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Muff on a mission after Burt demolition 18.08.11
 Junior A Football Championship, first round, first leg

Naomh Padraig, Muff...0-11

Burt...1-5

Caoimhinn Barr, Inishowen Independent, reports from Ture (Photo: Herbie Barr)

A MASTERCLASS of shooting by Damien Diver helped Muff comfortably overcome neighbours Burt in Sunday’s Junior A Football Championship clash at Ture.
Despite winning by only three points in the end, last year’s beaten finalists, Naomh Padraig were the better team from start to finish with their Inishowen opponents unable to match their drive and hunger across the pitch.
Diver’s impressive eight points – six from frees – proved the difference in the end with a late Burt flurry serving only to make the scoreline more respectable for Ronan McLaughlin’s team.
With Eunan Keaveney and Mark Duffy in excellent form in the half-forward line, Muff controlled possession for long periods with Diver usually applying the finishing touch to some stunning moves.
Anthony McColgan and Barry Hegarty too were key figures in Naomh Padraig’s win, as the home team consistently broke up Burt attacks before launching swift forays at the other end.
Burt will rue nine second-half wides when their players insisted on shooting from distance under pressure; a tactic which played right into Muff hands. The abject visitors only found their shooting boots in injury time at the end when the game was all but gone.
Playing with a strong wind at their backs in the opening period, the Muff men hit the front in the third minute when Damien Diver clipped over a free. The score coming after Burt forward Niall Campbell had fired wide from a difficult angle following good work from Joe Boyle and Dara Grant.
Winning a Eunan Keaveney long ball, Diver could have extended the home advantage with a goal but drove wide from only twelve yards when faced with Burt keeper Stephen Gillespie.
Burt forward Joe Boyle was then off target from a free after Enda McDermott was felled before Damien Diver clipped Muff into a two point lead from a dead ball after Mark Duffy was impeded.
Getting Burt off the mark in style, Paul McHugh, his team’s best performer on a poor day, fired over a stunning score from 40 metres with the outside of his left boot.
Rather than building on that advantage though, Burt soon found themselves two behind again when Mark Duffy picked up a loose ball on the 45 to fire over from distance with yards to spare.
Duffy won the ensuing Burt kick out before combining well with Martin Duffy to set Damien Diver up for a fine point off his left as Muff raced into a three point lead.
Keeping the visitors in touch, Martin Donaghey slotted over after collecting Joe Boyle’s clever punch from a Paul McHugh free.
Winning his own free, Damien Diver then slotted over another to restore Muff’s three point lead before the same player clipped over after Mark Duffy was hauled to the ground.
The Naomh Padraig men then surged further ahead when Mark Duffy fired over after excellent endeavour from Barry Hegarty and Eunan Keaveney before another Diver free from distance made it 0-8 to 0-2 with the last action of the opening period.
Early in the second-half Burt’s task became even tougher when Eunan Keaveney split the posts for a fantastic score after collecting Mark Duffy’s clever pass with Barry Hegarty also prominent in a scintillating move.
After three wides from distance Burt finally troubled the home scoreboard operator with twenty minutes remaining; Paul McHugh drilling over after combining well with Martin Donaghey and Niall Campbell.
Despite dominating possession with the wind advantage for the next ten minutes Burt could not manage a single score with Donaghey and Joe Boyle (twice) setting their sights off target.
Capitalising on the visitors’ profligacy, Muff edged further ahead when another Damien Diver score, this time capping a fine move involving Seanan McColgan, Charlie Molloy and Gerard McColgan, put the home team seven clear once more.
Running at the heart of the Burt defence, Muff half-forward Eunan Keaveney arrowed over a great score to put his team eight ahead, drawing a loud cheer from the home bench with minutes remaining.
A late Burt flurry ended with Ronan McLaughlin’s men registering 1-2 in injury time, courtesy of two Joe Boyle frees and an Enda McDermott penalty with the last kick of the game.
The purple patch was little consolation for the men in yellow though. They must now raise their game for the second leg to keep their Championship hopes alive. Muff will travel to Burt for the second leg in confident mood. A Junior title looms large for the winner.

Naomh Padraig, Muff: John Paul McColgan, Laurence Lynch, Raymond McLaughlin, Brendan McColgan, Cathal McColgan, Martin Duffy, Anthony McColgan, Charlie Molloy, Gerard McColgan, Barry Hegarty, Eunan Keaveney (0-2), Mark Duffy (0-1), Michael McColgan, Damien Diver (0-8, 6 frees), Brian McColgan. Subs used: Aidan Lynch, John McLaughlin, Michael Crowley, Seanan McColgan, James Molloy.

Burt: Stephen Gillespie, Darren McLaughlin, Paul O’Brien, Kevin Glenn, Paul McHugh (0-2), Mickey McCann, Benny Harrigan, Ciaran Dowds, Enda McDermott (1-0), Martin Donaghey (0-1), Eamonn Reddin, Mark McGavigan, Niall Campbell, Joe Boyle (0-2), Dara Grant. Sub used: Paddy McDermott.

Man of the Match
All the contenders were on the Muff side. Eunan Keaveney and Mark Duffy excelled in the half-forward line while the Naomh Padraig backs rarely gave the Burt forwards a sniff inside forty metres. The award has to go to Damien Diver though; a fantastic display of accuracy with eight fine points. Burt’s best performer on an all-round off-day was Paul McHugh.

Turning Point
A trio of late Muff points at the end of the first-half turned a three point home lead into a formidable six point advantage at the break. Despite playing with wind advantage in the second period, Burt never looked like closing that gap with Aiden McAleer’s team running out clear and deserving winners.

Ref Watch
Man in the middle Paddy McGonigle did an excellent job in keeping a lid on any potential flashpoints, quickly stamping his authority on the game. Was over-fussy on occasion however, blowing up for a number of innocuous looking challenges. Wasn’t influential in the result.

Junior Glory Beckons
With one foot in the next round, Muff look good value for another crack at Junior glory after last year’s disappointing final defeat to Newtown. Burt will also have their eye on the same prize after narrowly losing to Naomh Colmcille in the 2010 semis. This tie could yet go to a third game - if Burt can find their shooting boots next time out. Muff look like men on a mission though and may be tough to stop.

For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.
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