Naomh Columba qualified for a home quarter final with Malin thanks to a comfortable win at Hibernian Park this evening.
Burt 1-9 Naomh Columba 2-14
They laid the groundwork for their eight point victory in a splendid first half, adorned by two goals from Kevin McNern who was stationed on the edge of the square rather than his more accustomed midfield.
Ryan Gillespie and Sean McHugh exchanged early frees before NcNern struck for his first goal in the seventh minute, rapping a shot in off the post. Gillespie and Aaron Doherty added points before Paul O’Hare forced a turnover and fed McNern who finished low to the right for a 2-4 to 0-1 lead by the 22nd minute.
By the break, points from Lanty Molloy, Gillespie and Aaron Doherty had built a 2-7 to 0-2 lead for the visitors, Calvin Gallagher converting a late free for Burt.
While Burt were well improved after the break, it would prove a match-winning lead for the Naomh Columba men.
Sean McHugh hit the net four minutes after the restart and Burt rallied they never got closer than six points of their opponents.
McHugh and Calvin Gallagher continued to chip away for Burt, but Aaron Doherty, Ryan Gillespie and Lanty Molloy helped maintain Naomh Columba’s cushion.
Powerful all over the field and devastatingly accurate in attack, Naomh Columba can look forward to the knockout stages with some confidence.
Burt: Mark McElhinney; Oisin Kelly, Tom Doherty, Callum Porter; Darren Gallagher, Stephen O’Donnell, Seamie O’Donnell; Ronan McDermott, Sean McHugh (1-5); Dara Grant, Denver Kelly, Jack O’Brien; Martin Donaghey, Michael Doherty, Calvin Gallagher (0-3). Subs: Darren Bradley for M Doherty (25); Shea Bowen for Denver Kelly; Ciaran Bradley for M McElhinney (43); Sean O’Donnell (0-1) for Seamie O’Donnell (57); Michael McHugh for D Grant (59).
Naomh Columba: Gerard McGill; Philip McNern, Philip Doherty (0-1), Barry Carr; Ciaran McBrearty, Michael Maguire, Pádraig Ward (0-1); Finn Gallagher, Kevin McNern (2-1); Paddy Byrne, Aaron Doherty (0-5), Ryan McNern; Ryan Gillespie (0-2), Declan McGuire, Lanty Molloy (0-2).
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