Burt manager Manus McGowan has labelled Bundoran as ‘red-hot favourites’ in the Donegal duo’s opening Senior Championship match on Saturday at Gaelic Park (1.30pm).
It will be a difficult ask for the North Donegal side – who also have Glenswilly and Ardara ahead in a strong Group A.
Bundoran will know points against Burt are vital as they prepare themselves for an early tester for what’s to come in All-County League football next year.
A trip against Glenswilly for Realt Na Mara on September 16 will make for a close affair – making the points against Burt all the more significant.
Burt manager, Manus McGowan, is under illusions and knows his team are in for a tough couple of weeks.
“We know that we’re in a very hard group,” he said. ” Bundoran has been doing excellent in the last few years. They have some top players, who have Ulster medals in them.”
Burt will field a young squad against Bundoran, who have the privilege of fielding Ulster champions in Jamie Brennan and Paul Brennan, and McGowan insisted despite being in a transitional year, it would be a great experience for Burt’s inexperienced squad.
“We’ve lost a lot of players from last year, who have decided to work abroad or have moved into soccer,” he added. ” We’re not a big club who can go into their under twenty-one’s or minors and replace the calibre of player we lost straight away.
“We looked at this year as a chance to build and get some experience and, I think for our current boys, it is more about getting the experience in a Senior Championship.
“This is a whole new level for them and we’re hoping we can enjoy the event really and see where we go from there.”
Bundoran, who got promoted to Division One this season, have been on phenomenal form as of late and the Burt manager knows the Division Two champions will be relishing the tie.
“It is going to be a very tough match, they are red-hot favourites, they have just won Division Two and we have just avoided relegation in Division Three – you also couldn’t have more of a contrast when it comes to league form.
“We will face off and try and put in a good performance on the day – if we can come away with a solid performance, we will be satisfied with that.”
The other match in Group A will take place in Ardara at 12.30pm, with Glenswilly on the road against Ardara in South Donegal.