London calling for Burt hurlers

By Shaun Casey

IN next year’s National Hurling League, London will compete in a higher division than Donegal and if that’s anything to go by, then Burt are bracing themselves for a huge test against Thomas McCurtain’s in their All-Ireland Twinning final, says manager Enda McDermott.

Burt were crowned Ulster champions after a bruising encounter against Derry’s Lavey, which they edged by the minimum of margins, and now they advance to represent the province on the national stage.

The club is heaingd across the Irish Sea for Saturday’s clash with a space in the All-Ireland semi-finals the prize on offer for whoever comes out on top.

“We’re doing a wee bit of homework. There’s a few of them on the London team and they aren’t going to be pushovers,” McDermott said of the challenge his side face.

“We know we’re going over there for a game. We’ll do as best we can work-wise and hopefully everything else will fall into place for us but it’s going to be a battle.

“We’re not going to get anything handed to us. People will say we deserve to get this and that, but you don’t get it handed to you, you have to work for it. Thankfully the boys worked for it in the Ulster final and we’re going to have to do the same at the weekend.”

While the trip over to London might be a daunting prospect for some in the club, the county players have made that trip before and as recently as 2023.

“A few of the boys have played over there before,” McDermott continued.

“The likes of Ronan McDermott, although he’s out at the minute, Stephen Gillespie, Christy (McDermott), Conor Gartland, Liam Óg (McKinney), all those boys do have that experience.

“There’s a few of us that would have played years ago over in Ruislip but that was obviously before their facilities were done up. A few of the boys in more recent times have that experience as well so we’ll be geared up a wee bit knowing what’s in store over there.”

The team, management and surrounding club members are excited by the journey and McDermott was quick to point out that the club couldn’t do anything more to help out the team.

“It’s massive and we’re glad to get the opportunity to do it,” the Burt manager added. “The club are working very hard behind the scenes. With the likes of Darren (Farnan) and Donal (Walker), anything we’re looking for or asking for, if they’re able to do it, they’ll do it.

“The club are 100 per cent behind us and they’re backing us in everything so we can’t fault that. It’s a great opportunity and we’ll gladly take the opportunity to go across the water.

“Listen, winning an Ulster title and playing well into November, I think you’re entitled to a few nights of celebrating.

“They were well entitled to it and they were happy to do it,” the Burt boss added.