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Burt reclaim county title
16.09.09
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Burt...3-13 (A. Wallace 2-6 (1-6 frees); N. Campbell 1-4 (1 free); C. Dowds 0-1; R. McLaughlin 0-1; M. McCann 0-1) Sean Mac Cumhaill...2-12 (C. Matthewson 0-5 (3 frees, 1 ’65); L. Henderson 1-2; P. Hannigan 1-1; D. White 0-3 (1 free); M. McMenamin 0-1) by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at O’Donnell Park Photo: Evan Logan BURT reclaimed the Donegal senior hurling championship at a sun-kissed O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny on Sunday, but were pushed all the way by a youthful and talented Sean Mac Cumhaill’s. The Ballybofey/Stranorlar side made light of their under-dogs tag, and were in contention right up until the final whistle, but Burt’s craft and experience told and they had four points to spare in one of the most open and exciting Donegal finals for many years. But for a saved penalty and a handful of wayward frees, Mac Cumhaill’s could have inscribed their name on Corn na Mumhan for the first time. |
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Although Mac Cumhaill’s
started well and took an early two point lead through
Paddy Hannigan and David White, the concession of two
goals midway through the first half threatened to thwart
their ambitions. Niall Campbell opened Burt’s account
with a point from play and Ciaran Matthewson responded
with a point from Ciaran Matthewson before two goals in
quick succession, both from the stick of Andy Wallace,
handed the initiative back to Burt. First, Wallace rose
high to collect a long Joe Boyle free inside the
parallelogram, turned and smashed an unstoppable shot
past Michael McGroary in the Mac Cumhaill’s goal. Wallace’s second came within 90 seconds. Enda McDermott was fouled near the sideline and from 60m out Wallace sent the free goalwards. McGroary came out to bat it away, but the sliotar sailed over his head and into the net. It was a bad mistake and one that gave Burt a 2-1 to 0-3 lead with just 13 minutes on the clock. Conceding two goals so quickly knocked the Ballybofey-Stranorlar side out of their stride entirely, they did manage to muster a free from David White, but Burt heaped on the scores. Two Andrew Wallace frees from the same spot under the stand, and points from Niall Campbell, Ciaran Dowds, Ronan McLaughlin, another Wallace free, and a point from Mickey McCann had them well in charge, with Mac Cumhaill’s only score coming from |
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Ciaran Matthewson, who had
taken over the free-taking duties from the wayward David
White. But Mac Cumhaill’s got a fortunate break just before the half time whistle. Matthewson mishit a free from 45m and Paddy Hannigan got a slight touch on it to send it past Paul O’Brien and into the Burt net to make it 2-8 to 1-5 at the break. Mac Cumhaill’s started the second half strongly too, with points from Matthewson and White reducing the deficit to four points within five minutes of the restart. Two Andy Wallace frees restored Burt’s six point half time advantage, but points from Lee Henderson, who had a fine second half, and a Ciaran Matthewson free kept them in touch. But Burt found the net once again. Team captain Mickey McCann won the sliotar in his own half and carried it deep into the Mac Cumhaill’s half before slipping it out to Ciaran Dowds. Dowds crossed it into danger area and Niall Campbell rose high to bat it strongly into the net. When Andrew Wallace added a pointed free to put Burt eight points clear it looked like the saffron and blues might go on to win comfortably. But Mac Cumhaill’s showed tremendous spirit, hitting back with goal from Lee Henderson on the second attempt after Martin McGrath had made a covering save on the goal line. Gary Browne was fouled in the square in the 51st minute and referee Eamon Hasson awarded a penalty. Jamesie Donnelly, who was outstanding all afternoon at centre back, struck it well, but Joe Boyle and goalkeeper Paul O’Brien combined to save it. But Mac Cumhaill’s kept up the pressure and added two points from Matthewson and Michael McMenamin to reduce the deficit to just three points before Niall Campbell soloed up the left wing and point to put four points and at least two scores between the teams with just five minutes remaining. Another great goal chance fell Mac Cumhaill’s way, but Lee Henderson skied his close range shot high over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The Burt defence, led by Joe Boyle and with some defiant blocking by substitute Philip Coyle, were defending desperately but they got their insurance point a minute into injury time when Niall Campbell pointed a free from outside 65m after the sliotar had been moved forward for dissent from Mac Cumhaill’s. The four point margin of victory was the same as was between the teams when they met last month in the championship’s group stages, but this was an altogether better game and a fabulous advertisement for hurling in the county. With more Donegal titles than anyone else over the 125 years of the GAA, it was appropriate that Burt should win it this year. They now have an away draw against the Monaghan champions in the quarter-final of the Ulster Junior Club championship while Mac Cumhaill’s are left to reflect on what might have been. Burt: Paul O’Brien; Fergal Grant, Martin McGrath, Benny Harrigan; Conor McLaughlin, Joe Boyle, Barry Friel; Ardal McDermott, Ciaran Dowds; Karl Wilson, Enda McDermott, Andy Wallace; Mickey McCann, Ronan McLaughlin, Niall Campbell. Subs: Paddy Strain for Grant (35 mins); Philip Coyle for Friel (45 mins); Jonathan McGrath for Wallace (58 mins). Sean Mac Cumhaill: Michael McGroary; Anthony Patton, Martin McGonagle, Oliver McGroarty; Travis Griffin, Jamesie Donnelly, Ogilvie McGroarty; David White, Justin McGee; Lee Henderson, Patrick Hannigan, Ciaran Matthewson; Gary Browne, Gerard Grindle, Michael McMenamin. Subs: Andrew Barron for Patton (25 mins); Barry McGranaghan for G. Browne (50 mins). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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