Burren hold on to reach Ulster final

23 November 2011

BURREN withstood a strong fightback in the final quarter of this strongly contested and exciting AIB Ulster Club SFC semi-final in the Morgan Athletic Grounds, Armagh, on Sunday.

Burren achieved this victory in style, despite Latton turning up the pressure in an effort to at least gain a replay.

Centre half back Ciaran McGovern was dismissed for a second yellow card with four minutes remaining and then in the final action of the game substitute Eoin McCartan received a straight red card which rules him out of Sunday's final.

Burren displayed all their great abilities and this young side certainly showed that they are maturing quickly. They were the hungrier side on Sunday, overcoming some tenacious tackling by Latton, who really had the Down champions on the rack in that exciting final quarter in which they squandered several good chances.

The Burren defence played soundly throughout with Daniel McCartan, David McEntee, Ciaran McGovern and Kevin McKernan outstanding. Anton McArdle had a great battle at midfield with Owen Lennon while in attack Paudie Poland, Shay McArdle and Conal McGovern worked hard throughout.

Latton opened with a point from Shane Coyle inside the opening minute. The exchanges were very keen, but Burren, playing attacking football, took the lead with points from Anton McArdle and Paudie Poland. Latton hit back quickly with points from Hugh McElroy and Dermot O'Brien to regain the lead.

The decisive score of the game came after 12 minutes. A brilliant pass from Conal McGovern found Shay McArdle and he sent to the Latton net. The Monaghan champions fought back and Cathal Murdock in the Burren nets brought off a great block from Owen Duffy.

Owen Lennon had a Latton point to set up an exciting last seven minutes before half time. Points were exchanged with Paudie Poland's point in added time to give Burren a 1-4 to 0-6 half-time lead.

Burren took control in the third quarter. Conal McGovern lobbed over two points and Sean Murdock one while Shay McArdle had a point from a 45 with Latton's only score in this period being a point from a Shane Coyle free.

Kevin McKernan raced through for a Burren point and they led by 1-10 to 0-7 entering the final quarter. Latton came back strongly in that spell with points from Owen Duffy, Shane Coyle, Sean Fitzpatrick and Shay McElroy, but in a nailbiting finish Burren, despite those two late dismissals, held out for victory.

Burren: C. Murdock, R. McGovern, D. McCartan, G. McCartan, K. McKernan (0-1), Ciaran McGovern, D. McEntee, A. Higgins, A. McArdle (0-1), Conal McGovern (0-3), S. Murdock (0-1), S. McArdle (1-1, 0-1 45), P. Poland (0-2), J. McGovern, D. O'Hare (0-1 free). Sub: E. McCartan for R. McGovern.

Latton: S. Farmer, P. Fitzpatrick, E. Lennon, O. Coyle, S. Fitzpatrick (0-1), K. Duffy, J. Kingston, O. Lennon (0-2), A. Farmer, N. Traynor, N. Duffy (0-2), D. O'Brien (0-1), S. Coyle (0-3 frees), H. McElroy (0-2 frees), S. McElroy. Subs: B. O'Brien for Kingston, P. Shannon for Traynor, T. Connolly for O'Brien (55).

Burren 1-10

Latton 0-11

Ulster Club SFC semi-final

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