Burt advance to senior hurling final after controversial draw with St Eunan's

A draw was enough to see Burt into a Donegal SHC final date with Setanta-after a pulsating affair before a big crowd in a game that was mired in controversy over the score at half-time.

Had Burt lost by a point, the outcome could have ended up in an appeal from Inishowen men after strong claims that referee Trevor Maloney had the incorrect score at the break.

The Buncrana official had the half time score at Burt 1-7 St Eunan’s 0-10. The three reporters, the scoreboard and nearly everyone else had the score at Burt 1-8 to 0-9.

Maloney was surrounded by angry Burt mentors as he made his way to the dressing room, but he was not for turning and his score stood as both sides fought like tigers to get the result.

Liam McKinney hit some vital frees for Burt in the second half while Eunan’s man of the match Brian MacIntyre drove his side forward and set up Sean McVeigh for a great goal chance five minutes from time.

Maloney played five minutes extra time after Cormac Finn levelled matter’s on the referee's scoreline at Burt 1-13 St Eunan’s 0-16 as darkness fell.

St Eunan’s tried hard to get that winning score-but Burt held out for a deserved draw.

Burt, stung by their poor display against Setanta, were quick out of the blocks and Conor Gartland and McKinney eased them into a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after three minutes.

Eunan’s marksman Peter Kelly replied with a pointed free, but the powerful Ronan McDermott then struck for a point and a first-timed goal in a forest of sticks to put Burt into a 1-3 to 0-1 lead.

Ryan Hilferty and MacIntyre replied for Eunan’s after both sides hit a few nervous wides.

Ronan McDermott hit another point for the home side as Kelly (0-3), Finn and MacIntyre (0-2) were on target for Eunan’s.

McKinney pointed for Burt to leave it 1-8 to 0-9 but referee Maloney had the score at 1-7 to 0-10.

The dashing MacIntyre put Eunan’s into the lead in a low scoring second half and McKinney levelled but Kelly made it 1-8 to 0-12.

Dara Grant equalised as the pace and tension reached frenetic levels.

Kelly and Stephen Gillespie traded points and McKinney put Burt ahead by a point.

That set the pattern for a ferociously contested final quarter, which Maloney handled well.

McKinney made it 1-12 to 0-13 in the 48th minute and he and MacIntyre swapped points as darkness stole in.

It was the unlucky McVeigh who pointed when a goal looked on to make it Burt 1-13 St Eunan’s 0-15.

Cormac Finn landed a great point to level matters as the final five minutes of extra time gripped the big crowd including a contingent of observers from county finalists from Setanta.

On balance Burt deserved a draw at the very least as they hung tough to book a final slot.

St Eunan’s had their chances to win this and were visibly gutted at the finish-but they richly contributed to an absorbing tussle.

Burt scorers: Liam McKinney 0-7, 6f; Ronan McDermott 1-2; Conor Gartland 0-1, Stephen Gillespie, Caelan McDermott, Dara Grant 0-1 each.

St Eunan’s scorers: Peter Kelly 0-7, 6f; Brian MacIntyre 0-6; Cormac Finn 0-2; Ryan Hilferty 0-1.

Burt: Paul Burns; Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Bradley, Kevin Curran; Dara Grant, Christopher McDermott, Callum Purves; Stephen Gillespie, Caelan McDermottt; Stephen Gallagher, Kieran Brady, Ciaran Porter; Ronan McDermott, Conor Gartland, Liam McKinney. Sub: Paddy Curran for Porter (50).

St Eunan’s: Dara McBride; Conor Parke, Conor O’Grady, Sean Halvey; David Horgan, Kevin Kealy, Ryan Hilferty; Brendan Horgan, Fergal Delaney; Peter Kelly, Brian MacIntyre, Sean McVeigh; Matt Ahern, Daire O’Maoileidigh, Cormac Finn. Sub: Brendan Gaffey for O’Maoileidigh.

Referee: Trevor Maloney (Buncrana)