Termon hold their nerve against Burt to win Donegal Intermediate B Championship

It wasn't the most fascinating spectacle to watch, but that will matter very little to Termon who captured the Donegal Intermediate B championship with a 1-9 to 0-10 point win over Burt in O'Donnell Park.

With the rain and slippery conditions, it was going to take time for both teams to settle into this affair and get a grasp on the game but it was Termon who hit the front first after four minutes when the men from the Burn Road hit back-to-back points from Emmett McGettigan and Gary McGettigan who found space inside to tap over. 

It took a long time for Burt to get their first score despite hitting two wides before corner-back Callum Porter landed his name on the scoreboard after 12 minutes. 

But Termon kept the lead and were unfortunate not to get a goal when a long ball into the Burt full-back line was dropped by Bill Callaghan and fell into the hands of Gary McGettigan who nailed over but so nearly hit the roof of the net. 

The long ball into the full-forward line appeared to be working for Termon and it was that tactic that resulted in their opening goal on the 21st minute when Jamie Gallagher launched in a high ball to Gary McGettigan, who rounded the Burt full-back and goalkeeper Charles Lavery to slot low into the corner of the net. 

Gary McGettigan would add a further score for the Termon men to increase their lead, but Oisín Kerr got two back for the Inishowen men as Burt tried to build some momentum in the dying minutes of the match. 

But Evan Keown nailed the final score of the half from distance while full-back Shane Callaghan stopped a Burt shot on the line from a Ciaran Bradley kick when he fired for goal, which was the last act of the half as the teams marched the dressing room with Termon leading on a 1-6 to 0-3 point scoreline. 

Paul Mallon opened the scoring in the second half when the Termon man found a gap in the Burt backline to stick the ball between the posts. But Burt replied straight away with Kerr hitting his third, but his side were unfortunate not to grab a goal when Bradley intercepted a kickout from Jamie Gallagher but miskicked the ball as it fell into Thomas Cannon’s hands. 

Burt’s wide count was becoming an issue as the numbers began to build up as they only hit two points from their opening five shots with Porter hitting the two points for the Burt men. 

He nearly hit his fourth score of the day but was unfortunate to hit the post but Bradley caught the rebound to fire over and make it a three-point game. 

By the end of the third quarter, Burt had found their feet and were very much the better side, with Kerr’s fourth point from a free making it a two-point game, but Termon got their settler from a second Mallon score. 

Termon had their opportunity to increase their lead further going into the final 10 minutes but two wides from Mallon and Keown kept it at a three-point match. 

Paddy Curran threatened the Termon keeper when he launched a long ball into the box, but Cannon was on hand to power the ball away to safety and keep his side in front. 

Termon got their act together in the final five minutes with Caolan Gallagher hitting another point to increase his side’s lead to four points. 

Kerr closed the gap to a two-point game with two frees but Burt needed that all-important goal that unfortunately for them never came as the men from the Burn Road held out for a two-point victory. 

Termon scorers: Gary McGettigan 1-3; Paul Mallon and Caolan Gallagher 0-2; Emmett McGettigan and Evan Keown 0-1 each. 
Burt scorers: Oisín Kerr 0-6, 4f; Callum Porter 0-3; Ciaran Bradley 0-1. 

Termon: Thomas Cannon; Eoin Gallagher, Shane Callaghan, Martin Steel; Jack O’Neill, Dan Conaghan, Evan Keown; Jamie Gallagher, Oisin Harkin; Caolan Gallagher, Emmett McGettigan, Oran Gallagher; Caolan Curran, Paul Mallon, Gary McGettigan. Subs: Stephen Black for Jamie Gallagher (39); Eoghan Quinn for O’Neill (44); Patrick McDaid for Oran Gallagher (51); Owen Browne for Curran (55); Luke McGarvey for Harkin (61). 

Burt: Charles Lavery; Callum Porter, Bill Callaghan, Aidan McKinney; Michael McHugh, Leo Kelly, Kevin Curran; Ciaran Bradley, Callum Purves; Oisín Kerr, Ryan McDaid, Ciaran Porter; Fiachra Gill, Paddy Curran, Seamus O’Donnell. Subs: Michael Doherty for Gill (ht); Cathal McElhinney for O’Donnell (51); 

Referee: Declan Callaghan (Kilcar)