Setanta and Burt can't be separated in real thriller at the Cross

A last-gasp point from marksman Oisín Marley earned Setanta a draw with county champions Burt in a real thriller at The Cross.

It looked like a strong second-half showing had swung it for Burt, as they led by 0-16 to 0-14 with four minutes remaining.

But Setanta dug out a result in a game where they lost influential centre-back Bernard Lafferty to injury in the closing stages.

Marley and Burt marksman Kieran Brady exchanged pointed frees after two minutes, setting the pattern for a ding-dong opening half.

Josh Cronolly McGee had a great tussle with Burt full-back Ciaran Bradley. He and Brady then swapped points, with Burt playing with the slight slope.

By the 10th minute, Setanta were ahead by 0-6 to 0-4 thanks to further scores from Seán D’Arcy and Marley, with Brady responding for Burt.

However, Burt also hit five wides in this half.

Cronolly McGee landed another point, along with 0-3 from Marley, as the game moved towards the break.

Kyron McColgan and Brady were on target for Burt, as Setanta led by 0-10 to 0-8 at the interval.

But it was a revitalised Burt who took the field on the resumption, even though Marley increased the home side’s lead with an early pointed free.

Burt began to find space inside the Setanta defence, with a Brady free and a McColgan point leaving just one between the teams.

Dara Grant levelled matters for the visitors before the inevitable Marley edged Setanta back in front, just as they lost Lafferty to injury.

Brady and Grant put Burt into a 0-13 to 0-12 lead as visibility worsened considerably.

It looked like Burt would pull clear when Ciaran Porter and Brady made it 0-16 to 0-14.

But gritty Setanta responded through Jack Hilliard and Marley to salvage a draw, somewhat against the odds.

Setanta scorers: Oisín Marley 0-11, 10f; Josh Cronolly McGee 0-3; Jack Hilliard 0-1; Seán D’Arcy 0-1.

Burt scorers: Kieran Brady 0-11, 9f; Kyron McColgan 0-2; Dara Grant 0-2; Ciaran Porter 0-1.

Setanta: Dean McDevitt; Fionn Farren, Justin McBride, Thomas McMenamin; Ruairí McLaughlin, Bernard Lafferty, Mark Callaghan; Oisín Marley, Richie Kee; Seán D’Arcy, Conor McGettigan, Jack Hilliard; Aed McLaughlin, Josh Cronolly McGee, Dean Harvey.

Subs: Caolan McClintock for Conor McGettigan (22), Conor Gallen for Aed McLaughlin (39), Pauric Moss for Bernard Lafferty (50).

Burt: Paul Burns; James Donaghy, Ciaran Bradley, Paraic Curran; Fiachra Gill, Adam Nelson, Bobby Porter; Dara Grant, James Lavery; Kieran Brady, Aidan McKinney, Paddy Curran; Kyron McColgan, Fionán Gill, Ciaran Porter.

Referee: Trevor Maloney (Buncrana)