Setanta beat old rivals Burt at the Cross in Senior Hurling League

Oisin Marley and Marc Devine were in top form as Setanta took the points against Burt in a well contested affair at the Cross.

Setanta 2-15 Burt 0-16

Marley is just back from injury and hit an impressive 0-4 in the opening half before being replaced. The home side held a narrow 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead.

Meanwhile, mercurial Mark Devine hit 2-2 and his brace of second half goals were the clinching factors in this most entertaining affair. For Burt, Kieran Brady notched 0-13 with nine coming from frees.

Indeed, it was Burt who had the best start landing three successive early points from Kieran Brady 0-3 with two from frees after seven minutes. The towering Marley responded with two points and Niall Cleary levelled matters.

Marley edged the home side in front and Bradley tied matters again and Leo Doherty 0-2 put the Inishowen men up by a point. Marley hit his fourth point and Conor McGettigan and Cleary got Setanta’s final score of the half as they led by 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.

And they can thank keeper Mark Kane for a brilliant save from a Burt penalty in the 22nd minute. Setantat hit three unanswered points from Josh McGee/Cronnolly, Devine and Cleary to lead by 0-10 to 0-6. Leo Doherty was on target for Burt to leave a goal in the contest.

Brady then put on a scoring exhibition to the finish as he landed 0-8 with six from frees and Leo Doherty completed their scoring. But Devine struck for a vital goal after 10 minutes to put Setanta into a five- point lead. Brady hit back with two points for Burt and Conor McGettigan pointed for Setanta as they led by 1-12 to 0-11 coming into the final quarter.

But, this 13-a side affair was effectively settled in the 50th minute when Devin struck for his second goal which set them on the road to victory.
Brady, Ryan Callaghan, Justin McBride and Devine all swapped points in the latter stages.

Setanta scorers: Marc Devine 2-2; Oisin Marley 0-4; Niall Cleary 0-3; Conor McGettigan 0-2; Justin McBride 0-2; Josh McGee/Cronnolly 0-1; Ryan Callaghan 0-1;
Burt scorers: Kieran Brady 0-13,9f; Leo Doherty 0-2; Caolan McDermott 0-1;

Setanta: Mark Kane; Tiernan McConnell, Ruairi McLaughlin, Ryan Callaghan, Mark Callaghan, Niall Cleary, Conor McGettigan, Justin McBride, Travis Lafferty, Oisin Marley, Colm Melaugh, Josh McGee/Cronnolly and Marc Devine. Subs: Simon McMenamin for Oisin Marley (h-time), Pauric Moss for Tiernan McConnel (40), Noel Ewing for Travis Lafferty (50).
Burt: Paul Burns, Darius McColgan, James Doherty, Callum Purves, Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Curran, Caolan McDermott, Jack Lavery, Leo Doherty, Kieran Brady, Ciaran Porter, Gavin McGrath and Pauric Curran. Subs; Colm Toner for Pauric Curran (35), Michael Gill for Gavin McGrath (40).
Referee: James Connors (St Eunan’s)