 |
||||
|
|
|
|||
|
|
 |
| Search... |
Burt get season off to winning
start
|
||||||||
|
Burt 1-13 Shane Bradley 0-6 (3F); Dermot Callaghan 1-0; Joe Boyle 0-3; Enda McDermott 0-2; Shane McDaid 0-1; Ciaran Dowds 0-1 Urris 2-8 Mickey Harkin 1-3(2F); Mark McLaughlin 1-1; Peter Devlin 0-1; John Paul Doherty 0-1; Darragh Doherty 0-1 (1F); Mark Gilmore 0-1 by Jonathan Downey, Inishowen Independent, at Hibernian Park At the end of last season both of these sides had play-offs that would determine whether they would be promoted or relegated. A Burt loss and an Urris victory made certain that this Inishowen league encounter would not be their only meeting this season. Urris travelled to Hibernian Park on Saturday with a comfortable victory over Carn behind them but knew they would face a tougher challenge against Burt. For the home side this was their first outing of the season and a chance to assess the team in a competitive environment. The clubs may not have fielded their most potent 15, but that did not detract from this open and sporting clash. |
|
|
Urris were aided with a
constant wind in the first half. Apart from that
conditions were fine – the pitch in much better
condition than Ballybofey was for the national league
meeting of Donegal and Galway later that evening – and
it was Burt who first drew first blood taking a two
point lead early on. However Urris found their rhythm
and dominated until just before half-time amassing an
unanswered 1-5. A Burt goal two minutes before the
interval gave the home side hope but Urris stretched
their half-time lead to four points with a late score.
However a resurgent Burt team used their overwhelming possession and the wind to score 11 second half points and earn a two point victory over the visitors. Neither side busted out of the starting blocks but it was Burt who took the early lead. Shane McDaid opened |
 |
|
with a fine point before
Shane Bradley gave a glimpse of what was to become with
a pointed free. Urris had a half chance on goal but Burt
keeper Ciaran McDermott made a good save from Mark
Gilmore. Gilmore however made up for that miss and
responded with a point. Urris half-forward Darragh Doherty was beginning to cause problems for Burt, combing well with his back-line and midfield to open up options in attack. So too was the in-form Barney Friel a talismanic figure with his work rate, fitness and awareness pushing Burt’s attacks back into their defence. A converted free by Mickey Harkin levelled the score before Darragh Doherty put Urris in the lead two minutes later with a similar score. Urris scored an unexpected goal soon after when Mark McLaughlin took advantage of a mishap by the young McDermott in goals and stretched their lead to four points. Barney Friel powered out of defence and fed McLaughlin with a wonderful pass who added to his goal with a neat point. The visitors’ lead was stretched to six points in the 26th minute after a fine angled shot by Harkin. The home side responded with a goal before half-time when Paddy and Benny McDermott worked a pass to the unmarked Dermot Callaghan and he blasted in to bring hope. A Mickey Harkin free then put Urris into a 1-6 to 1-2 interval lead. Peter Devlin opened the second half scoring with a quick point for Urris and that was boosted further when Ciaran McDermott failed to stop Mickey Harkin’s almost mis-kicked goal. That put Urris into a commanding 2-7 to 1-2 lead. Burt looked to have found an answer via the accurate kicking of Shane Bradley who hit five unanswered points – including three from play, one of which was a wonderful long range drive from outside the 45 – in six minutes. Burt brought the game back to one point when Joe Boyle scored the first of his three points and the mercurial Enda McDermott adding an excellent worked point from his fellow defenders. John Paul Doherty halted the home side’s revival with a precise point on 50 minutes. Joe Boyle added a point with his back to goal before Shane McDaid laid-off for Enda McDermott to level the game at 1-11 to 2-8 six minutes from full time. The score of the game came after a sweeping forward move from the Burt 21 landed in the arms of Ciaran Dowds and he scored a point. Joe Boyle closed up the game with a point three minutes into injury time and gave Burt a two point victory that could easily have gone the other way. The All County Leagues are just over a week away with Burt and Urris left with very little time to get preparation ready. Both teams have needed to adjust to a number of missing players but neither can complain the ability is not there for either side to seek promotion. It’s just a case of getting mentally prepared and being switched on for the whole 60 minutes before their Easter Monday trips to Ballintra and Ballybofey. Burt: Ciaran McDermott; Brendan Harrigan, Paul O’Brien, Kevin McGavigan; Rory Grant, Enda McDermott, Mark McGavigan; Barry Friel , Paddy McDermott; Benny McDermott, Shane Bradley, Joe Boyle; Dermot Callaghan, Ciaran Dowds, Shane McDaid. Subs: Mickey McCann for Friel (40 mins); Karl Wilson for Rory Grant (41 mins); Ronan McLaughlin for D Callaghan (44 mins); Andy Wallace for Harrigan (54mins); Conor McLaughlin for B McDermott (60 mins). Urris: Damian Friel; Adrian Doherty, Paddy Doherty, Mickey Kelly; Barney Friel, Michael Doherty, Martin Kelly; Peter Devlin, Ciaran Friel ; Mark McLaughlin, Darragh Doherty, Michael Harkin; John Paul Doherty, Mark Gilmore, Seamus Grant. Subs: Aiden Doherty for C Friel (37 mins); Brian Doherty for Seamus Grant (48 mins). For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent. |
| Return to > News |
 |