Louth GAA club | Burns: We got there in the end

Hunterstown Rovers' long wait for a Louth Intermediate Football Championship title is over after a hard-fought win over Stabannon Parnells at DEFY Páirc Mhuire this afternoon.

Captain Ryan Burns led by example, scoring 1-4 to round off what has been a dream season for both him and his club. Reflecting after the game, an emotional Burns admitted it was a moment he had long dreamt about.

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He said, “Going to bed at night, I've probably said that speech a million times in my head, thinking about this day. I was just glad to compliment everyone. There's lots of people going on behind the scenes that we have to compliment.

“It's not just the group, even though it's a monumental group there. As you say, always go to the end, and today was no different. So thankfully, thankfully we got there in the end.”

The skipper spoke of a shift in mentality within the club that has transformed them into a tougher outfit.

“Tears gone by this club. It's been lovely, free-flowing football. We got to a stage, and then someone got stuck into us, and we were beaten. I mentioned the two boys, Seán Barry and Seán Kelly.

“They came in and inserted winning in this group, a winning mentality. Doesn't matter; doesn't have to be the fancy stuff. Simple stuff, get stuck in, win your dirty ball, breaking ball, give, go, and that's your fruition there today.”

Hunterstown held their composure until the final whistle as Stabannon pushed them to the limit throughout.

“There's leaders all over the group. David (Finn) and Tony (McKenna). There's loads there we could go through. Composure? I don't know about that. I didn't see any composure, haha.

“It was just helter-skelter the whole way through. But look, those lads are all on the same wavelength. We wanted the same goal, and we got there today.”

The forward's goal in the closing stages proved crucial in securing the Seamus Flood Cup for his team.

“The goal went in and I actually didn't realise the score. I just knew they had the wind and a bit of momentum.

“So, just to break the momentum, that was the most important thing about the goal. But it added to the tally at the end. Once we were a point up at the end, that was all that counts.”

Hunterstown were forced to play the majority of the second half with 14 men when Jason Monaghan got sent off.

“I saw Jason's. I think Jason just mistimed the tackle. Sometimes you get a yellow, sometimes you get a red. Look, Stephen had a better view than me. I don't actually know what happened, Seán (Reynolds), so I can't even tell him.

“But look, we had 20-plus minutes with 14 men. So, just another compliment to our lads that we had to grind things out.”

It has been a remarkable year for Burns, who already has a Leinster medal with Louth and an All-Star nomination to his name.

“It's an amazing year. It couldn't get any better with the Leinster. Just things started flowing then. Obviously, the All-Star is a nice little compliment for the family; more than anything, they will take pride from that.

“But this is where it's at for myself personally, winning team trophies, and I'm just so happy.”

Having fallen short in last year’s final against Dundalk Gaels, Hunterstown’s redemption was particularly sweet.

“Fair play to the Gaels last year, we played here. Could have won, could have lost. Brought it to a replay. And then they just took their chances more in that final.

“Thankfully, we got a good start today. We think we learned a little bit from last year. Got a little bit of a head start. But finals are finals. You just have to find a way. Look, today, 2025 is our year, thank God.”

Promotion to the senior grade now awaits in 2026, and Burns knows the next challenge begins soon, though well-deserved celebrations come first.

“Yeah, the hard work's going to have to start here for these lads. This was our goal. But the goalposts have to move now, you know. But by God, we're going to celebrate for a while first.”

Before finishing, Burns paid tribute to two true clubmen, the late Tony Mathews and Syl Levin.

“I was never going to leave them out. Two men very close to myself. Every time you see them at the pitch, we'd have a conversation.

“Syl more in the front line more than Tony. Tony would be in the back line. Syl would be right on that line there today if he was here today. But, look, there's many others.

“My own grandfather would have had a big relationship with Hunterstown as well, so it's an emotional day. But I'm just glad that they'll have a pint on the team tonight.”