BY RYAN FERRY
BURT defender Oisin Kelly admits that he didn’t think at the start of the season that his club would still be hurling as December approaches but they are going strong.
The Hibernian Park club didn’t have a great Donegal SHC Championship, but they have really found their form in the Ulster Junior Hurling competition in recent weeks.
Last Saturday was a day that will go down in the club’s folklore as they tasted provincial success after a dramatic extra-time win over Lavey.
The big games keeping coming as they now gear up to face Thomas McCurtain’s in the Twinning Final next week.
That game has been fixed for Saturday, November 29 at Ruislip with a throw-in at 12.30pm.
The club are busy fundraising to try and cover the cost of travelling for the match and the players are keen to get back to the training field after the celebrations.
“To go over and to play in London will be amazing,” Kelly told the Donegal News.
“I’ve never been over myself. It will be a special one.
“It’s an honour to play in it. Just to get to play hurling and enjoy it.
“There will be less pressure on it, you’re just trying to go out and enjoy it and get a good result. I’m looking forward to it.”
Lavey went into the final as a fancied side but Burt had confidence in their own group.
That belief was tested when Ronan McDermott – who was their best player up until that point – was sent off just before the break.
There were ready-made excuses for the Burt players if they wanted them but they made light of the numerical disparity.
They played with heart and determination and gradually clawed their way into extra-time and then won the match at the death when substitute Fiachra Gill fired over.
“In previous years we might have just faded away,” said Kelly.
“I think even from the semi-final, we were battle hardened from the Ulster championship and other games during the year.
“So that helped us in the end, we had that belief that if we hung in there, one or two points and we’ll get there. We just knew we had to keep working and get the next score and the next.
“You just had to adjust (at half-time) and everyone had to work a wee bit harder and hope you can get over the line and that’s what we did. There isn’t much else to it, but boys just stood up.
“The forwards worked really hard to win turnovers when the ball was up there. We needed that because they had a spare man back there. It was a tough game but we’re just so happy to get over the line.”
Burt are hoping the Junior title can be a springboard for more success at Ulster Intermediate level.
They pushed Bredagh from Down close in the Intermediate last season but just fell short.
However, county star Kelly thinks this run will stand to them in the coming years.
“A few of the younger lads have that bit of experience now.
“The likes of Kyron (McColgan) and Eoin (McDaid) and the few boys around 18/19, that will definitely stand to them. They’ll have experience winning it at this level now. Hopefully that experience will help us in the Intermediate, we’ll be a bit less naive going into it next time.”
