Burt claimed Donegal SHC glory at the weekend. Photo by Burt GAA
By Cian O’Connell
Few are more passionate about the Donegal hurling cause than Burt manager Martin McGrath.
At the weekend Burt collected a 40th county senior title, a first in six years which ended a famine by their considerably high standards.
That the victory over Setanta was achieved with a raft of promising emerging players merely added to the feel-good factor. “I was just looking at it, I think we only had five players from the last time we won it in 2018,” McGrath reflects.
“Only five played at the weekend, the other 25 or 26 boys are all new players. Maybe three or four of those were on the bench when we won in 2018, the rest all came through our underage system. So, I think 20 or even 20 plus won their first county title.”
Hope and expectation is back in Burt hearts. Dealing with a transitional period can be demanding, but Burt kept persevering and introducing new hurlers. “100 per cent, for the younger boys there is a big emphasis, when you do get a few good young players through, maybe there is a lot of pressure on them very young,” McGrath says.
“They stood up in spades, they weren't found wanting, when they were called upon, they were brilliant, especially the younger boys.”
As a hurling development co-ordinator in Donegal, McGrath’s knowledge about the players is significant. Being senior team manager in Burt is a challenge McGrath embraced. “I was saying to somebody after the match, I think there was only four of the current team that I hadn't managed, the boys over 30,” he says about coaching at underage level.
“Even the boys that are 30 I coached them myself when they were U16 and stuff. You get great satisfaction, I had some of them since U8s, I took them to Féile's. I was all over the country with them, it was great to see that bear fruit for us.”
Ensuring young hurlers in Burt play against established clubs in the underage ranks is key according to McGrath. “I know the format of the Féile has sort of changed, but back then you'd host,” he recalls.
The Burt team before the Donegal SHC Final. Photo by Burt GAA
“We had the opportunity with the majority of the boys from 23 down, we hosted teams two years, the next two years we were lucky enough to get away. Going outside of the county, getting different teams, you couldn't buy it, especially in counties like Donegal with so few teams.
“What happens is that one or two strong teams dominate, it is very hard to develop when you're not getting challenging matches.”
McGrath is ideally placed to assess the strength of the club game in Donegal. “The standard has improved a bit in terms of more clubs playing,” he responds.
“It still is in a fragile enough place too. I just know from organising Go Games blitzes that it is fragile enough in terms of numbers. Some clubs are struggling to field teams at U8s and U10s which is worrying in the long term. The other side of that is you've more teams now than there ever was.
“You have 10 underage teams in Donegal, in the past there might have only been three or four. It just probably does need a bit of attention in order to get more numbers. It doesn't matter what you say, numbers are key.”
Having claimed silverware in Donegal, McGrath is hopeful that Burt can make an impact in the AIB Ulster Club Intermediate Championship. “It would be great if we got some kind of a run in it,” he replies. “Again, go back to the quality of games in terms of developing. This is a very young Burt team, they haven't been exposed apart from three or four matches in the Donegal Championship.
“It is difficult enough, how do you fix something going wrong if you're winning by 20 points, you don't know what needs to be fixed.
“It would be great to get a run in it, to develop the players more than anything. So, that they get more exposure to playing better-quality teams, that is what you're looking at.”
Ultimately, Burt’s flag is perched on the summit of Donegal hurling once more. “Six years, when you're from a place like Burt - where there is a long tradition of winning with things like the 16 in a row - so six years is a long time to go without winning a county title.” Momentum is being generated by Burt with McGrath occupying a central role in the rejuvenation process.
