Louth GAA club | Hunterstown defeat Mattock Rangers to book place in IFC final

Hunterstown Rovers booked their place in the CTI Business Solutions Louth Intermediate Football Championship final after a semi-final replay victory over Mattock Rangers on Thursday night at Stabannon.

Mattock opened the scoring after five minutes when Seán Flynn converted a left-footed free to settle the Collon men. But Hunterstown’s replied immediately as Ryan Ward slotted over a lovely two-pointer to give his side the lead.

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Oisín McKenna soon levelled before turning provider moments later as he slipped a clever pass through to Seán Flynn, who finished low and hard to the net with his right foot on nine minutes.

Hunterstown captain Ryan Burns then began to take command as he clipped over a neat point, and moments later, Cillian Taaffe fisted one over after breaking clear and bring it back to a one-point game.

Points from Cathal Fleming and Jack Thompson followed to push Mattock back into a three-point lead, but Hunterstown kept coming at them with waves of attack.

James Russell fisted over before Ryan Burns landed another and the sides were level again thanks to a superb two-pointer from Ryan Ward.

All-Star nominee Burns added a close-range free to put Hunterstown ahead for the first time since the early stages, and then followed up with a beautifully struck two-pointer just before the break to give his team a three-point advantage at the interval.

Half time: Hunterstown Rovers 0-11 Mattock Rangers 1-5

Mattock started the second half brightly as Adrian Reid opened their account with a left-footed point, and Liam Flynn soon added two fine scores to bring the gap down to one.

Jason Monaghan’s left-footed effort steadied Hunterstown before countyman Burns once again stood up with a perfectly judged two-point free.

The turning point came when Marc Ward turned his man beautifully and laid it off for substitute Paul Carrie, who finished to the net and suddenly Hunterstown were in full control at 1-14 to 1-8.

Ryan Burns extended the lead with two more points, which included a superb left-footed strike. But just when the game seemed beyond Mattock, they came back with a bang.

Ben McKenna landed a long-range two-pointer to close the gap to six before Seán Flynn reignited their challenge with a brilliant solo goal on 58 minutes to burst past his marker and finish low under Donovan Sheridan.

Liam Flynn turned provider for Shane Maguire, who buried another to make it a one-point game with a minute left of normal time.

The crowd was on its feet, and straight from the next attack, Ryan Burns fisted to the net from close range after a clever pass across the square.

Cathal Fleming pulled one back for Mattock from a free, but Ryan Burns had the final say as he nailed a two-pointer in injury time before turning to the crowd in celebration.

It was the strike that sealed the victory as Hunterstown progress to the IFC final, where they will face Stabannon Parnells on Sunday, October 19th, at DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee.

Full time: Hunterstown Rovers 2-18 Mattock Rangers 3-11

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

Subs: Tom Grimes on for Terry Donegan, James Carragher on for Ben Quaile, Callum Wogan on for Jack Thompson.

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan; Adam O'Reilly, Michéal Reid, Euan Woodlock; Cillian Taaffe, Patrick Taaffe, Daithi Carroll; Marc Ward, Jason Monaghan (0-1); James Russell (0-1), Ryan Burns (c) (1-11, 7f), Ciarán Russell (0-1), David Finn, Ryan Ward (0-4), Dean Burns.

Subs: Paul Carrie (1-0) on for Dean Burns, Shane Halpenny on for Marc Ward, Colm Murphy on for Micheal Reid, Glen Mathews on for James Russell, Aaron Levins on for Daithi Carroll.

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).