Burt finish strongly to defeat Bundoran in U16 Division 4 decider

Burt won the U16 Division 4 final at Glenfin on Monday night when they had nine points to spare over Bundoran.

Riley Loughlin opened the scoring with a well-taken point for Bundoran, but Burt responded strongly. Conor Tierney hit a quickfire 1-1, but he and his teammates found the Realt na Mara goalkeeper Oisin Fearon in inspired form and he pulled off a string of saves to keep his side in the contest.

Ciaran Óg McGuinness got on the end of a good move to get Bundoran’s opening goal, but Tierney smashed another goal to the net and the Inishowen side led by 2-3 to 1-3 at half time.

The introduction of Shea Boyle at half time gave Burt better penetration up front – he hit 1-2 on his return from a hand injury, while Daniel Curran impressed in a deep-lying role.

Rian Regan hit 1-2 in the second half and turned in a man-of-the-match performance for Bundoran, and they hung onto their opponents coattails throughout.

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Points from Curran, Conor Sweeney (2), Anthony Doherty (a 45) and Conor Tierney had Burt well on top, but McGuinness and Riley Loughlin kept chipping away with points for Bundoran.

They were in touch right to the end, and it wasn’t until a late individual goal from Conor Sweeney that the Burt lads could breathe easily and secure the win.

Burt scorers: Conor Tierney 2-3; Shea Boyle 1-2; Conor Sweeney 1-2; Aedan Mullins 0-1; Daniel Curran 0-1; Anton Doherty 0-1.

Bundoran scorers: Ciaran Óg McGuinness 1-2; Rian Regan 1-2; Riley Loughlin 0-2, Shay McNulty 0-1.

Burt: Daniel Walker; Charlie Bradley, Dara Toner, Conor Barron; Ciaran McDaid, Damhán Dowds, Dara McAuley; Daniel Curran, Anton Doherty; Conor Sweeney, Shay Doherty, Aedán Mullins; Oisin Green, Conor Tierney, Oisin Henry. Sub: Shea Boyle.

Bundoran: Oisin Fearon; Shane Conaghan, Lukas Vasiljevas, Jan Warchol; RJ McGovern, Ronan O’Donnell, Rian Regan; Dylan Craig, Samuel Pereira; Ciaran Óg McGuinness, Alex Meehan, Riley Loughlin; Shay McNulty, Isaac McClenaghan.

Referee: Anthony McCallig (Naomh Ultan)