BURT manager Enda McDermott is expecting a tough battle when they meet Setanta in the Donegal Senior Hurling Championship semi-final this weekend.

The two Donegal hurling heavyweights will face off at O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny this Saturday with a 4pm throw-in scheduled.

Burt have experienced a solid round robin phase of the Donegal Senior Hurling Championship. The reigning county champions concluded the group in third place, behind the unbeaten St Eunan’s and Setanta.

Throughout the campaign to date, the Burt outfit have had to deal with players being unavailable due to various circumstances such as injuries and holidays as well as a number of team members who are currently located across the pond in the United States.

Enda McDermott expressed how without making excuses, it’s been challenging and with all things considered he is glad of the third place finish to advance to the next stage of the competition.

“We would’ve taken it considering the players we have been missing. At the start if you offered me three wins and a semi-final spot then I would’ve taken it so that’s where we’re at and we’re happy to be there so we’ll take the semi-final now as it comes.”

“Between injuries, holidays and Liam Og (McKinney) being away in America, we never had a full team. We have two lads that are ruled out for the season and we’ve three boys that are away in America at the minute. Through the championship we’ve also had boys away on holidays or away at a wedding out foreign and things like that.”

McDermott’s side faced Setanta earlier in the competition, a round three clash which saw the men from the Cross come away from Hibernian Park with the win courtesy of a two-point victory.

The Burt boss highlighted that there wasn’t much between the two teams on that evening where playing conditions were difficult in their own backyard.

He insists that Saturday’s opposition are a quality side but hopes they can get the team set up right to put it up to them at O’Donnell Park this weekend.

“We knew what Setanta would bring down to us but we set up well and the boys gave it a go and there were only two points in it. I know there was a strong wind that night but the two teams had it. We weren’t far off them that night.”

“Setanta are a strong team. We hope that we can set up right, get the match ups and get the effort and commitment out of the boys and hopefully we can get over the line.”

Another narrative entering this weekend’s clash is that it’s a repeat of the 2024 Senior Hurling Championship decider which saw Burt triumph following a four-point win.

Setanta will undoubtedly be seeking to right the wrongs from last year when the two sides meet again but McDermott states that they also have a title to defend and won’t lie down easily.

“100%, they want to get that win over us but we’re not going to lie down easily. We’re still the county champions here and we have a title to defend and come Saturday that’s what our aim will be, to get another game out of it at least.”

Like McDermott, Setanta manager Mark Marley is also expecting a close contest this Saturday but fancies his side if everyone can produce on the day.

Setanta have enjoyed a strong Donegal Senior Hurling Championship campaign so far, going unbeaten with four victories and a draw against table toppers St Eunan’s in the opening round.

The Setanta boss is pleased with how things have played out to date with the welcome return of the county players for the championship supplying a big boost for the group.

“We can’t complain with how it’s gone so far. Everything has gone well and we’ve had some good games there. I suppose we finished joint top alongside St Eunan’s but ended up just below them on score difference but we can’t complain with how things have gone.”

“The county lads have added a lot, they’ve given it a big boost. The quality coming back into the team, it really gives everything a lift so it does”

Following a good round robin phase and a full panel of players available for them to select from, the mood is positive amongst the Cross residents ahead of Saturday’s outing.

However, Marley states that it’s never going to be straightforward when you come up against the reigning county champions who’ve a lot of quality players among their ranks.

“We’re feeling good. We have a full panel of players to choose from, there’s a couple of wee niggles but nothing to major yet so hopefully it stays that way.”

“We know that it’s not going to be easy, they’re the current county champions and they have good players all over the pitch so we are going to have to be at the very top of our game to beat them and hopefully we are.”

When these two teams previously met in the round robin, it was a real battle in Burt which saw Setanta seal a narrow two-point victory over McDermott’s men.

Marley is expecting much of the same when the pair take to the field at O’Donnell Park this weekend but feels that if his side are on song, victory is very much achievable.

“We’re expecting something similar this weekend, it’s going to be a tight game. Down in Burt that day, it wasn’t a great evening and it was a game of two halves. There is never much between the two teams on any given day so it’s definitely going to be a close game. If we can produce on the day then I would fancy ourselves if everyone is on form.”