Burt shock Setanta with spectacular SHC dethroning in Letterkenny

14-man Burt pulled off a real upset in what was a cracking Donegal SHC final as they ended Setanta’s hunt for three-in-a-row. 

This was the Inishowen outfit’s first county title since 2018 - ending somewhat of a famine for the blue and gold. 

And while Burt played superbly as a team the display given by Player of the Match Liam McKinney went a long way to deciding this one. 

And it wasn’t just because he hit 1-11, including a superb point from his own ‘65, into the breeze, when it was really needed in the final frantic moments in O’Donnell Park.

But it was also his ability to win ball, encourage others and to show leadership when it really mattered that really spurred Burt on.

He was well supported by the likes of Conor Gartland, Stephen Gillespie and team captain Ronan McDermott.

It looked bleak for Burt when wing-back Caolan McDermott was sent off on two yellow cards for a wild challenge on Setanta’s Oisin Marley in the 40th minute.

Burt were leading 2-12 to 1-11 at the time, playing into the wind, and it looked like the momentum might be shifting towards the vastly more experienced Setanta side.

But a goal from Dara Grant gave Marty McGrath’s men some oxygen and they fought like tigers to the finish as the reigning Ulter IHC holders just couldn’t match their raw passion and hunger.

There was an explosive opening to his encounter with five points in as many minutes with underdogs Burt going for the jugular.

But it was Setanta who opened the scoring when Declan Coulter played a sweet diagonal ball to Gerry Gilmore in space, and he pointed with aplomb after just 25 seconds.

Burt responded in a heartbeat with a fine point from McKinney and this was quickly added to by Dara Grant.

McDermott then made trojan efforts to retrieve the sliotar and was fouled and McKinney slotted a point as he made it 0-4 to 0-1 from another free after Setanta’s Danny Cullen was blown for overcarrying.

Setanta were strangely nervous looking in the early stages and Aiden McKinney landed a fine point for Burt after a pinpoint pass from keeper Paul Burns.

Conor Gartland made it 0-7 to 0-2 before Setanta finally shook themselves with Cullen landing a settling point for the Cross natives.

Ruairi Campbell then pointed after a great pass from Niall Cleary as Setanta grew into the game.

Marley also split the posts to leave just a goal between the sides before Stephen Gillespie got Burt’s first point in eight minutes.  

But Setanta had a great chance of a goal on the 18th minute when Coulter put Dean Harvey through on goal but the young midfielder blasted the sliotar over the bar with a goal at his mercy.

Setanta did have a goal in the 20th minute when Josh McGee Cronolly scored at the second attempt. However, referee James Connors had blown for a free as Setanta felt he should have applied the advantage rule.

A Sean Ward point for Setanta cut the defecit to the minimum but Kieran Brady swifly put Burt back in front by two.

Burt got their first goal when Kevin Curran’s long lob deceived Setanta keeper Kevin Campbell who appeared to be unsighted by McDermott running across his field of vision.

Gilmore pointed a free before McGee Cronolly held off four Burt defenders and scooped the ball to the Burt net.

The response though was instant as McKinney’s scrambled shot crept past keeper Campbell who was injured during Burt’s first goal. And Burt was well worth their half-time lead of 2-9 to 1-8.  

Despite the margin, most in the ground still felt that a wind-assisted Setanta would assert themselves on the restart.

Instead, it was McKinney who pointed after the excellent McDermott was fouled.

McGee Cronolly and McKinney swapped points while Gilmore and McKinney also traded overs just before McDermott’s dismissal.

Points from Coulter and Ruairi Campbell cut Burt’s lead to two at  2-12 to 1-13. But McKinney then put Grant through and he hit a precious goal to propel his side 3-12 to 1-13 clear.

The pace quickened in the final quarter as both sides went for broke. McKinney landed an 80m free into the breeze with Gilmore responding in kind for Setanta.

Setanta ran their bench but thar made no real impression on an increasingly rampant Burt who had further points from McKinney to seal a wonderful victory.

Burt scorers: Liam McKinney 1-11, 8f; Dara Grant 1-1; Kevin Curran 1-0; Kieran Brady 0-2; Aiden McKinney 0-1; Stephen Gillespie 0-1. 

Setanta scorers: Gerard Gilmore 0-8,7f; Josh McGee Cronolly 1-2; Ruairi Campbell 0-2; Declan Coulter 0-2; Danny Cullen 0-1; Oisin Marley 0-1; Sean Ward 0-1.

Burt: Paul Burns; Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Bradley, Callum Purves; Kevin Curran, Christopher McDermott, Caolan McDermott; Stephen Gillespie, Dara Grant; Conor Gartland, Liam McKinney, Ronan McDermott; Ciaran Porter, Kieran Brady, Aiden McKinney.

Setanta: Kevin Campbell; Conor McGettigan, Steven McBride, Ruairi McLaughlin; Ryan Coyle, Bernard Lafferty, Niall Cleary; Declan Coulter, Dean Harvey; Sean Ward, Danny Cullen, Oisin Marley; Josh McGee Cronolly, Gerard Gilmore, Ruari Campbell. 

Subs: Justin McBride for Dean Harvey (40), Gerard Melaugh for Niall Cleary (44) Mark Callaghan for Ruairi McLaughlin (48), Fionn Farren for Oisin Marley (57).

Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s )