Brilliant Burt edge St Eunan’s to lift U-21 A Hurling Championship crown   

A wonderful goal from Burt’s powerful midfielder Conor Gartland after just four minutes proved to be the difference between two passionate sides in appalling conditions in this U-21 A hurling championship decider at the Donegal GAA Centre. 

Burt 1-13 St Eunan’s 0-13 

A gusting gale and driving throughout made it very difficult to play hurling-but both sides are to be complimented on serving up some real passion and panache. 

Action from Burt's win over St Eunan's

Burt had the breeze in the opening half and led by 1-12 to 0-4 with the bulk of their scores coming from man of the match Liam Óg McKinney who has become only the third Donegal man to play Fitzgibbon Cup hurling with NUIG. 

Burt had an edge in physique and size-but credit to St Eunan’s who came back well in the second half with the aid of the elements-driven by senior star Peter Kelly from midfield. 

Incidentally they also had Letterkenny Gaels in their squad in Eunan Gallagher, Donal Farrelly, Matthew Callaghan, Joseph Patton and Senan Nolan as the latter do not have an underage team. 

Patton brought off a superb save from Burt’s McKinney early in the second half which was vital as a goal at that stage might have killed of the game as a contest. 

Gartland’s early goal gave Burt the perfect starts and Ciaran Porter and Oisin Kerr quickly made it 1-2 to 0-0. 

McKinney and Eunan’s Paul O’Donnell then swapped points before McKinney went on a scoring spree to push his side to a 1-8 to 0-2 by the 20th minute with Kelly responding for Eunan’s. 

Playing conditions were such that we had loads of rucks-but the passion and ferocity with which these battles were fought made for some rich entertainment. 

McKinney, Niall McGlynn and Callum Purves swapped scores with Joseph Duddy and Gavin Forde as the Inishowen men led by 1-12 to 0-4 at the break. 

They only scored one point in the second half coming from Gartland as Eunan’s roared back into the game. 

Suddenly the Letterkenny lads began to win possession around the middle and Peter Kelly and Paul O’Donnell became more prominent. 

Patton’s early save was absolutely crucial for the Letterkenny lads as Kelly and Gavin Forde hit four points to bring their tally to 0-8. 

Burt were unable to break out for considerable periods although a Mckinney  shot in the 43rd minute looked to have crept inside the post but it was waved wide. 

Eunan’s continued press hard but all of their scores were hard earned as Burt fought hard to keep them out. 

It was apparent that they needed a goal to make real inroads but never looked like breaching a Burt defence well anchored by Kevin and Ciaran Curran. 

Kelly landed a few frees and there was only a goal between the sides as the Burt lead was whittle down to 1-13 to 0-13. 

But Eunan’s just ran out of time a Burt held on for a narrow and just about deserved. 

Burt scorers: Liam Óg McKinney 0-8,5f; Conor Gartland 1-1; Callum Purves 0-1; Oisin Kerr 0-1; Ciaran Porter 0-1; Niall McGlynn 0-1. 

St Eunan’s scorers: Peter Kelly 0-7,6f; Paul O’Donnell 0-2; Gavin Forde 0-2; Russell Forde 0-1,1f; Brendan Gaffey 0-1. 

Burt: Darius McColgan; James Donaghey, Kevin Curran, Ciaran Kelly; Aidan McKinney, Ciaran Curran, Callum Purves; Niall McGlynn, Conor Gartland; Oisin Kerr, Liam Óg McKinney, Ciaran Porter; Jack Gallagher, Peter Campbell, Pauric Curran. 

St Eunan’s: Joseph Patton; Mark Mullholland, Conor Neely, JP Curran; Joseph Duddy, Donal Farrelly, Johnny Lambe; David Horgan, Peter Kelly; Brendan Gaffey, Russell Forde, Paul O’Donnell; John Kealy, James O’Donnell, Gavin Forde. 

Subs Christopher Murray for Johnny Lambe (h/t), Noel O’Donnell for David Horgan (49). 

Referee: Marc Brown (Four Masters).