Louth GAA club | Stalemate between Hunterstown and Mattock in IFC clash

There was no shortage of drama in Ardee on Sunday afternoon as Mattock Rangers and Hunterstown Rovers could not be separated after an exciting Louth Intermediate Football Championship semi-final that swung from one end to the other before finishing level.

The large crowd that gathered at DEFY Páirc Mhuire was treated to a game that had everything: goals, brilliant two-pointers, missed chances, and an end that left supporters on the edge of their seats.

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Hunterstown came into this clash with the memory of last year’s heartbreak still raw, having been beaten in a replay by Dundalk Gaels in the final.

Determined to go one better, they faced a Mattock side with pedigree of their own, IFC champions in 2019, before marching on to take Leinster honours.

With the breeze at their backs in the first half, Hunterstown sought to make a strong start, but it was the Collon side that struck first.

After just four minutes, Ben McKenna, lining up a free from the deck, struck sweetly for a two-pointer to open Mattock’s account. Hunterstown spurned two early frees, both sent wide in the seventh and ninth minutes, before the game came alive.

On 11 minutes, Ryan Ward pounced on slack Mattock defending and buried the ball low into the net with his right foot, a fine finish that handed Hunterstown the lead.

That score was quickly followed by All-Star nominee Ryan Burns' free from distance, a two-pointer that left the Hunterstown supporters in full voice.

But Mattock steadied themselves, with Cathal Fleming responding in kind with a free of his own, and by the 19th minute, Adrian Reid had swung over a superb two-pointer with his left foot to edge Mattock back ahead.

Fleming and Liam Flynn landed stylish scores; Flynn’s outside-of-the-boot effort initially flagged as a point before being corrected to a two-pointer.

Mattock had opened up a commanding lead with five minutes left in the first half as Jack Thompson split the posts for another two-pointer.

Hunterstown were denied a second goal just before the break when Ryan Ward’s close-range shot was brilliantly saved by Stephen Smith in the Mattock goal.

Deep into injury time, Ryan Burns reduced the deficit with a fine two-pointer free. At half-time, Mattock led by four points and looked the stronger outfit.

Half time: Mattock Rangers 0-12 Hunterstown Rovers 1-6

Despite shooting a number of wides with the breeze behind them, Mattock kept chipping away. Sean Flynn punched over a tidy score to stretch their lead, but Ryan Ward responded immediately for Hunterstown.

Fleming and Thompson kept Mattock ticking over, but Hunterstown would not go away. Dean Burns was denied by Smith in another goal chance, but his brother Ryan converted the resulting ’45 to narrow the gap.

By the 52nd minute, the momentum had swung. First, Ryan Burns slotted a two-pointer from a free before Ciarán Russell added another to level the game at 0-15 to 1-12.

Ryan Burns then clipped over a point to give them the lead with four minutes left, their first since Ward’s early goal. But Mattock responded under pressure as McKenna struck two late points to put them back ahead as injury-time loomed.

His second was greeted with a huge cheer from the Mattock support and looked to have sealed it. Yet Hunterstown had one last say. As the clock ticked into the 63rd minute, Ryan Burns fisted over from close range to ensure parity once more.

The result means both sides must do it all again in a replay and few will complain with the outcome. The replay will take place on Thursday, 9^th October at 8pm in Stabannon.

Full-Time: Mattock Rangers 0-17 Hunterstown Rovers 1-14

Mattock Rangers: Stephen Smith; Alan Carragher (c), Cillian Hickey, Ben Quaile; Oisin McKenna, Shane Maguire, Daire Englishby; Ben McKenna (0-5, 1f, 1 '45), Jason Condon; Terry Donegan, Adrian Reid (0-2, 1 tp), Jack Thompson (0-3, 1 tp); Cathal Fleming (0-4, 3f, 1 tp), Seán Flynn (0-2), Liam Flynn (0-2, 1 tp).

Subs: Ben Watters on for Jason Condon (38'), James Carragher on for Shane Maguire (49'), Tony Grimes on for Terry Donegan (59').

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan; Adam O'Reilly, Michéal Reid, Euan Woodlock; Shane Halpenny, Patrick Taaffe, Daithi Carroll; Marc Ward, Jason Monaghan; Tony McKenna (0-1), Ryan Burns (c) (0-8, 3f, 1 '45, 2 tp), Ciarán Russell (0-2, 1 tp), David Finn, Ryan Ward (1-1), Dean Burns (0-1).

Subs: Cillian Taaffe on for David Finn (39'), Paul Carrie on for Dean Burns (44'), Colm Murphy on for Daithi Carroll (50'), Glenn Matthews on for Tony McKenna (50'), Aaron Levins on for Shane Halpenny (57').

Referee: Stephen Murphy (Naomh Máirtín).