Burt survive as Letterkenny Gaels make the drop down to Junior A Championship

Burt will play Intermediate championship football again next season following Saturday’s relegation play-off final win over Letterkenny Gaels in Convoy.

Conor Gartland and Keith McColgan were the goal scorers for the men from Hibernian Park in the fully merited 11-point win over a Gaels side that have struggled all season. 

As a consequence of the defeat, they now returned to  Junior championship football after two seasons playing at this grade.

Garland’s sixth-minute goal helped laid the foundation for a four point half-time lead. Burt led 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

McColgan, Sean McHugh, Christy McDermott and Shane Gallagher kicked the first-half Burt points while Adam Duffy, Brian Diver, Conor Walker and Conor McBrearty posted the Letterkenny Gaels opening half points. 

Burt had led at one time 1-5 to 0-2 but two late points from Conor Walker and Conor McBrearty narrowed the gap to four at the half-time break. 

Ronan Frain, on the break, opened Gaels’ second-half account with a point which could as easily have been a goal. 

Darren Bradley shortly after got Burt up and running again with a well struck point. And with the two teams missing chances Shane Gallagher with his third made it a double score game, with Burt ahead 1-7 to 0-5. 

And any hopes of a Gaels comeback were dashed shortly after when McColgan palmed a Gonor Gartland pass past Shane Graham between the Gaels posts. 

McColgan added two more points in quick succession and Conor McBrearty was denied from the penalty spot by a good save from Kieran Brady, the Burt keeper. 

McBrearty had been fouled for the spot kick as he bore down on the Burt goal area. 

Jack O’ Brien brought down the curtain on the scoring and the season that had a positive ending at least for Burt. 

Burt scorers: Keith McClolgan 1-3,  Conor Gartland 1-0,Shane Gallagher 0-3,3f, Sean McHugh, Christy McDermott, Darren Bradley, Jack O’ Brien 0-1 each. 

Letterkenny Gaels; Adam Duffy Brian Diver, Conor Walker, Conor McBrearty, Ronan Frain 0-1 each.  

Burt; Kieran Brady; Darren Bradley,Oisin Kelly, Dara Grant; Liam McKinney, Denver Kelly, Darren Gallagher;  Stephen O’Donnell,Christy McDermott; Conor Gartland, Sean McHugh, Keith McColgan;  Shayne Gallagher. Mark McElhinney, Martin Donaghey.

Letterkenny Gaels:  Shane Graham; Conor Cullen, Ray Quinn, Liam McAlary; Diarmuid O’Cathail; Conor Walker, Shay Doherty; Paddy Doherty, Ben Gallagher; Matthew Winter, Darren Hunter, Adam Duffy; Kevin Lagan, Conor McBrearty, Ron Frain.

Subs: Gerard Gibbons for K Langan (45); Aaron Bonner for D O’ Cathail, Rowan Smith for A Duffy (both 50). 

Referee: Greg McGroary (Four Masters).