O’Flaherty lands the knockout blow for Buncrana against Burt
Buncrana were given their fill of it from neighbours Burt for long spells at Hibernian Park but managed to come through in the end
A late Oisin O’Flaherty goal finally set Buncrana on the road to an opening round win over neighbours Burt at Hibernian Park.
Burt 0-6 Buncrana 1-9
O’Flaherty struck for a tap-in goal seconds after Adrian McColgan from close range had edged his side closer to the winning post. With Buncrana clinging on to a 0-8 to 0-6 lead, Burt missed a close-in free to make it a one-point game.
Buncrana broke down the field from the kickout and McColgan duly split the post. The winners won the result kickout and the raiding O’Flaherty was put through to score.
This was a closely contested encounter with slippy conditions leading to a low-scoring first half. The sides were level at 0-2 each at the break.
Kevin Treacy with two converted free scored for Buncrana and John Fitzpatrick landed two points from play for the locals.
Buncrana, courtesy of two Caolan McGonagle frees and points from play from Aedan Stokes and William McLaughlin, led by 0-8 to 0-6 with the clock ticking on 60 minutes.
Liam Óg McKinney, John Fitzpatrick and Mark McElhinney with two long range frees were the Burt second half scorers. Buncrana lined out without their talisman John Campbell up front. The full-forward was unavailable due to a one-match ban carried over from last season’s county semi-final clash with Naomh Columba, while Darach O’Connor’s injury will curtail his involvement.
Burt scorers: John Fitzpatrick 0-3, Mark McElhinney 0-2, 1 '45. 1f, Liam Óg McKinney 0-1.
Buncrana scorers: Oisin O’Flaherty 1-0, Caolan McGonagle 0-3,3f, Kevin Treacy 0-3,2f, Aedan Stokes, William McLaughlin, Adrian McColgan 0-1 each.
Burt: Kieran Brady; Darren Bradley, Tom Doherty, C Curran; Caolan McKinney, Darren Gallagher, Michael McHugh; Denver Kelly, Stephen O’Donnell; Oisin Kelly, Liam Óg McKinney, Martin Donaghey; John Fitzpatrick, Mark McElhinney, Conor Gartland. Subs: Callum Porter, C Gallagher, Seamie O’Donnell, Christy McDermott, Shane Gallagher.
Buncrana: Adam Harrigan; Evan McCallion, Sean Doherty, Aedan Stokes; John Paul McKenna, William McLaughlin, Oisin O’Flaherty; Peter McLaughlin, Caolan McGonagle; Conor Graham, Oisin Crawford, Liam Jordan; Oisin Hegarty, Kevin Treacy, Sean McLaughlin. Subs: Adrian Doherty for C Graham, Adrian McColgan for O Hegarty.
Referee: Enda McFeely (Convoy)