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Burt come up short against
MacCumhaill’s
17.09.08
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Burt...0-2 C. McElhinney 0-2 (1’45, 1 free) Sean MacCumhaill’s...1-11 K. Gillespie 0-5 (2 frees); K. McCormick 1-2 (1 free); E. Kelly 0-1; G. Dunnion 0-1; M. Patton 0-1; P. Gallen 0-1 by Damian Dowds, Inishowen Independent, at Convoy THE RAIN fell incessantly in Convoy on Sunday afternoon as Burt’s reserve footballers lost out to a strong and well-drilled Sean Mac Cumhaill’s side in the county semi-final. An early goal from Kevin (Keegan) McCormick set MacCumhaill’s on their way to victory. They enjoyed the lion’s share of possession over the hour, and while it was under severe pressure the Burt defence led by Martin McGrath performed creditably, particularly in the second period. Leading by 1-6 to 0-1 at the break, MacCumhaill’s got the first three scores of the second half to kill off whatever small hope Burt had of making a match of it. |
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Wing half back Enda Kelly
bombed forward to open the scoring for MacCumhaill’s in
the second minute with a point from the right wing. The
only goal of the game came just two minutes later.
Keegan McCormick showed all his experience to shake off
his marker. He found space close to goal but with keeper
Ciaran McDermott beaten, his shot came off the butt of
the right hand post. McCormick reacted quickest to pick
up the rebound and stick the ball into the corner of the
net. Burt responded through Cathal McElhinney, when the big midfielder made light of the heavy conditions and struck over a booming 45 from the right. The accurate Kevin Gillespie added a seventh minute point to make it before tempers got the better of some and two players were red-carded. County hurling star Paddy Hannigan struck Burt’s Dermot Callaghan and the latter retaliated by striking back. Both men drew blood and when referee Paddy McKeever consulted with his linesman the sides were reduced to 14 men. |
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Chances were hard to come
by for the Burt men and a goal attempt from McElhinney
was well saved by Mark Cannon in the MacCumhaill’s goal. A rash of yellow cards followed for both sides as referee McKeever tried to impose some order on the game and the teams got the message and both sets of players calmed down. Leading by five points mid way through the half, MacCumhaill’s continued to dominate and a point from Gerry Dunnion and two from Kevin Gillespie had them 1-6 to 0-1 in front at the break. MacCumhaill’s took up from where they left off in the second half as the rain continued to fall. A quick free in the 32nd minute found Michael Patton unmarked and the half forward tapped over from the right. They used the same channel two minutes later when Kevin Gillespie notched up his fifth point of the day. Burt’s kickouts were dropping short of midfield and putting their defence on the back foot, but Martin McGrath, Fergal Grant and Karl Wilson all did their best to relieve the pressure. Cathal McElhinney first missed and then converted a free to make it 1-9 to 0-2, and keeper Cannon made a fine double save from Liam McKinney and Darren Downey mid way through the half to deny Burt a goal. Keegan McCormick pointed a free to add to his first half goal in the 44th minute and after a scrappy final quarter, he got the final score of the game five minutes before the end. With several players who have played in the senior championship in recent years, MacCumhaill’s always looked the more likely to win and even without Paddy Hannigan they will go into the final against St Naul’s as the hot favourites. Burt’s youthful squad will no doubt rise and come again. Fifteen Inishowen teams entered the various championships at the start of the season, and after Burt’s tame exit on Sunday only Carndonagh, as Junior championship finalists, remain involved as the titles are being decided. That only the Carn seniors and the Burt and Urris reserves should reach at least the championship semi-finals should be a sobering thought for everyone involved in Gaelic games in the peninsula. Burt: Ciaran McDermott; Martin McGrath, Fergal Grant, Jonathan Downey; Seamie O’Donnell, Karl Wilson, Paul McHugh; Cathal McElhinney, Conor McLaughlin; Gary McLaughlin, Dermot Callaghan, Michael McHugh; Darren Downey, Liam McKinney, Dara Grant. Subs: Darryl McMullan for D. Downey and Kevin Glenn for G. McLaughlin (both 44 mins); Anthony Coyle for F. Grant (58 mins). MacCumhaill’s: Mark Cannon; Oliver McGroarty, Brendan Heaney, Enda Curry; Enda Kelly, John Lynch, Emmet McCormick; Gabriel Doherty, Paddy Hannigan; Michael Patton, Gary Dunnion, Packie Gallen; Kevin McCormick, Gareth Doherty, Kevin Gillespie. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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