Burt go away to Ardara and take two opening All-County League Division 2 points 

Burt pinned two early All-County League Division 2 points to the board on Saturday with a deserving two-point win over their hosts Ardara in Kentucky. 

With the breeze favouring Clint Walsh’s outfit early on, their three-point return at the changeover suggested that the Inishowen men were firmly in the driving seat, even at that early juncture.

Stephen O’Donnell’s three-pointer on 26 minutes was crucial as the visitors headed for the interval 1-4 to 0-3 clear. 

And while Burt would only register three scores themselves after the changeover, with another one of those a green flag, Marty Coyle’s team’s ability to find the net ultimately proved crucial in an otherwise forgetful contest. 

In blustery conditions at Pearse Memorial Park, it took some time for this one to settle. Eoghan Ban McNelis and Jack O’Brien traded points early on before Burt’s Darrach Donaghey skewed high and wide after O’Brien had put him in on goal. 

On 13 minutes, Gavin Sweeney landed a free from the hands but with visiting stopper Marcus McElhinney booting over a ‘45, matters were again level at the end of the opening quarter. 

A brilliant spot by Andrew Walker then put O’Brien in on goal on the left-hand side. And while he did very well to angle his driven effort on target, Cian McConnell pulled off a very fine save. 

Ardara were in front for the third time thanks to a close-range Sweeney free but - just like before - Burt would again pull themselves level through an O’Brien free.   

Four minutes out from the break and the Inishowen outfit stole a real march. O’Donnell chased down a grounded ball on the left-hand side, making a connection just before it ran over the end line. 

The Burt midfielder also got there just before the outrushing McConnell to somehow squeeze the ball into the net from the tightest of angles. 

Things got even better for Burt as Walker added an instant over and they now led 1-4 to 0-3 headed in at the midpoint. 

A little like the first half hour, the second period was also slow to simmer and it wasn’t until the 39th minute that inroads were once again made on the scoreboard. 

Ardara stopper O’Connell came up the field to land a fine two-point free as the gap was closed to two. 

Still, the home rearguard continued to cough up dangerous yards close to goal with Keith McColgan blazing over the crossbar when a maximum was definitely on. 

Ardara also made a deep incision down the other side as McNelis left it 0-6 to 1-5 approaching the three-quarter hour mark. 

McConnell landed his second two-point effort from another placed ball to level it up and it looked like the home charges had finally found some momentum as substitute CJ Molloy knocked them in front. 

However, Ardara’s static defence once again afforded Burt territorial advantage deep inside the arc and while Darren Bradley pinged the crossbar with his initial attempt, he was allowed to have a second swipe and this time made no mistake. 

Trailing by two going into the last ten minutes, Sweeney halved that deficit. An O’Brien free from the right touchline dropped short but with Burt again first to the breaking ball, O’Donnell swept over the crossbar to seal the win. 

Ardara scorers: Cian McConnell 0-4, 2 tpf; Gavin Sweeney 0-3, 2f; Eoghan Ban McNelis 0-2; CJ Molloy 0-1. 

Burt scorers: Stephen O’Donnell 1-1; Darren Bradley 1-0;  Jack O’Brien 0-2, 1f;  Marcus McElhinney 0-1, 1’45; Andrew Walker and Keith McColgan 0-1 each.  

Ardara: Cian McConnell; Johnny McGonagle, Shane Whyte, Shane Mooney; Paddy McGrath, Tony Harkin, Danny Walsh; Eoghan Gallagher, Kian McCabe; Josh Malley, Callum Malley, Jamie Elliott; Daniel McHugh, Gavin Sweeney, Eoghan McNelis. 

Subs: Kevin Whyte for Eoghan Gallagher (ht), CJ Molloy for D McHugh (40).

Burt: Marcus McElhinney; Rory McDaid, Leo Kelly, Darren Bradley; Caolan McKinney, Tom Doherty, Darren Gallagher; Stephen O’Donnell, Keith McColgan; Dara Grant, Sean McHugh, Andrew Walker; Jack O’Brien, Kevin Boyle, Darrach Donaghey. 

Subs: Jack Lavery for Donaghey (59).

Marc Browne (Four Masters)