Dundalk Gaels win record fifth Louth Intermediate Football Championship

Dundalk Gaels made history by winning the Louth Intermediate Football Championship for a record fifth time after they defeated Hunterstown Rovers in a thrilling replay by 2-9 to 0-13 on a calm Saturday evening at PPFS Darver.

After the teams played out a dramatic 2-4 to 1-7 draw in Ardee last week, the Gaels put in a well-balanced and disciplined performance to see them lift the Seamus Flood Cup for the first time since 2007.

Hunterstown Rovers got the first point of the game when Ryan Burns opened the scoring three minutes in.

But Dundalk Gaels responded in style three minutes later when a long ball was launched into the Hunterstown area for Tony McDonnell to gather it.

He offloaded to Tom O’Connell who jinked past the Hunterstown defence and slotted home the game’s opening goal. Moments later, David McComish added a point to stretch their lead.

The Gaels captain Dylan McKeown quickly got in on the action and scored a lovely point to make it 1-2 to 0-1.

The Gaels had a four-point cushion, but Hunterstown was not rattled and began to chip away at the deficit when Ciarán Russell and Euan Woodlock both scored points to narrow the gap.

The sides traded points over the next several minutes with McKeown once again delivering for the Gaels, this time with a beautiful effort from distance.

However, Hunterstown’s Dean Burns and David Finn kept their side in the game and the Reds had drawn level at 1-5 to 0-8 thanks to another long-range effort from Ryan Burns.

Hunterstown edged in front just before the half-time whistle as Ryan Burns continued to make his mark on the game as Seán Barry's side held a narrow one-point lead at halftime.

The second half began with a quick point from Liam O’Connor for the Gaels but Burns responded immediately to put Hunterstown back in front with a well-taken free.

The Gaels showed their composure and did not allow the game to slip away. Tom O’Connell, who had already made a huge impact with his early goal, stepped up again in the 36th minute with a crucial point to level things once more at 1-7 to 0-10.

The Ramparts side began to pull away from there and it was Dylan McKeown who put them back in front with a close-range effort for his third point of the night.

The turning point came in the 48th minute when McKeown laid off the ball to O’Connell, who capitalized on a defensive slip from Hunterstown’s Cillian Taaffe to fire home his second goal of the game and sixth goal in total in the championship.

That goal gave the Gaels a four-point lead but Hunterstown kept fighting back through Ryan Burns adding two more points from frees but it wasn’t enough to close the gap.

McKeown added another point in the 56th minute and despite a late point from Michéal Reid for Hunterstown the Gaels held on for a 2-9 to 0-13 win.

The Seamus Flood Cup is heading back to Dundalk after an exciting game as the Gaels will once again take their place among Louth football’s senior ranks.

Dundalk Gaels: Aaron Culligan; Kyle Rafferty, James O’Connell, Padraic Tinnelly; Shaun Duffy, Oisin Murray, Luke Murray (0-1); James Stewart, Seán McCann; David McComish (0-1), Seán Murray, Liam O’Connor (0-1); Dylan McKeown (c) (0-5), Thomas O’Connell (2-1), Tony McDonnell.

Subs: Jordan Keating on for Kyle Rafferty (27’), Gary Shevlin on for David McComish (50’), Tom Murphy on for Luke Murray (60’), Jack Mullen on for Tony McDonnell (60’).

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan; Euan Woodlock (0-1), Michéal Reid (0-1), Cillian Taaffe; Daithi Carroll, Patrick Taaffe, David Finn (0-1); Shane Halpenny, Jason Monaghan; Ciarán Russell (0-1), Ryan Burns (c) (0-6, 2f), Tony McKenna; Dean Burns (0-2, 1 mark), Ryan Ward, James Russell.

Subs: Glen Mathews on for Ryan Ward (45’), James Rogers on for Shane Halpenny (47’), Aaron Levins on for Tony McKenna (50’), Paul Carrie on for Daithi Carroll (52’).

Referee: Stephen Johnson (Glen Emmets).