Burt continue impressive form in Donegal SHC with win over Buncrana

The return of Burt’s county players made all the difference in the Donegal SHC against Buncrana in Hibernian Park.

Burt 3-15 Buncrana 1-7

A revitalised Burt were sharper and but for a period of 10 minutes in the third quarter, were the dominant side throughout.

The rangy long-striding Liam McKinney, Stephen Gallagher and Kieran Brady grabbed the goals for the winners and Conor Gartland landed a superb side-ine cut into the breeze as the game drew to a close in breezy, but sunny conditions.

Buncrana’s Oisin Grant hit a superb shot to the roof of the net for the visitors in the 45th minute which left the home side leading 2-11 to 1-7. Burt had led by 2-9 to 0-2 in a one-side wind-assisted first half, but added a further 1-4 to emerge comfortable winners.

The hosts put down early markers with an opening point from their powerhouse Stephen Gillespie after four minutes. A youthful Burt looked sharp and hungry and Oisin Kelly and two points, one a free from McKinney pushed them to a 0-4 to 0-0 lead in a pedestrian opening quarter.

Their keeper Paul Burns did pull off a great save from a point-blank effort from Tom Clare Jnr and was blown for over-carrying as Jack O’Loughlin got Buncrana off the mark from the resultant free.

McKinney stretched the lead with a fine point from play before rattling the net with a great strike to put his side into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead by the 20th minute.

Buncrana looked a bit sluggish and were struggling to get any traction as Dara Grant and Callum Purves edged Burt into a 1-7 to 0-1 lead as half-time beckoned.

Caolan O’Neill and McKinney traded points as the home side cantered to a 2-9 to 0-2 lead at the break. Buncran had the benefit of the breeze and looked more purposeful on the resumption.

O’Neill landed two points in successions, one from a free and one from play and he and Jack O’Loughlin made it 2-11 to 0-7 by the 45th minute. McKinney and the bustling Gillespie replied for Burt.

Then, in a flash of individual brilliance, Oisin Grant danced away from his marker and rifled a rocket to the roof of the Burt net. But any visions of a much closer affair were quickly dispelled when the experienced Christopher McDermott hit a valuable point for the home side with Kelly adding another one.

Burt reasserted themselves but were pretty wasteful in front of the posts racking up sixteen wides to their opponent’s six. It did not really matter as Buncrana never really looked like mounting a realistic challenge even though the lion-hearted Jack O’Loughlin tried hard to rally his troops from midfield.

His partner, the sweet striking Caolan O’Neill was also prominent for Buncrana, but Burt finished on a rampant note with Gartland’s stupendous side-line cut and Kieran Brady rammed home a late goal to underline their obvious supremacy.

And, keeper Paul Burns brilliantly saved a late penalty from O’Neill. But the winners have a much tougher test next week when they take on Setanta at the Cross.

Burt scorers: Liam McKinney 1-6, 7f; Kieran Brady 1-0; Stephen Gallagher 1-0; Dara Grant, Stephen Gillespie and Oisin Kelly 0-2 each; Callum Purves and Christopher McDermott 0-1 each; Conor Gartland 0-1, 1 sl.
Buncrana scorers: Caolan O’Neill 0-5,4f; Oisin Grant 1-0; Jack O’Loughlin 0-2, 2f;

Burt: Paul Burns; James Donaghey, Stephen Gillespie, Benny Harrigan; Oisin Kelly, Christopher McDermott, Callum Purves; Kevin Curran, Ciaran Bradley; Caelan McDermott, Conor Gartland, Liam McKinney; Stephen Gallagher, Kieran Brady, Dara Grant. Subs; Ciaran Porter for Callum Purves (56) Pauric Curran for Christopher McDermott (59).
Buncrana: Alan Lynam; Ciaran Doherty, Paddy Wilson, Peter Grant; Paul Tourish, Declan McCarron, Martin Shields; Caolan O’Neill, Jack O’Loughlin; Darren Doherty, Tom Clare, Dylan Duffy; Oisin Grant, Tommy Mitchell, Fiachra Gill. Subs; Paul Nelson for Alan Lynam (20), Rory Scott for Ciaran Doherty (53).
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s)