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Late point saves day for Burt
24.03.09
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Burt...1-9 Naomh Bríd...1-9 Report: Inishowen Independent BURT AND Naomh Bríd played out a tense draw in the opening round of the All County League, with Naomh Bríd taking the lead for the first time six minutes into second half injury time through a massive Pádraig McDaid free only for Burt to get an equaliser from the boot of Paddy McDermott with the last kick of the game. With six county hurlers and one county footballer on duty one might have expected some tiredness in evidence given their exertions in the National Leagues less than 24 hours earlier, but the game was played at a frenetic pace and there was no lack of commitment from either the county or club players. |
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Playing with the aid of a
stiff breeze, Burt took the early lead when Niall
Campbell side-stepped a defender and popped over the
opening score in the fourth minute. Burt extended their lead in bizarre fashion. From a position 35 metres from goal and near the right sideline Ronan McLaughlin lobbed a ball towards the Naomh Bríd posts. Keeper John Gallagher came away off his line to close down unmarked full forward Ciaran Dowds and watched in horror as ball bounced over his head and nestled in the corner of the net. But Naomh Bríd’s response was swift. They swept down the field and with the Burt defence parting like the Red Sea before Moses, David Walsh was on hand to slam the ball into the net. Points from Ciaran Dowds and Joe Boyle extended Burt’s lead before Gerry McCafferty and Pádraig McDaid hit back for the visitors. Enda McDermott and Eoin Gorman traded points and Paddy McDermott closed out the first half scoring with a 29th minute free to give Burt a 1-5 to 1-3 half-time lead. Burt opened the second half scoring when Mark McGavigan pointed right from the throw-in and Naomh Bríd responded through a Paul McGrory free. McGrory was superb over the hour, giving an exhibition of high fielding and chipping in with two converted frees from his midfield birth. Goalscorer Ronan McLaughlin took over between the posts when |
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Kevin McDermott retired
injured, and he was safe and dependable with a nice line
in accurate kick outs. Centre back Enda McDermott got forward to point and put Burt into a three point lead in the 35th minute, but the home side were made pay for their indiscipline as Naomh Bríd punished them with three converted frees (two from Pádraig McDaid and one from McGrory) to level the game in the 50th minute. With the game now very much up for grabs, Burt responded when Ciaran Dowds and Martin Donaghey combined to set up Michael McHugh and the youngster pointed from a narrow angle on the right. Having been well shackled by Barry Friel, Thomas Gallagher got his only score of the game when he equalised for Naomh Bríd in the 60th minute and with referee John Farren allowing seven minutes of injury time for a number of second half stoppage, a tense finale ensued. Wing forward Eoin Gorman, whose speed had caused Burt problems all day long, fell awkwardly under a challenge six minutes into injury time and Pádraig McDaid converted the resulting free from outside the 45m line to give his side the lead for the first time. Naomh Bríd must have thought they’d won it, but Burt showed good composure to work the ball down the field from the kick out, holding possession until Enda McDermott drew a free that his brother Paddy converted to give Burt a deserved share of the spoils. For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
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