NAOMH MHUIRE 0-16
BURT 0-06
REPORT BY CHRIS MCNULTY AT GLENSWILLY
PHOTOS BY DONNA MCBRIDE
FOLLOWING a dominant second-half showing at Pairc Naomh Columba, Glenswilly in this Intermediate Championship Preliminary Round play-off on Wednesday night, it is John Joe Doherty and Naomh Mhure who advance to a first round meeting with Moville.
Eight points from sharp-shooter Ciaran McGinley helped the Lower Rosses side to what was a comfortable win in the end up, despite Burt having kept in touch for the opening period.
The Hibernian Park side were just two in arrears at half-time, yet Naomh Mhuire steamrolled to victory after the resumption, powering their way to a ten-point win that sends them into this weekend's Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta on the perfect note.
They defend their All Ireland Junior Gaeltacht crown when they square up to Acaill tomorrow afternoon in a quarter final in Glencolmcille.
Burt had raised the first white flag of the evening when Ronan McLaughlin pointed after just 18 seconds following good work by midfielder Ciaran Dowds. Brian Gillespie responded for Naomh Mhuire before Kevin McDermott (free) and Paul Boyle traded scores soon after.
Two quick-fire frees by the deadly McGinley put Naomh Mhuire in front for the first time, but Burt were back on level terms by the 20th minute thanks to Ciaran Dowds and Paddy McDermott.
Already clearly missing the promptings of Shane Bradley in attack, Burt were dealt a further blow just nine minutes into Wednesday's play-off when Ronan McLaughlin hobbled out of the action.
Despite registering some six wides in the first-half, Naomh Mhuire still edged the scoring in the opening period with scores from McGinley (free) and Tom McHugh handing them a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead.
By the mid-way juncture in part two the game was over as a contest.
A blistering start from Naomh Mhuire had the Burt contingent scratching their heads (although that may largely have been down to the high midget count at the Foxhall venue) as the men from the Banks raced into a 0-13 to 0-4 advantage.
McGinley knocked over three of those scores (two frees) while Sean Gallagher and Paddy McCafferty were also on target, as was captain Owenie McGarvey, who added a free to a well-taken point from play that concluded a fine Naomh Mhuire move.
Burt, to their credit kept plugging away and Shane McDaid and Benny McDermott scored frees for their only points of the second half - and their first scores in almost half-an-hour.
Ciaran McGinley and Tom McHugh stretched the lead further before McGinley, fittingly, had the final say when he magnificently curled in a free from an acute angle on the left touchline.
Burt's woes were compounded when they had midfielder Ciaran Dowds sent off two minutes from time. For them, it's a summer without championship football, while Naomh Mhuire go forward to lock horns with Moville.
Naomh Mhuire: Lee Boyle; JC Mulholland, Charlie Doherty, Thomas Duffy; Paul Boyle (0-1), Owenie McGarvey (0-2, 1f), Brian Gillespie (0-1); Joe Kelly, Neil Anthony O'Donnell; Tom McHugh (0-2), Sean Gallagher (0-1), Seamus Gallagher; Sean Boyle, Paddy McCafferty (0-1), Ciaran McGinley (0-8, 6f). Subs: Sean 'Point' Gallagher for Sean Gallagher (50mins); Mel O'Donnell for S.Boyle (54mins).
Burt: Dermot Brown; Seimi O'Donnell, Paul O'Brien, Rory Grant; Niall Campbell, Eamon Reddin, Paddy McDermott (0-1); Kevin McDermott (0-1, 1f), Ciaran Dowds (0-1); Mark McGavigan, Shane McDaid (0-1, 1f), Brendan McDermott (0-1, 1f); Brian Sherrin, Ronan McLaughlin (0-1), John Sheerin. Sub: Mickey McCann for McLaughlin (9mins).
Referee: Liam Brown (Four Masters).
