Ardara U16s power past Four Masters

Southern U16 League

Four Masters 0-7
Ardara 3-16

Ardara U16s had too much for hosts Four Masters on Friday evening as they ran out comfortable winners in Tir Chonaill Park.

The visitors had things their own way from the very off as they jumped into an early four-point lead. Peter Bennett got Jackie McHugh’s boys off the mark instantly before Daryl Maguire put the burners on and, having left three Masters defenders in his wake, buried to the back of the net.

Shay Travers got the Donegal Town lads off the mark on 11 minutes. Five points on the bounce though from the Pearse Park boys tipped the balance completely in their favour as they shot out to an eight-point advantage six minutes out from the break.

Kyle McCole, Johnny McHugh, Matthew Sweeney, Bennett and Liam McShane all cleared Oisin Bryson’s crossbar before Masters finally found a reply – this time through Kyle O’Neill after Darragh Geary had fielded superbly around the middle.

McCole and Joe Leape swapped points at both ends before Jimmy White’s short whistle but it was Ardara that jogged happiest back to the changing rooms with a seven-point lead tucked comfortably under their belts.

Half-time: Ardara 1-7:0-3 Four Masters.

A blinding opening five minutes to the new period from Ardara completely killed this one as a contest as McCole (2) and Bennett (free) registered to stretch the deficit to double figures.

Mastters, to their credit, didn’t throw in the towel. In fact, they really raised their efforts considerably and delivered their most impressive work between the 37^th and 43^rd minutes as they pinged four points uninterrupted to reel the deficit back into six on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-7.

Alex McCalmont, Travers, Brian Peter Gallagher and Travers again, this time from a placed ball, meant that a goal heading into the final quarter would leave just a single green flag between the sides.

But as quickly as Masters’ challenge rose, it wilted in similar manner. Ardara again regained control thanks to a steadying Maguire goal that nestled delightfully in the bottom left hand corner of the net.

McShane hammered a quirefire brace while Maguire (2) and replacement Nathan Molloy all swung over additional points. With the game drifting into its final seconds, Paul Walsh rounded the night off with a third Ardara goal.

Four Masters: Oisin Bryson; Christopher Gallagher, Aaron Culloo, Evan Towey; Kieran Byrne, Darragh Geary, Richard O’Rourke; Eoin Gorrell, Alex McCalmont (0-1); Kyle O’Neill (0-1), Brian Peter Gallagher (0-1), Wiktor Smuss; Shay Travers (0-3,1f), David Keaney, Joe Leape (0-1).

Subs: Michael Roarty for C Gallagher (ht), Frank Duffy for W Smuss (ht), Luke O’Sullivan for D Keaney (37), Eoghan McManus for E Gorrell (55).

Ardara: Mathew McGlynn; CJ Flaherty, Iarla Murphy, Shane Whyte; Finn Gallagher, Charlie Kennedy, Dylan Connolly; Matthew Sweeney (0-2), Liam McShane (0-3); Kyle McCole (0-3), Paul Walsh (1-0), Conor McCrossan; Johnny McHugh (0-1), Daryl Maguire (2-3), Peter Bennett (0-3).

Subs: Daniel McHugh for C Kennedy (41, inj), Jack Boyd for K McCole (52), Nathan Molloy (0-1) for P Bennett (53), Conor McNelis for D Connolly (54), Levante Takacz for P Walsh (58), Liam Young for M Sweeney (58).

Referee: Jimmy White (Killybegs).