BURT MAINTAINED THEIR hopes of six Donegal Senior Hurling Championships on the bounce with a narrow win over St Eunan’s last night.
Burt 3-13 St Eunan’s 3-10
A fourth minute goal from Enda McDermott, when he flicked a long ball in from Niall Campbell past James Connors in the St Eunan’s goal, gave the side from Hibernian Park the edge in the first half.
Photo caption: Mickey McCann of Burt in possession against St Eunan’s in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SHC semi-final at MacCumhaill Park last night. Photos: Christopher Doherty
[adrotate group=”56″]Burt finished the first half 1-6 to 0-7 in front, with Enda McDermott, Niall Campbell and Gavin McGrath all putting over points.
At the other end, the Letterkenny team were staying in touch mainly through the abilities of Sean McVeigh, with the dual player – who would score nine points in all – popping over six times in part one. He was joined on the scoreboard in that first period by Kevin Kealy.
Kealy’s goal on 35 minutes, when he smashed past Paul Burns, the Burt goalkeeper when Aidy Gaffey provided the assist. That made it 1-8 to 1-8.
However, Burt haven’t got to where they are because of panic and just four minutes later, they fashioned a goal themselves and a fine one it was too.
Ronan and Enda McDermott exchanged passes and it was Ronan who finished into the St Eunan’s net to restore Burt’s advantage, 2-8 to 1-8.
Five minutes later, now the 44th minute, the emphatic nature of the Burt response was confirmed, when, they posted another goal with their next meaningful attack.
This time it was Enda McDermott who netted, when he gave Stephen Gillespie’s excellent pass the finish it deserved, piercing his shot right into the bottom corner. Burt appeared to be weathering the storm, 3-8 to 1-8 ahead.
St Eunan’s Kevin Kealy tries to wriggle away from Martin McGrath of Burt in the Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure Donegal SHC semi-final at MacCumhaill Park last night
When Micky McCann pointed for Burt soon afterwards, their lead was out to seven. But St Eunan’s threw the kitchen sink at them. On 46 minutes, Eugene Organ’s effort at goal was just dropping short but Niall O’Donnell was alive to it and flicked home St Eunan’s second goal.
[adrotate group=”56″]Burt, 3-9 to 2-8 ahead, steadied themselves courtesy of two Niall Campbell points, although these were matched when McVeigh added a brace at the other end.
At four up in the closing stages, Burt again showed their capabilities and Tom Doherty and Ronan McDermott points brought the lead out to six once more.
In the last minute, St Eunan’s, still carrying the fight, pulled back another goal. Conor Parke’s ball did the damage and although McVeigh was the one who finished into the net, the sliotar was already over the line from Parke.
[adrotate group=”56″]Burt: Paul Burns; Martin McGrath, Ciaran Dowds, Darragh Grant; Benny Harrigan, Joe Boyle Christopher McDermott; Ciaran Finn, Stephen Gillespie; Jonathan Downey, Ronan McDermott (1-1), Gavin McGrath (0-1); Niall Campbell (0-6,1 ’65’ ,3f), Mickey McCann (0-2), Enda McDermott (2-2). Subs: Conor Harkin for C McDermott (52); Jonathan McGrath (0-1) for G McGrath (52); Tom Doherty for Dowds (56).
St Eunan’s: James Connors: Brian McIntyre, Conor McVeigh, Ciaran Kelly; Aidy Gaffey, Conor O’Grady, Conor Parke (1-0); Colm Flood, Stephen Doherty; Sean Halvey, Sean McVeigh (0-9, ’65’ 4f), Eugene Organ; Kevin Kealy (1-1), Colm Breathnach, Gerard Leahy. Subs: Caoimhin Lennon for B McIntyre (17); Niall O’Donnell (1-0) for Halvey (35), Darragh McCarthy for Leahy (35); Aaron O’Connell for Breathnach (58).
Referee: Owen Elliott (Antrim)
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