Burt U-21s edge out Carndonagh after extra-time to book B final place 

Shaunie Bradley and Ciaran Porter scored the goals as Burt overcame Carndonagh to book their place in the County U-21 B final at the weekend.

In what was a close contest throughout it took extra-time to separate two evenly matched sides after the game finished 2-9 to 1-12 in regulation time.

Carndonagh, who chalked up a fine quarter-final win over Naomh Columba the previous weekend, led 1-8 to 1-4 at half-time.  

Kyran Cantwell scored the goal and Cian Burke, Cian Doherty, Daire Tully and Michael Noone kicked the points for the men from Carndonagh. 

One of the points off the boot of Cian Doherty was from a close-in free after referee Greg McGroary reversed his initial decision to award a penalty to a 13m free. 

Shaunie Bradley struck for the Burt goal while Dan McDaid, Oisin Kerr, Andrew Walker and Dara Donaghy kicked the Burt points. 

Burt were impressive victors away to Glenfin, in Pairc Taobhoige, the previous week to make it through to Sunday’s semi-final.

The game at the Scarvey in Buncrana had been postponed for  24 hours from Saturday to Sunday due to storm Bert. 

Like the opening half the second period ebbed and flowed with Burt through Andrew Walker, Conor Gartland and Shayne Gallagher raised the first four points of the second period to tie up the game, ten minutes into the new half. 

But Carndonagh who had scored 1-6 without reply in the second quarter forged ahead again with strikes from Lorcan McGonagle, Daire Tully and Michael Noone to lead 1-11 to 1-7 with under seven minutes of normal time remaining. 

And the men from Foden were three ahead with the clock ticking on the hour mark when Ciaran Porter pounced with a late goal to tie up the game with time almost up. 

It went from bad to worse for Carndonagh in injury time with Cian Doherty wide from a close in free and John O’Callaghan and Michael Noone both sin-binned after picking up black cards.

Playing the opening half of the extra-time down to 13 Carndonagh were forced to defend and when Shaunie Bradley struck for Burt’s third goal the men from Hibernian Park, were in the box seats.  

Leading 3-9 to 1-11 Burt closed up shop at the back and all Carndonagh could muster was a Cian Doherty, ‘45 to cut three points before Oisin Kerr closed out the game to see Burt through to the final.

In that final they will face Cloughaneely at the Donegal Training Centre in Convoy, this Saturday throw-in 5pm. 

Cloughaneely have made it through to the final following last weekend/ss semi-final win over Milford.   

Burt scorers: Shaunie Bradley 2-0; Ciaran Porter 1-0; Andrew Walker 0-3,3f; Conor Gatland 0-2, 1 '45; Shayne Gallagher 0-2; Oisin Kerr 0-2,1f; Dara Donaghy 0-1. 

Carndonagh scorers: Kyran Cantwell 1-2; Cian Doherty 0-5,1f; Daniel McDaid 0-2,1f; Cian Burke 0-2, Daire Tully, Michael Noone, Lorcan McGonigle 0-1 each.    

Burt: Callum Purves; Kyron McColgan, Leo Kelly, Caolan McKinney; Fionn O'Riordan, Kevin Curran, Aidan McKinney; Liam Óg McKinney, Conor Gartland; Dara Donaghy, Shayne Gallagher, Ciaran Porter; Andrew Walker, Oisin Kerr, Shaunie Bradley. 

Subs: Eoin McDaid for D Donaghey; Matthew Curran for Shayne Gallagher; Kevin Boyle for E McDaid; Lee Callaghan for C Porter

Carndonagh: Kyle Harkin; Daniel McDaid, Conor McLaughlin, John O’Callaghan; Danny Diver, Senan Grant, Will Quinn; Daire Tully, Cian Burke; Kyran Cantwell, Michael Noone; Cian Doherty;  Sean O’Carroll, Olan McLaughlin, Lorcan McGonigle. 

Subs; Josh Diver for S Grant (h/t); Tiernan Doherty for D Tully(39); Michael McCarron for O  McLaughlin (57).

Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters)