at Clones yesterday.
The Antrim champions thrived on that 18th-minute penalty that was blasted to the roof of the net by Seán Burns. The goal unquestionably put St Gall's on the victory path and firmly on their way to reclaiming a final place after a lapse of 20 years.
But there was a little more to the St Gall's victory than that one spot-kick. They successfully contained a potentially dangerous Four Masters team that played in the county colours. St Gall's, who also wore their county colours, mixed playing direct football while showing an ability to operate a short passing game. Unlike Four Masters they managed to avoid over elaboration in their moves and managed to stay in front from the time Darren O'Hare opened their account in the opening minutes.
"We played to our strengths well," said St Gall's manager Michael Culbert, whose son and team captain Michael performed well in a formidable Antrim half-back line. "I thought we were the superior side despite being up against it in midfield and at half back."
The St Gall's midfielders, Mark McCrory and Kevin McGourty, at least gained parity if they did not shade it over the Monaghans, Marcus and Barry. The St Gall's defence, in which Seán Kelly at left-wing back and goalkeeper Paddy Murray also made invaluable contributions, managed to be highly disciplined. With a dynamic place-kicker of the calibre of Masters' Peadar Espey around, the cool restraint of St Gall's proved a wise policy.
Three of Espey's five points came off the placed ball from as far out as the 45-metre line. Four Masters concentrated their efforts on trying for that elusive goal to such an extent, with the exception of Espey, points were almost completely ignored.
The pressure on the St Gall's defence was considerable during the last quarter and Four Masters centre back Karl Lacey got up to take an excellent point. But with the losers putting everything into attack they were vulnerable at the back and substitute Aodhan Gallagher and man-of-the-match Ciarán McGourty were able to capitalise with snappy points on the break.
Those breaks were always likely given the amount of short passing Four Masters indulged in as they pressed for a goal.
Michael Doherty, the Four Masters corner forward, went closest to scoring a late goal when he got clear close in but Murray somehow managed to parry his shot away for a 45.
St Gall's led by 1-5 to 0-4 at the interval, the penalty award being given after McGourty was taken down by Dom Monaghan, who was a little lucky not to be sent off as he had been booked earlier.
A defining moment for St Gall's in the second half saw instant response from substitute Gallagher just as Four Masters were beginning to assert some authority. Gallagher was no sooner on the pitch than he popped up with a huge point to keep the losers at bay again by a four-point margin.
St Gall's, winners of the Ulster crown in 1982 and beaten finalists in 1983, did enough to be optimistic against The Loup (Derry) in next week's final.
ST GALL'S: P Murray; A McClean, C Brady, S Kennedy; M Culbert, C McCrossan, S Kelly; M McCrory, C McGourty; T O'Neill, S Burns (1-1, penalty and pointed free), C Gallagher; K Stewart (0-3, one free), D O'Hare (0-2), C McGourty (0-4). Subs: G McGirr for McCrossan (35 mins); A Gallagher (0-1) for C Gallagher (45 mins); C McCann for K McGourty (57 mins); A Hannaway for McClean (57 mins).
FOUR MASTERS: P Durcan; D Cassidy, D Monaghan, K Clarke; K Lacey (0-1), G Britton, B Dunnion; M Monaghan, B Monaghan; D McGinty, J Carr (0-1), S Carr (0-1); P Espey (0-5, two frees), C McNulty, M Doherty (0-1). Subs: R O'Donnell for McNulty (36 mins); E Caldwell for McGinty (36 mins).
Referee: M Hughes (Tyrone).
