Mel O’Donnell content with Burt U-21 progress

Burt U-21 boss Mel O’Donnell says his side is delighted to be into the last four in the C championship race but has warned his players tougher tests now await. 

The Inishowen lads easily brushed aside the challenge of Bundoran in Killgordon by 3-12 to 1-6. Burt also came through their group section in comfortable fashion so O’Donnell knows the levels will rise significantly from this point on. 

At the break against Bundoran, Burt already led by ten. And barring a major collapse they would have known they were already well on their way to the semi-finals. 

“We were happy enough with how the first-half went,” O’Donnell said. “We were coming in off the back of a two-week gap. 

“We felt ourselves, we started a bit slow. It took ten or 15 minutes for us to find our feet. Once we did that, we hit a purple patch. And the second goal, just before half-time, that put us ten clear.” 

At the start of the new period, Burt nailed 1-4 on the bounce to effectively kill off any shred of hope the west Donegal lads might have had of mounting any kind of comeback. 

“We were out of the blocks fast after the restart. And that was encouraging. We pressed up on their kickouts and we got joy from that.

“It’s great to be into the last four now. But we’re under no illusions. Convoy, Red Hughs, Naomh Ultan, they had some huge battles on the other side in their group.”

The semi-final pairings will now be decided by an open draw.  

“We accounted for Naomh Brid, Urris, Pettigo and Robert Emmetts. Those other sides have had real tests, they know exactly where they’re at. But a semi-final, it’s there to be won so that’s where the attention shifts towards now.”