Burt pip Malin in a thriller 30.06.11
Inishowen U14A football final

Burt...2-12 Malin...3-8 BURT pipped Malin to win an enthralling Inishowen U14A Championship final at Muff last Friday. Playing conditions were difficult on a night more typical of November than June, but both sides played their part in a contest that was high in sportsmanship, skill and excitement. At the end of a first half where rain lashed the players, Burt led by 1-7 to 0-2, and when they extended their lead early in the second half it seemed as though they would cruise to victory. But Malin had a different idea about that: accurate free taking from Christopher Fildara and goals from Peter Doherty and Jordan McLaughlin, saw them lead by 2-7 to 1-9 with ten minutes remaining. Having been hit for 2-5 without reply, Burt pulled their way back into the contest. Sean McHugh converted a difficult free and Calvin Gallagher poached a wonderful goal and hit two great points to give his side a four point advantage. And the drama continued right up until the last moments of injury time when Peter Doherty crashed a 20m free to the roof of the Burt net to reduce Malin’s deficit to just a single point. But that proved to be the last kick of the game and Burt were relieved to hold on and add the U14 title to the Inishowen titles already won at U10, U12 and U13 by this group of players.

Given Burt’s dominance in the first half, one would not have expected such a close finish. Mark Coyle and Christopher McLaughlin exchanged early points before the Burt boys assumed control. Jordan Arbuckle took a fine point after Ryan Doherty had robbed a short Malin free inside the 45, and another Coyle point, two frees from the accurate Sean McHugh, and a point from powerful full forward Tony Cregan had Burt 0-6 to 0-1 clear midway through the half. Indeed Malin were grateful for Jordan McLaughlin’s goalkeeping skills in the first half. The netminder pulled off a fine double save from Ryan Doherty and Tony Cregan, and made a top class one-handed save from the Goose to keep the Burt attack at bay.

Given Burt’s dominance in the first half, one would not have expected such a close finish. Mark Coyle and Christopher McLaughlin exchanged early points before the Burt boys assumed control. Jordan Arbuckle took a fine point after Ryan Doherty had robbed a short Malin free inside the 45, and another Coyle point, two frees from the accurate Sean McHugh, and a point from powerful full forward Tony Cregan had Burt 0-6 to 0-1 clear midway through the half. Indeed Malin were grateful for Jordan McLaughlin’s goalkeeping skills in the first half. The netminder pulled off a fine double save from Ryan Doherty and Tony Cregan, and made a top class one-handed save from the Goose to keep the Burt attack at bay.

Christopher Fildara pointed a 17th minute free for Malin, but Burt finished the half strongly with Tony Cregan getting on the end of a long Ryan McLaughlin pass and sticking it into the net, and then converting a 45 from the ground to give Burt a 1-7 to 0-2 half time lead. Malin rang the changes at half time, bringing keeper Jordan McLaughlin out to midfield, putting Jason McDermott between the posts, and moving strong running midfielder Jonathan McLaughlin to full forward. Burt introduced Matthew Doherty for Jonathan McDaid, but the latter would be reintroduced to good effect before the game was over. Sean McHugh and Calvin Gallagher extended Burt’s lead early in the second half, and ’keeper Mark McElhinney made a fine save from Dermot McDermott. Burt were leading by 1-9 to 0-2 before Malin started their comeback in earnest. In a remarkable spell between the 38th and 51st minutes they hit 2-5 without reply to move into a one point lead. Nippy forwards Danny McCarron and Christopher Doherty hit a point apiece, and better was to follow when Jordan McLaughlin won a broken ball at midfield and raced 50 yards before hitting an unstoppable shot to the net.

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