Drop Down Menu
  Search...
 

Burt grind out important victory 14.07.11
All County League Division 3

Burt...0-10

Naomh Mhuire...0-6


LEAGUE leaders Naomh Mhuire surrendered their unbeaten record in Division 3 with a four point defeat to Burt on Sunday.
A hard-working and committed Burt side led by 0-4 to 0-2 at half time and Naomh Mhuire’s cause wasn’t helped the sending off two defenders in the second period.
Burt had extended their lead to four points early in the second half, and while Naomh Mhuire twice reduced the deficit to two points Burt responded and kept the scoreboard ticking over. Two injury time points from the excellent Joe Boyle and Enda McDermott put something of a gloss on the final scoreline, but Naomh Mhuire can have few complaints about the outcome.
Naomh Mhuire had hit 3-13 on their previous outing, a win over Buncrana, but that was never on the cards on Sunday as Burt adopted their customary defensive strategy, drawing men back into defence and hitting their opponents on the break.
Two frees from Harry Harden in the 1st and 26th minutes was the sum total of Naomh Mhuire’s first half efforts, while Burt opened their account on 12 minutes through Joe Boyle. The big full forward was in excellent form throughout, and he doubled Burt’s tally on 14 minutes after collecting a diagonal ball and pointing on the turn.
Boyle turned provider on 20 minutes as Ciaran Dowds extended Burt’s lead.
There were first half goal chances too: Paul McHugh dragged one wide for Burt before Patrick McCafferty sliced a Harden cut back wide for the visitors.
Dowds and McHugh combined on the right wing with the latter creating another goal chance on the stroke of half time, but with a goal at his mercy Enda McDermott volleyed the ball sky high over the bar and the home side took a 0-4 to 0-2 lead into the half time break.
It was more of the same from Burt in the second period as they continued to frustrate their opponents by packing defence and breaking out to attack.
Joe Boyle converted a 33rd minute free and put Burt 0-6 to 0-2 ahead on 38 minutes when Eamon Reddin intercepted a Naomh Mhuire attack and the ball was worked to the full forward who pointed from almost 40 yards out.
Tom McHugh responded with a fine point from the left wing before Naomh Mhuire were reduced to 14 men in bizarre circumstances. Sean Pidgeon came onto the field to replace Sean Gallagher (Point), but referee Liam Browne, who had booked the defender in the first half, sent Gallagher off before he reached the sideline and Pidgeon too had leave the playing area.
Burt then hit a succession of wides and dropped some shots short into the keeper’s hands before Eoin Grant pointed from the left on 50 minutes to reduce the margin to two points.
A diagonal ball from Niall Campbell found Joe Boyle in space and he pointed to push Burt 0-7 to 0-4 ahead. Sean (Yank) Boyle had a goal chance blocked by Reddin, before Aidan O’Gara got his side’s fifth point on 58 minutes.
But again Burt responded, with Joe Boyle pointing his third free of the afternoon. Ciaran McGinley hit back with an injury time free for Naomh Mhuire, but they lost Brian Gillespie to a second yellow card and Burt closed out the game with Paddy McDermott setting up Joe Boyle for another long range point, and Enda McDermott applied the coup de grace in the sixth minute of injury time to seal a four point victory for the home side. (Inishowen Independent)

Burt: Stephen Gillespie; Jonathan Downey, Paul O’Brien, Kevin Glenn; Paul McHugh, Mickey McCann, Benny Harrigan; Ciaran Dowds (0-1), Enda McDermott (0-2); Martin Donaghey, Eamonn Reddin, Mark McGavigan; Rory Grant, Joe Boyle (0-7, 3f), Niall Campbell. Subs: Paddy McDermott for M. McGavigan (43 mins); Darren McLaughlin for B. Harrigan (56 mins); Dara Grant for N. Campbell (60 mins).

Naomh Mhuire: Sean Gallagher; Aidan O’Gara (0-1), Thomas Duffy, Daniel Gallagher; Sean Gallagher (P), Brian Gillespie, Paul (Yank) Boyle; Dara White, Owenie McGarvey; Harry Harden (0-2, 2f), Patrick McCafferty, Eoin Grant (0-1); Sean (Yank) Boyle, Tom McHugh (0-1), Ciaran McGinley (0-1, 1f). Subs: Sean Pigeon for D. White (50 mins); Sean Boyle for H. Harden (56 mins).

Referee: Liam Browne (Four Masters).

Man of the match
While Burt had fine performances from Paul McHugh and Enda McDermott amongst others, Joe Boyle’s score-taking and all round play gains him the nomination. Boyle hit seven points, including four from play and many of those from long distance. His team-mates played intelligent ball into him, and as a one man full forward line he proved an excellent target man who comfortably had the beating of Naomh Mhuire full back Thomas Duffy.

Score of the match
Burt’s best score came in the eighth minute of the second half. Eamon Reddin, wearing number 11 on his back but spending most of his time in defence, intercepted a Naomh Mhuire attack and played the ball to Ciaran Dowds, who carried the ball into the opponents half, fed Joe Boyle and the full forward pointed while on the run and from 40 yards out. That put Burt four points ahead, and they rarely looked in danger of losing from that point on.

Referee watch
Liam Browne was the man in the middle and managed to flash eight yellow and two red cards in a clean and sporting game. He was particularly sore on verbal abuse directed at himself or other players, never more so when he red carded Naomh Mhuire’s Sean Gallagher midway through the second half. While he was being subbed, Gallagher shouted an expletive that the referee thought was directed at him. And as Gallagher trotted towards the sideline, replaced by Sean Pidgeon, referee Browne came running behind flashing the red card to Gallagher and demanding that the sub who replaced him be taken off.

What’s next?
Burt will host Urris on Saturday night, while Naomh Mhuire travel to Carn. Urris beat Burt in Clonmany by a single point back in April, but they have endured four defeats in their last four outings. Burt will be buoyed by their win over the league leaders and, remarkably given Urris early season form that saw them at the top of the league table, a win for Burt on Saturday night will move them above Urris in Division 3.
Naomh Mhuire won’t relish another Inishowen on Saturday night when Carn provide the opposition. Carn have been enduring a torrid season, but as Burt demonstrated this Naomh Mhuire side are beatable and if Carn adopt a defensive strategy they can inflict a second defeat on the men from the Lower Rosses.

For full coverage of all your weekend sport, read the Inishowen Independent.
Add to Favorites :: Return to > Sports    > News    > Home