Hunterstown book place in semi-final

Ryan Burns grabbed four second half points to set Hunterstown Rovers on their way to the last four of the Intermediate Championship against a spirited and plucky St Kevins side in the baking sun of Darver on Sunday.

As the wind began to blow across the field, which favoured Hunterstown in that second half, Ryan Burns stepped up to convert some fine scores from play and frees, including converting with his less preferred left foot, with the county man scoring 0-6 of his side’s 0-11 over the hour.

Ultimately, Hunterstown had that bit more quality when it mattered, scoring 0-11 from 0-19 shots overall, with their opponents finishing with 0-7 from 18 in comparison, including 0-4 from 14 shots in open play.

However, Hunterstown will not be overjoyed by this performance, they struggled to break down a stubborn St Kevins defensive formation. Sean Barry’s side often came away from an attack frustrated at failing to convert or being turned over in the tackle, with referee Colm McCullough allowing for play to continue for large parts.

Backed by Seanie Crosbie as sweeper, the Kevins looked solid for large parts of this game, while Enda McKenna was given the tough task of tagging Ryan Burns, a task that he stuck to, and gave the county man a run for his money at times.

While he may have endured a tumultuous time trying to contain Ryan’s lively brother, Dean Burns, St Kevins’ Caoimhin Prout is a defender who has showed great promise in his debut season in adult club football.

It was Dean Burns who opened the scoring after the first minute after being set up by Ciaran Russell. Things looked ominous for the Kevins at that stage, as defender Sean Powderly was also carried off after sustaining an injury in the build up to Burns’ point.

St Kevins struggled early doors, with several early attacks breaking down, which led to Hunterstown moving the ball quickly into Ryan Burns. Turnovers from Cillian Taffee and Tony McKenna led to two white flags in quick succession from Burns to make it 0-3 to no score after 9 minutes.

St Kevins eventually settled, and Lee Crosbie got them off the mark from play, picking up a loose ball to convert, after Hunterstown’s keeper Donovan Sheridan had denied the marauding Evan Maher who took a Cameron Maher pass off the shoulder.

Evan Maher made his next opportunity count as he kicked over the bar on the loop to make it 0-3 to 0-2 in a move involving Brian Callaghan and Darren McMullan.

Hunterstown eventually extended their lead with a score from distance by Michéal Reid which was badly needed as his side struggled to make headway in attack.

A clever Tom Matthews footpass found Cameron Maher who fired over from long range to close the gap again to the minimum, before the same player converted a free to make it 0-4 each, after Cian Callan was fouled by Euan Woodlock who was black carded.

Daithi Carroll who saw a lot of the ball with 21 possessions, parried the ball over the bar when he collected a clever Ryan Burns pass to leave Hunterstown with their noses ahead at the break.

Second Half:

The second half continued to be nip and tuck, with a wonderful strike by St Kevins’ Darren McMullan levelling things up again upon the restart.

Daithi Carroll fed Ciaran Russell for a white flag to quickly restore the lead for Hunterstown, but a 45 from Lee Crosbie into a strong cross-field breeze left it at 0-6 each 8 minutes in the second half.

However, the Kevins would only register once more in the final 20 minutes in a game where Hunterstown carried that bit more quality when it mattered, with the Kevins’s squad displaying several noticeable absentees from last year.

With Hunterstown able to call upon the services of experienced players like Paul Carrie and Glen Matthews alongside Jason Monaghan, the Division 2 winners pressed for home.

Two scores in a row from Ryan Burns including a long range strike which bounced over the bar, gave them a two point buffer after 42 minutes.

James Rogers then got on the end of a move which emanated from tenacious tackling by Aaron Levins and Dean Burns to increase that lead to three at 0-9 to 0-6.

James Rogers was also denied a goal from a fine save by the Kevins’ Danny Crosbie who stood up to the task, and made himself big and imposing as Rogers bared down on goal.

Despite their profligacy in front of the posts, the Kevins refused to go quietly, and a close range Lee Crosbie free left two between the sides with 7 minutes left, as the Phillipstown side refused to lie down and throw in the towel.

However, the final say went to Ryan Burns, with the Hunterstown captain firing over superbly from long range, before converting with a left footed free to leave four between the sides at the finish and their place in the semi-finals of the Intermediate Championship secured.

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan; Euan Woodlock, Michéal Reid (0-1), Cillian Taaffe; Daithi Carroll (0-1), Patrick Taffe, Ciaran Russell (0-1); Shane Halpenny, Tony McKenna; Jamie O’Callaghan, David Finn, Aaron Levins; James Rogers (0-1), Ryan Burns (0-6) (2f), Dean Burns (0-1).

Subs: Jason Monaghan for McKenna (38), Paul Carrie for O’Callaghan (38), Glen Matthews for Dean Burns (48), James Russell for Woodlock (50), Martin Lennon for Halpenny (60).

St Kevins: Danny Crosbie; Sean Powderly, Enda McKenna, Caoimhin Prout; Brian Callaghan, Dylan Maher, Darren McMullan (0-1); Evan Maher (0-1), Caolan McMullan; Cameron Maher (0-2) (1f), Tom Matthews, Keelan Maher; Cian Callan, Lee Crosbie (0-3) (one ’45) (1f), Seanie Crosbie.

Subs: Joe McArdle for Powderly (2), Jacob Finlay for Caolan McMullan (45), Josh McArdle Lynch for Joe McArdle (54), John Callaghan for Keelan Maher (59).

Referee: Colm McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra).