Late flurry gives St Eunan’s victory over Burt

A late goal from the outstanding Sean McVeigh helped push St Eunan’s to a narrow victory over a battling Burt side in an exciting Donegal Hurling League affair in O’Donnell Park.

St Eunan’s 2-14 Burt 1-12

Burt had been in the ascendancy for much of the second half but lost out to a late flurry of scores from the home side.

Both sides were hit with the loss of their county contingent, but they served up some decent fare and showed their strength in depth.

The home side led by 0-9 to 0-7 at the break inspired by McVeigh at midfield in a very evenly contested opening half.

McVeigh got Eunan’s off the mark with a point before Russell Forde and Fergal Delaney stretched the home side’s lead to a 0-3 to 0-0.

Burt marksman Kieran Brady replied for the Inishowen men to level matters.

Brendan Horgan and Gavin Forde made it 0-5 to 0-3 for Eunan’s by the end of the first quarter.

Kevin Curran hit three points on the spin for Burt, but the home side replied with a free from Sean McVeigh and points from Russell Forde and Delaney edged Eunan’s in front.

Caolan McDermott pointed for Burt as the home side led by 0-9 to 0-7 at the break.

Burt had a purple patch early in the second half when a long ball from Brady was misjudged by the Eunan’s defence and it bounced into the net to put the Inishowen boys a point up.

They added two more points from McDermott and Brady to put them in front by 1-9 to 0-9.

St Eunan’s responded with points from the Forde brothers to leave the minimum margin between the sides going into the final quarter.

It was very close as Brady and Paul O’Donnell swapped points and Burt just were ahead by 1-10 to 0-12.

Kevin Curran hit 0-2 to leave Burt leading by 1-12 to 0-12 with just five minutes to go.

St Eunan’s were not finished yet as a long ball into the Burt defence was won by McVeigh and he fed Russell Forde who netted, and the sides were level again with time almost up.

Fergal Delaney edged Eunan’s in front with a point and in the dying minutes McVeigh found the net and Russell Forde sealed it with a late point for a dramatic turnaround.

St Eunan’s scorers: Russell Forde 1-4,1f; Sean McVeigh 1-3,1f; Paul O’Donnell 0-3, 2f; Fergal Delaney 0-3; Brendan Horgan 0-1.

Burt scorers: Kieran Brady 1-5, 4f; Kevin Curran 0-5; Caolan McDermott 0-2.

St Eunan’s: Cian Hennessy; David Horgan, Conor McVeigh, J P Curran; Conor Neely, Lorcan Heavey, John Lambe; Sean McVeigh, Brendan Horgan; Paul O’Donnell, Fergal Delaney, Calvin Aidoo; Russell Forde, Gavin Forde, Matthew Ahern. Sub: Eoin Scanlon for Lambe (40).

Burt: Paul Burns; Gareth Quinn, Ciaran Curran, Darius McColgan; Callum Purves, Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Kelly; Dara Grant, Kevin Curran; Ciaran Porter, Caolan McDermott, Jack Lavery; Pauric Curran, Kieran Brady, James Donaghy. Subs used: Colm Toner, Michael Gill.

Referee: James Callaghan (Setanta)