Burt could not repeat the heroics of last year as Bundoran eased to an eight-point victory in the opening match for both sides in this year’s Donegal Senior Championship.
Bundoran 1-10 Burt 0-5
Bundoran made home advantage count as they were never troubled by Burt in difficult conditions in Gaelic Park.
A long range effort from Gary Clancy opened the scoring and this was almost immediately followed by a Micheal McEniff point.
Both teams set up very defensively but a fine run by McEniff opened up the Burt rearguard to set up Tommy Hourihane for his side’s third score on 16 minutes.
Burt suffered a setback when Enda McDermott was stretchered from the field shortly before Hourihanes score.
On 23 minutes Burt full-forward Joe Boyle finally got his side on the scoreboard with a well taken free.A Hourihane free was cancelled out by Stephen Gillespie on 25 minutes but from there until half-time it was all Bundoran.
They added further scores from Diarmuid Spratt a Hourihane free and another excellent effort from McEniff following a surging run from co senior Paul Brennan. Halftime Realt na Mara 0-7 Burt 0-2.
Burt now playing with the strong wind needed a good start to the second half but it was the home side that got it with Johnny Boyle turning over possession to feed Diarmuid Spratt for his second score of the game.
A full 15 minutes elapsed with both sides guilty of some poor finishing before the Seasiders notched their next score a Clancy free.
A Joe Boyle free split the posts on 45 minutes but it was to be another 13 minutes before they backed that up with another Boyle free.
Realt na Mara then produced their best move of the match with a flowing hand passing move involving at least 8 players before McEniff fisted over for Bundorans 10th point.
Deep into injury time Paul Brennan was hauled down and Robbie O’Donnell pointed to the spot for Gary Clancy to dispatch to the net.
The final score of the game went to a dejected Burt side again from the boot of Boyle.
Despite it being a match of poor enough quality it will not bother a delighted home side who were presented with the League Division 2 Cup by Co Chairman Mick McGrath at the final whistle.
Realt na Mara: Ashley Mulhern; Diarmuid McCaughey, Peter McGonigle, Matthew Ward; Paul Murphy, Shane McGowan, Johnny Boyle; Michael McEniff (0-3), Ciaran McCaughey; Alan Russell, Gary Clancy (1-2, 1f), Paul Brennan; Tommy Hourihane (0-3, 2f), Timmy Govorov, Diarmuid Spratt (0-2). subs: Pauric Rooney for Hourihane (45), Niall Dunne for McGonigle (51), Brian McHenry for D.McCaughey (53)
Burt: Kevin Glenn; Stephen O’Donnell, Tom Doherty, Seamus O’Donnell; Sean McHugh, Ciaran Finn, Martin Donaghey; Conor Harkin, Stephen Gillespie (0-1); Dara Grant, Ronan McDermott, Darren Gallagher; Ciaran Dowds, Joe Boyle (0-4f), Enda McDermott. Subs: Enda McHugh for E.McDermott (14), Michael Doherty for Finn (19).
Tags: