Burt hurlers cruise into Ulster Junior Club semi-final with win over Castlewellan

Burt are into the Ulster Junior Hurling semi-final after a storming second half saw them run out 21 point winners over Castlewellan at Liatroim Fontenoys on Sunday afternoon.

The Down champions started well and led by 0-5 to 0-3, but Burt got a lucky break when Kyron McColgan’s shot for a point dropped in over the Castlewellan keeper’s head in the 14th minute, and once they got into the lead they never looked back.

Enda McDermott’s side led by 1-12 to 0-8 at the break, and after the change of ends dominated tie which was played on a pristine pitch in the Down village of Leitrim and Burt’s passing and fitness was a step above that of their opponents.

Two goals from joint captain Stephen Gillespie, revelling in his new role at full forward, and a succession of points from Liam Óg McKinney, Ronan McDermott, Aidan McKinney and substitutes Kieran Brady and Fiachra Gill saw Burt run out comfortable winners in the end.

The only cloud in their sky was an injury to Brady, who limped off near the end and with their bench already emptied Burt finished the game with 14 men.

Burt advance to the semi-final where they will play Glenravel of Antrim next weekend.

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The Down champions had a strong breeze on their backs from the throw-in, but Burt struck first with Ronan McDermott and Liam Óg McKinney getting them off the mark.

Castlewellan hit five of the next six points, two apiece from Matthew McCabe and Sean O’Neill, and a long-ranger from Dara Rogers to open up a 0-5 to 0-3 lead by the 12th minute. However, they were hampered by an injury to midfielder Rogers who was switched into full forward but was substituted before half time.

Burt, having weathered that opening salvo, grew into the game with Conor Gartland winning a fortune of dirty ball at centre field, and when Kyron McColgan’s shot for point held up in the wind and dropped over the Castlewellan keeper’s head and into the net, they went into the lead for the first time.

Points from Gartland, Ciaran Porter (2),  Aiden McKinney (2) and along with five from scorer-in-chief Liam Óg McKinney (three from play, two from frees) had them 1-12 to 0-8 ahead at the break.

Late in the half, keeper Paul Burns did well to deny substitute Shane Smyth a goal with his first touch, coming off his line to block the Castlewellan forward and keep his net intact.

Second half

If Burt had played well in the first half, they went up a couple of notches in the second.

Liam Óg McKinney (2) and Ronan McDermott stretched out their lead before Stephen Gillespie struck for the first of two goals, fielding a long ball into the square and slamming the ball to the net.

That knocked the stuffing out of Castlewellan, while Burt just kept the scores mounting through McKinney and McDermott.

Two points from placed balls from Eoin Maginn was Castlewellan’s return in the third quarter, while Burt had the luxury of running their bench without missing a beat on the scoreboard.

Points from the hard-working Conor Gartland and Aiden McKinney, as well as two from play from substitute Brady who was playing his first championship hurling of the season after returning from a lengthy injury lay-off, had them 2-20 to 0-10 ahead before Matthew McCabe - the Down side’s best performer on the day - got their first point from play in the second half.

Gillespie got his second goal in the 53rd minute, collecting a diagonal pass into from Ciaran Bradley near the endline and using his strength to burst past the defender and bat to the net for a 3-21 to 0-11 lead.

Burt were in near complete control by then, with Fiachra Gill (2), Ciaran Porter, Liam Og McKinney and Ronan McDermott rounding off the scoring for them, while the Down side responded with points from Matthew McCabe and Sean O’Neill.

Onwards to the semi-final for Burt, then, where they’ll play Glenravel at Hibernian Park next Sunday. The Antrim champions needed extra time to see off Monaghan’s Truagh Gaels.

Burt scorers: Liam Óg McKinney 0-10 (5f); Stephen Gillespie 2-0; Ronan McDermott 0-4; Ciaran Porter 0-3; Aiden McKinney 0-3; Kyron McColgan 1-0; Conor Gartland 0-2; Kieran Brady 0-2; Fiachra Gill 0-2.

Castlewellan scorers: Matthew McCabe 0-6 (2f); Sean O’Neill 0-3; Eoin Maginn 0-2 (1f, 1 65); Dara Rogers 0-1; Tiernan Connolly 0-1 (1f); Enan Fitzsimmons 0-1

Burt: Paul Burns; James Donaghey, Ciaran Bradley, Kevin Curran; Oisin Kelly, Dara Grant, Aidan McKinney; Stephen Gillespie, Kyron McColgan; Eoin McDaid, Ciaran Porter, Conor Gartland; Christopher McDermott, Ronan McDermott, Liam Óg McKinney. Subs:

Castlewellan: Michael McKeown, Eoin Pól Hillen, Aidan Keown, Lorcan Cairns; Conor Connolly, Luke McCabe, Joe O’Boyle; Dara Rodgers, Padraig King; Rory Burns, Matthew McCabe, Sean O’Neill; Eoin Maginn, Matthew Muldoon, Tiernan Connolly. Subs: Rory Toner for A Keown (22 mins); Shane Smyth for D Rogers (24 mins); Conor Connolly for S Smyth (50 mins); Donagh Cairns for P King (55 mins).

Referee: Derek Argue (Cavan).