Leinster club IFC | Hunterstown host Hollywood in Leinster clash

It has been twenty-six years since Hunterstown Rovers won the Louth Intermediate Football Championship, and now the Seamus Flood Cup has returned to the parish for the first time since 1999.

With the celebrations hardly finished, their attention quickly turns to the AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship.

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The Reds will line out in the first round against Wicklow’s Hollywood GAA at Stabannon this Saturday afternoon, with a throw-in set for 1.30pm.

Their county success was sealed at DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee, when they had to dig deep to beat Stabannon Parnells by one point, 2-10 to 0-15, in the CTI Business Solutions Louth IFC final.

The victory in Ardee also carried an air of redemption, as just twelve months earlier, Hunterstown had found themselves in the same position but fell just short of the prize.

That campaign ended in heartbreak after a replayed final against Dundalk Gaels ended in defeat at Darver.

Joint manager Seán Kelly said that the memories of that disappointment may have remained. He said, “I didn't think so going in, but the way we played, I think it did. I just felt at times we did things that were a bit uncharacteristic.

“I suppose it sometimes happens when you kick a wide or two, the old memories come back into your head.

“At the end of the day, for us it was crucial that we couldn't hide behind the fact that it was really to win the championship, we had to win the championship.

“It was alright setting out at the start of the year, ‘oh we want to perform well’ or whatever, but ultimately you either name it or you hide it.”

Character

Hunterstown never do things the easy way, and their road to the intermediate title proved it as they were pushed all the way in close games against St Kevin’s and then in a replay against Mattock Rangers in the semi-final.

Kelly believes that it was these challenges that really revealed the character of the players. “To be fair, we've done that in the league, surviving Division One in the first year, and we've done that, I'd say, in the championship.

“Even against the Kevins, and against Mattock Rangers, I knew they had the character, just at times, you could see the panicky bit step in when you hit three or four in a row wide…but to be fair, they gave a great commitment, I have to say.”

Leinster challenge

Now, the focus shifts to Leinster, and the provincial stage represents more than just a test of ability but a reward for what the players have already done.

Kelly said, “It is a step up, but it's also a reward. You don't get there unless you do something and you win something. It's an opportunity and a reward. That's the way I'd be looking at it.

“And in a way, you want that opportunity to show your wares, and ok, we won. I didn't think we played particularly well, but then that's just the nature of it. But again, now it's an opportunity without that much fear attached to it.”

Hollywood

Hunterstown will face Wicklow opponents Hollywood, who opened their campaign with a 4-18 to 0-13 win over Newtown GAA in Blessington back in July.

They made light work of the group stage and followed up the victory with a 3-16 to 0-11 victory over Ballymanus and a narrow 1-11 to 1-10 loss to Coolkenno.

That minor setback didn’t derail their progress as they went on to defeat Annacurra by 0-16 to 2-9 in the quarter-finals and see off Aughrim in the semi-final with a 1-16 to 2-4 scoreline.

Their championship finished in a replayed final against Abhainn Dála, a draw in the first game (Abhainn Dála 1-7 Hollywood 0-10) set up a replay that they won by a 1-22 to 3-14.

Hollywood finished second in Group One of the D’Arcy Sands Wicklow Intermediate Football Championship table with a total of 68 points scored across three games while conceding only 38.

Hunterstown Rovers against Hollywood will take place at Stabannon on Saturday, 1st November, with a throw-in at 1.30pm. The referee in charge will be Kieran Olwell from the Moynalty club in Meath.