ST EUNAN'S 0-08

FOUR MASTERS 2-13

FOUR MASTERS gave themselves a Division One lifeline following this eleven point win against St Eunan's in O'Donnell Park, Letterkenny on Saturday afternoon.

The win means that Joe Lacey's team finish the season on 17 points, alongside Kilcar, Dungloe and Naomh Conaill, one point behind St Eunan's and St Michael's and three adrift of league leaders Ardara.

As a result, Ardara now await the winners of the St Eunan's versus St Michael's semi final to decide who wins the league crown while at the other end of the table Glenswilly await of the losers of the four way play-off to decide which side is relegated to Division Two alongside Killybegs.

Following their disappointing Ulster Club exit against Kilcoo in Newry a week earlier, there had been much talk that the Letterkenny men would be unable to raise their game for the last league fixture of the year and so it proved.

Four Masters, knowing that nothing less than a win would be enough to avoid a relegation play-off meeting with Glenswilly, enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and went in six points to the good at the interval.

They continued to force the pace after the break and enjoyed a fourteen point advantage late on before the home side fired over three unanswered points.

The strength and depth of the St Eunan's panel is the envy of every club side in Donegal and team manager Eamon O'Boyle chose Saturday's game to give a lot of his fringe players some game time.

One of the young up and coming players, Michael Mulhern, opened the scoring inside the opening minutes but thereafter they were left chasing the game.

Two quick points off the boot of the impressive Michael Doherty had them ahead before Joel Carr netted the game's opening goal midway through the half. The Four Masters forward got onto the end of a well worked move involving Lacey, Doherty and McMonagle to direct the ball into the 'Eunan's net.

Kieran Sharkey reduced the deficit from a placed ball only for Doherty to restore the visitors advantage following some good approach play from Luke Keaney and Conor McMonagle.

Another Doherty point – this time from a 45 – and a good finish from Keaney after Barry Monaghan and Conor McMonagle had created the opening left the visitors six points to the good (1-5 to 0-2) at the break.

The home side scored two early second half points through Mark McGowan and Mulhern but it was Four Masters who held all the aces on the day.

Don Monaghan scored a wonderful long range point before Doherty (two frees) and Sean O'Kennedy added to St Eunan's agony.

To compound matters, John Haran – booked in the first half - was sent to the stands after picking up a second yellow card.

Four Masters continued to pile on the pressure with Joel Carr, substitute Rory O'Donnell and Karl Lacey all adding points before Sean O'Kennedy raced clear to add their second goal of the game.

Mulhern and Luke Keaney exchanged scored before late points from St Eunan's through Mark McGowan (2) and Kieran Sharkey brought some respectability to the scoreline.

However, it was Four Masters day and they fully deserved their win with Doherty, Lacey, Keaney and Joel Carr all excellent throughout.

Tonight they join Kilcar, Dungloe and Naomh Conaill in the hat. The teams will be drawn to play one another with the losers playing each other and the losers from that game going on to play Glenswilly in the dreaded relegation play-off.

If Four Masters are able to replicate their weekend form in the play-offs they should be good enough to preserve their Division One status.

St Eunan'S: Damien Bradley; James Bradley, Michael Martin, Damien McClafferty; Adrian McClafferty, Eamon Doherty, Mark McGowan (0-3); John Haran Ross Wherity; Kieran Sharkey (0-2, 1 free), David McGinley, Brian McDermott; Michael Mulhern (0-3), Paddy McGowan, Conal McGinley. Sub: Paul McCarron for Martin (30 mins).

Four Masters: Paul Durcan; David Crawford, Damien Cassidy, Daniel McGarrigle; Sean O'Kennedy (1-1), Shane Carr, Conor Rooney; Benny Byrne, Barry Monaghan; Don Monaghan (0-1), Michael Doherty (0-6, 3 frees, 45), Karl Lacey (0-1); Luke Keaney (0-2), Joel Carr (1-1), Conor McMonagle. Subs: Rory O'Donnell (0-1) for McMonagle, Ryan O'Donnell for McGarrigle and Derek McGinty for B Byrne.

Referee: Sean McLaughlin (Malin).