Louth GAA club | Hunterstown dig deep to clinch Intermediate Football Championship title

Hunterstown Rovers were crowned CTI Business Solutions Louth Intermediate Football Championship winners after a thrilling victory over Stabannon Parnells at DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee this afternoon.

The 2024 beaten finalists made no mistake this time around and came into the encounter with full intent to take the Seamus Flood Cup home for the third time in their history and first time since 1999.

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Hunterstown had the perfect start and found the net after just ten minutes when a long ball from Michéal Reid hung in the air before Ryan Ward rose and fisted beyond Michael Lynch in the Stabannon goal.

Moments later, captain Ryan Burns converted a close-range free to make it 1-1 to no score, and Stabannon looked in trouble. But credit to Harry Butterly, whose free finally got his side off the mark on the 13th minute of play.

Stabannan captain Colm Giggins followed with a tidy point to level matters, and from there the first half unfolded in a tit-for-tat battle between both sides.

Harry Butterly added two more frees before Conor Clinton gave Stabannon their first lead of the afternoon with a fine point on 26 minutes. But Hunterstown responded with a Daithi Carroll fisted score before Ryan Burns and Russell tagged on points.

Then, just before the break, Jason Monaghan scored a sweet two-pointer from his left boot as Hunterstown had stormed ahead with six points without reply to end the half.

Hunterstown deservedly led by five points and looked the sharper and more composed outfit. Stabannon, however, were far from finished.

Half time: Stabannon Parnells 0-5 Hunterstown Rovers 1-7

The second half started with drama almost immediately when barely ten seconds into the half, Jason Monaghan was shown a straight red card for a high challenge on Seán Reynolds.

Hunterstown were reduced to 14 men and faced an uphill battle. Sensing opportunity, Stabannon pressed hard. Giggins sparked the comeback with a sensational two-pointer to cut the gap to three.

Harry Butterly curled over another stunning two-pointer moments later, and Dylan Shevlin chipped in with back-to-back points to bring it to a one-point game.

The turnaround was complete by the 49th minute as Harry Butterly slotted a two-point free as cool as you like to send Stabannon ahead by 0-13 to 1-9.

But the game was far from over as Seán Reynolds received his marching orders a minute later after a bizarre incident on the sideline, reportedly involving a water bottle striking an injured party.

That sending off meant it was suddenly 14 players each, and the balance shifted once again. Then came the moment that changed everything.

Hunterstown’s talisman Ryan Burns struck a hammer blow as he latched onto a clever assist from Cillian Taaffe and buried the ball to the net from close range to put the men in red ahead once again.

Still, Stabannon refused to lie down. Harry Butterly, once again levelled matters with a magnificent two-point free with a couple of minutes of normal time remaining.

With the score line level at 0-15 to 2-9 and the clock ticking toward injury time, both sides threw everything at each other.

Hunterstown's David Finn knocked over a neat point to edge his team back in front by the minimum once more. Stabannon pushed hard in the dying moments, but their final effort went wide.

Referee Steven Devlin's final whistle saw the Hunterstown bench erupt with celebration as their 26-year wait for the Seamus Flood Cup was over and their return to senior football in 2026.

They will now play a home first round tie in the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship against a Hollywood side from Wicklow on Saturday, 1st November at 1.30pm.

Full time: Stabannon Parnells 0-15 Hunterstown Rovers 2-10

Stabannon Parnells: Michael Lynch; Johnny McGee, Alan Reynolds, Daniel Clinton; Richard Rogers, Bobby Butterly, Jake Corrigan; Harry Butterly (0-9, 3f, 3tp), Colm Giggins (c) (0-3, 1tp); Ryan Shevlin, Seán Reynolds, Conor Clinton (0-1); Robert Callaghan, Dylan Shevlin (0-2), Padraig Reynolds.

Subs: Barry McCoy on for Padraig Reynolds (37'), Mark Byrne on for Ryan Shevlin (62').

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan; Adam O'Reilly, Michéal Reid, Euan Woodlock, Cillian Taaffe, Patrick Taaffe, Daithí Carroll (0-1); Marc Ward, Jason Monaghan (0-2, 1tp); James Russell, Ryan Burns (c) (1-4, 2f, 1tp), Ciarán Russell (0-1); David Finn (0-1), Ryan Ward (1-0), Dean Burns.

Subs: Paul Carrie on for Dean Burns (6'), Tony McKenna (0-1) on for Ryan Ward (33'), Shane Halpenny on for Marc Ward (41'), Colm Murphy on for Daithi Carroll (58'), James Rogers on for Ciaran Russell (58').

Referee: Steven Devlin (St. Josephs).