BURT CAME GOOD late on to overcome Naomh Columba in this afternoon’s Michael Murphy Sports & Leisure IFC semi-final at Glenswilly.
Burt 1-8 Naomh Columba 0-7
With seven minutes left, Naomh Columba were 0-5 to 0-4 up in what had been a static contest. Beforehand, with just eight days till the final and Naomh Columba having to replay against St Naul’s on Wednesday night and presumably dreading the thought of another midweek clash, extra-time had been agreed.
However, Burt – wearing their 2007 centenary kits to avoid a clash – managed to fashion a goal on 53 minutes when Conor Harkin took on a pass from Mark Coyle and smashed past Paddy Byrne, the Naomh Columba midfielder who had to take over in goal at the end of the first half as Pauric O’Donnell wasn’t able to continue.
[adrotate group=”38″]Afterwards, Paul McHugh, the Burt wing-back, got forward to hammer over his third point from play in an excellent personal performance.
Late in the contest, Pauric O’Neill pulled back two points in the 56th minute, which meant their deficit was down to a point, 1-5 to 0-7 down.
Burt, though, held firm and rattled over three points at the end when Ronan McDermott, McHugh’s fourth of the day and Joe Boyle’s free gave them a four-point win.
It was the first time that Burt had reached the semi-final stage of the competition since 2004 and their win today means a first final appearance on Sunday next at 4:30pm in Letterkenny against a Milford side who defeated Aodh Ruadh in a dramatic semi-final in Convoy.
[adrotate group=”86″]The first half today was stagnant, with only five points in all. At the break Naomh Columba were 0-3 to 0-2 up, with Pauric Cunningham fisting over, Martin Cuningham scoring and Pauric O’Neill’s score that went right over the upright and was debated.
Burt’s scorers were McHugh, who blazed over when in on goal and Boyle.
[adrotate group=”46″]Christopher McDermott and McHugh moved Burt into a 0-4 to 0-3 lead at the start of the second half before Naomh Columba turned it around with points from Ryan Gillespie and then Kevin McNern.
Naomh Columba: Pauric O’Donnell; Barry Carr, Gary McBrearty, Ciaran McBrearty, Philip Doherty; Pauric Ward, Michael Maguire, Stephen Jones; Declan McGuire, Paddy Byrne; Ryan McNern, Martin Cunningham (0-1), Pauric Cunningham (0-1); Kevin McNern (0-1), Ryan Gillespie (0-1), Pauric O’Neill (0-4). Subs: Gavin McGinley for O’Donnell (30+1), Paul Doherty for P Cunningham (49), Jamie J McGinley for Jones (51), Jamie McNern for M Cunningham (60).
Burt: Kevin McDermott; Martin Donaghy, Stephen O’Donnell, Tom Doherty; Micky McCann, Sean McHugh, Paul McHugh (0-4); Stephen Gillespie, Ciaran Dowds; Joe Boyle (0-2, 1f) Darren Gallagher, Dara Grant; Mark Coyle, Conor Harkin (1-0), Calvin Gallagher. Subs: Christopher McDermott (0-1) and Enda McDermott for D Gallagher and S Gillespie (36), Ronan McDermott (0-1) for Boyle (47), Boyle for S McHugh (60).
Referee: Shaun McLaughlin (Malin)
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