LETTERKENNY GAELS DID their offensive work in the first half and defensive thereafter to see off Burt at Pairc na nGael this evening.
Letterkenny Gaels 2-7 Burt 0-10
The side managed by Sean McBrearty were four points down after the quarter-hour mark but played their way back into the game through goals from Brendan O’Brien and then Conor McBrearty to lead by four at half-time.
Photo caption: Conor McBrearty top-scored with 1-3 as Letterkenny Gaels overcame Burt this evening in the AllSportStore.com All-County Football League Division 3 at Pairc na nGael
The visitors got back to three down seven minutes into the second half but there would be no more scores from then until the finish.
McBrearty slashed over a Gaels point in the first minute but from then on in the first 15 minutes it was all Burt. By as early as the eighth minute they were 0-4 to 0-1 up with Conor Harkin, Paul McHugh, Dara Grant and Martin Doherty all popping over from play.
McBrearty tried to stem the tide with a free but Burt were rampant, Mark Coyle adding a free before Sean McHugh made it 0-6 to 0-2.
Letterkenny Gaels, at that early juncture, were struggling to make an impression, but Sean McDonagh did cut their arrears before they finally managed to jump-start.
Brendan O’Brien, on 22 minutes, lumped a hopeful ball in the Burt square and although Paddy Doherty of Gaels pressurised goalkeeper Kevin Glenn, he didn’t seem to get a touch as the ball landed in the net.
Level at 1-4 to 0-7 the home side started to exude confidence and McBrearty added a second goal from close range after John Doran’s close range effort cannoned off the post on 27 minutes.
At 2-5 to 0-7 down, Burt regrouped and although Coyle scored the second point of the second half after a Shane McGlade opener, the visitors had something of a let-off on 34 minutes when a loose ball broke invitingly to McGlade again but he couldn’t find the net.
At the other end, Shaun Graham stood up well to keep his sheet clean when Sean McHugh had fed Coyle. Paul McHugh, on 37 minutes, put over a 45 only for Paddy Doherty to reply for Gaels.
Burt saw plenty of the ball as the sun set in their eyes over the Cathedral town but the closest anyone came to another score was when Glenn made a point-blank save from Doran.
Letterkenny Gaels: Shaun Graham; Conor Coll, Ray Quinn, Kevin Kilkenny; Conor Ruane, Darren Hunter, Ciaran Lynch; Brendan O’Brien (1-0), Ciaran Cannon; Sean McDonagh (0-2), Mickey Harte, Paddy Doherty (0-1); Shane McGlade (0-1), Conor McBrearty (1-3, 2f), John Doran. Subs: Nicky McGarrigle for Harte (38), Donal O’Malley for Doran (46), Sean Crossan for O’Brien (52), Bobby Carey for McGlade (58).
Burt: Kevin Glenn; Tom Doherty, Stephen O’Donnell, Paddy Doherty; Martin Doherty (0-1), Micky McCann, Tommy McMacken; Ciaran Dowds, David O’Donnell; Paul McHugh (0-3, 1 ’45’), Dara Grant (0-1), Conor Harkin (0-2); Mark Coyle (0-2, 2f), Sean McHugh (0-1), Darren Gallagher.
Referee: Tony Gallagher (Red Hugh’s).
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