Burt clinches Ulster title
24.11.11
AIB Ulster Junior
Hurling Club Championship final
IT TOOK them two attempts to do it, but Burt won the
Ulster Junior Hurling title on Sunday when a late
scrambled goal from Ronan McDermott helped them a 2-10
to 0-13 victory over Creggan Kickhams in the Morgan
Athletic Grounds in Armagh.
The sides had drawn 0-10 apiece a fortnight earlier, and
Sunday’s replay was another close encounter but the
hurling on view was several notches higher.
Burt didn’t make it easy on themselves though. While
they led by 1-6 to 0-7 at half time, team captain Ardal
McDermott was red carded early in the second half and
Creggan took advantage, chipping away at the lead before
moving ahead by a point midway through the second
period.
Led by Joe Boyle, Benny Harrigan and Ciaran Dowds, the
Burt defence was under extreme pressure as they tried to
hold Creggan at bay, and goalkeeper Paul O’Brien pulled
off a couple of fine saves to keep them in contention.
But having fallen behind, Burt knuckled down and points
from Ronan McDermott and Niall Campbell restored a one
point lead by the 57th minute. The winning score came on
the stroke of 60 minutes when Creggan keeper Stephen
Colgan’s attempted clearance was blocked into the net by
Ronan McDermott.
That put Burt 2-10 to 0-12 ahead before Brendan Maguire
reduced the deficit to just a point as Creggan laid
siege to the Burt goal. Stephen Gillespie relieved the
pressure with a strong run out of defence, but Creggan
had one last chance. Wing back Martin Johnston played a
long ball into the square but it just eluded the
despairing dive of their scorer in chief Conor McCann
and hopped over the endline.
Referee Paul Branniff sounded the full time whistle
moments later to set off joyous celebrations on the
pitch and in the stand.
In winning, Burt became the first team from Donegal to
win the Ulster Junior championship since the competition
was reformed in 2004. |
And it completes a
remarkable year for manager Andrew Wallace and several
of his team who tasted success with Donegal in winning
the Lory Meagher Cup final in Croke Park in June.
Whereas the drawn game had been a tense, error strewn
and low scoring affair, the replay got off to a
blistering start with quick movement and crisp stickwork.
Oran McCann opened the scoring for Creggan in the second
minute but points from Niall Campbell, Enda McDermott
and Stevie Boyle, making his first start since
sustaining a leg injury in September’s county final, had
Burt 0-3 to 0-1 ahead by the fourth minute. Conor McCann
and Aidan McKeown drew Creggan level, before Niall
Campbell restored Burt’s lead from a free midway through
the first half. |
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Campbell and the lively
Johnny Downey extended Burt’s lead but Creggan kept in
touch through Conor McCann’s free-taking.
Burt were creating goal chances aplenty in the first
half, but just couldn’t find a way through the dogged
Antrim rearguard. They finally Burt finally found the
net five minute before the break when Mickey McCann
picked up a diagonal pass from Campbell hit a powerful
shot past the Creggan keeper to put Burt four clear.
Conor McCann, a member of the Antrim senior hurling team
this season, closed out the half with a pair of
converted frees and Burt led by 1-6 to 0-7 at the short
whistle.
Creggan might have goaled early in the second half but
keeper Paul O’Brien came smartly off his line to
dispossess dangerman McCann on the edge of the
parallelogram. McCann gathered the sliotar for a second
pop but his rasping shot ricocheted off the crossbar and
was cleared. McCann scored his fifth point of the
afternoon before Ardal McDermott was sent to the line
and with that the momentum swung the way of the Antrim
men.
Conor McCann and Niall Campbell kept the scoreboard
ticking over for both sides and Creggan took the lead
through a McCann free in the 48th minute.
That spurred Burt on and after strong play from Stephen
Gillespie, who put in his best shift yet for the senior
hurlers, Ronan McDermott drew Burt level with a close
range point. Another Campbell free pushed them ahead
before McDermott forced the late goal that sealed the
win and sent Burt and their large travelling support
into rapture.
Burt: Paul O’Brien; Kevin Glenn, Ciaran Dowds,
Conor McLaughlin; Benny Harrigan, Joe Boyle, Christopher
McDermott; Enda McDermott (0-1), Ardal McDermott; Johnny
Downey (0-1), Ronan McDermott (1-1), Stephen Gillespie;
Mickey McCann (1-0), Niall Campbell (0-6, 1f), Stephen
Boyle (0-1). Sub: Karl Wilson for K. Glenn (38 mins)
Creggan (Antrim): Stephen Colgan; Brendan Maguire
(0-1), Niall Robb, Enda Maguire; Aidan Maguire (0-1),
Thomas McCann, Martin Johnston; Sam Maguire, Oliver
Duffin; Patrick McAuley, Aidan McKeown (0-1), Oran
McCann (0-3); Brian Joseph McKeown, Conor McCann (0-7,
5f), Matthew Nelson. Subs: James Doughan for M. Nelson
(49 mins); Frank McAuley for P. McAuley (57 mins)
Referee: Paul Branniff (Down)
Man-of-the-match
Burt had several candidates on Sunday. Joe Boyle cleaned
up in the half back line where Benny Harrigan was also
busy. Ciaran Dowds was solid at full back while Paul
O’Brien pulled off a couple of stunning saves, including
one with his right foot while diving the wrong way, Enda
McDermott looked dangerous throughout, while Niall
Campbell and Mickey McCann were also back to something
approaching their best. Stephen Gillespie was a
revelation – his strength and powerful running caused
Creggan untold problems. But in an all round good team
performance, Ronan McDermott gets the nod, mostly for
scoring that all important late goal.
Referee watch
Winning frees off referee Paul Branniff wasn’t easy and
the game was more physical than many previous ones. Burt
can have no complaints over the sending off. However,
the ref consistently penalised players (from both sides)
for over carrying when they were being fouled. At least
he was consistent…
Move of the match
Burt’s third minute point was well worked with Stephen
Gillespie soloing strongly down the right flank and
cutting the ball across the face of goal to the unmarked
Enda McDermott. McDermott couldn’t find the room to
swing his stick for a shot on goal, but kicked the ball
over the bar for his side’s second point of the day.
What’s next?
Burt make the long trip to Birmingham to play British
Junior Champions Fullen Gaels in the All-Ireland quarter
final on Sunday. The Manchester side impressed in
winning the British title and with several Cork and
Tipperary men in their squad, they are sure to prove a
handful for the new Ulster champions.
It won’t get any easier afterwards either with the
winners of this quarter finals play the Munster
champions in the All-Ireland semi.
For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the
Inishowen Independent. |
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