Conor O’Donnell hoping Burt young guns in it for the long haul

Burt U-21 captain Conor O’Donnell wants to see their C championship side stick together and rise through the ranks now and onto the senior setup. 

O’Donnell skippered the Inishowen lads to a superb 5-11 to 1-7 win over Red Hugh’s and Mel O’Donnell’s outfit was full value for their 16-point win. But with pre-season for the 2023 campaign just around the corner, O’Donnell hopes some momentum can now be carried over.

“Three days out from Christmas, we just had to get over the line,” he said. “You could see how bad conditions were out there. But to have gone all the way, it makes it worthwhile.

“The aim was to go all the way. We got a few of the lads in from the soccer, the hurling, and we put the heads down together.  Some of those lads hadn’t kicked a Gaelic football since minor or below. But everyone bought into it. 

“No one dropped out - we stuck at it and we got the reward.” 

He added: “There are six or seven of the lads already part of the senior squad. But there is a chance for a few others to step up. Winning silverware, it might make it that little bit harder now for some to walk away. 

“We’re up in Division 2 next season at senior level. That’s exciting. Some lads like Gareth McElroy, he’s a serious operator but he’s signed for Sligo Rovers now so he’s a huge loss. We have a few lads at county hurling so I just hope they’re about to give us a hand”. 

Burt had also gone in at the break in command on a difference of 2-4 to 0-5 points. But once Michael McElroy netted a third three-pointer for his side, you just knew there’d be no way back for Red Hugh’s. 

“To be fair, what was it we ended up with… 5-11? You’d take that at the height of summer so we’re very pleased with winning and the way we went about it. Tonight, we’ll enjoy this. The cows can milk themselves in the morning!”