Burgess footballers set up semi-final with Kerry’s best

GAA: Munster Club Junior ‘B’ Football Quarter Final

Burgess 3-8

Wolfe Tones, Shannon 0-9

Report: Liam Hogan in Ballyagran

Photos: Padraig Hogan/SportsFocus

MATCH DIGEST

Player of the Match: Sean Dunne (Burgess).

SCORERS – Burgess: Sean Dunne 1-7; Johnny Mulqueen, Michael Ryan 1-0 each; Aidan O’Dwyer 0-1.

Wolfe Tones: Kevin Cahill 0-4 (3 frees); Thomas Purtill, Tan Greene, Sean Murphy, Fionn Hayes, Luke Cahill 0-1 each.

It’s a New Year, but the good times continue for the Burgess Gaelic footballers as they were deserving winners over Clare champions, Wolfe Tones of Shannon in the quarter-final of the Munster Junior ‘B’ Football on Sunday.

Their ability to prize open the Wolfe Tone defence was the difference, and they did it three times, which could have been double but for point blank saves by Wolfe Tones keeper Liam Cook.

They succeeded eventually when Johnny Mulqueen’s outfield effort for a point deceived Cook and Burgess were in front and would never be overturned.

Once they got into their stride there was no stopping Burgess who had Sean Dunne leading the attack with a man of the match effort of 1-6, with all bar coming one from play.

There was much more to the win Kieran Grace, Johnny Mulqueen, Tony Hogan, Danny Ryan, Kieran Ryan and Stephen Murray all playing their parts and no doubt they will face Beale from Kerry with confidence in the semi-final in two weeks time.

In fairness, Wolf Tones played their part in making the contest interesting as apart from goalkeeper Liam Cook, they were well served by Sean Murphy, Tan Greene, Thomas Purtill and Kevin Cahill to name but a few.

At Wolfe Tone’s request the game was played as an early time of 10.45am to honour the memory of Jim O’Sullivan, a well-known referee in Clare and a loyal supporter of Wolfe Tones and whose funeral would happen later in the day.

The early start didn’t faze the Clare champions who dictated play in the opening ten minutes but had only two points to show as Thomas Purtill scored in the second minute with full forward Kevin Cahill on target eight minutes later.

At the other end, Burgess did show signs of what they could do when prize opening passes saw Michael Ryan have a point blank shot saved by Cook in the fifth minute. Stephen Murray had another half chance in the ninth minute while in the 15th minute a brilliant run by wing back Kieran Grace had the Wolfe Tone defence in trouble but Cook produced another fine save.

One minute later, Burgess finally opened their account when Sean Dunne scored a point, and seconds later he doubled his account to bring the sides level at 0-2 each.

However, Wolfe Tones responded and points by wing backs Tan Greene and Sean Murphy had the Clare champions two clear once more.

However, the game changed in the 22nd minute when Johnny Mulqueen went for a point but his shot slipped under the crossbar for a goal.

Fionn Hayes levelled two minutes later but Burgess moved with purpose in the closing minutes of the half with the impressive Sean Dunne scoring back-to-back points to see his team 1-4 to 0-5 in front at the changeover.

Donagh Maher, a stalwart in their county final win, was a half time substitute but Burgess had to wait a few minutes to get back in their stride as they conceded a point from a close range free by Kevin Cahill after four minutes.

However, two minutes later the game turned on its head as Michael Ryan crashed home a goal for Burgess after the North champions had spurned two great chances in the same period.

Both sides traded scores through Sean Dunne and a free by Kevin Cahill before an ever improving Burgess side increased their lead to six after Sean Dunne (free) and Aidan O’Dwyer scored.

Substitute Luke Cahill hit back with a point for Wolfe Tones, but Burgess were in the groove as Sean Dunne increased his sides lead and in the 57th minute he was through for a game sealing goal.

It proved to be Burgess’s final score, but they had done enough and the concession of a late point by Kevin Cahill didn’t make much of a difference as thoughts of their semi-final clash on February 2nd was very much in order.

TEAMS - Burgess: Colm O’Brien (6); Willie Ryan (7), John O’Brien (7), Jack O’Flaherty (7); Kieran Grace (8), Tony Hogan (7), Aidan O’Dwyer (7); Bill O’Flaherty (6), Johnny Mulqueen (7); Kieran Ryan (7), Stephen Murray (7), Danny Ryan (6); Sean Dunne (8), Eoin Grace (6), Michael Ryan (7).

Subs: Donagh Maher (7) for B O’Flaherty (HT); Daire Hogan (6) for K Ryan (44); Liam Grace (6) for J O’Flaherty (52); Stephen Kirwan (6) for E Grace (56); David Nealon (6) for M Ryan (56); Ronan Tucker (NR) for Dunne (60).

Wolfe Tones: Liam Cook (8); David Ryan (6), Shane Duggan (6), Robert Cahill (6); Sean Murphy (7), Ronan Walsh (6), Tan Greene (7); Liam Divilly (6), Darragh Treacy (6); Aaron Shinners (6), Fionn Hayes (6), Conor Casey (6); Jamie Roughan (6), Kevin Cahill (7), Thomas Purtill (6).

Subs: Darragh O’Callaghan (6) for Shinners (HT); Sean Costelloe (6) for Casey (HT); Chris Meaney (6) for Purtill (46); Luke Cahill (7) for Roughan (47); Bradley Kemp (6) for Ryan (48).

Referee: Kieran Guina (Limerick).