Leinster club IFC | Hunterstown advance to quarter-final with victory over Hollywood

Hunterstown Rovers produced a dominating first-half display to blitz Wicklow side Hollywood in the first round of the AIB Leinster Intermediate Football Championship on Saturday afternoon at Stabannon.

The Louth IFC champions used the wind to their advantage in the first half as they tore into their Wicklow opponents from the throw-in, and leave the tie was effectively over by half-time.

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Barely a minute had passed when Ryan Burns opened the scoring with a right-footed effort to set the tone for what was to follow.

Moments later, a high delivery was spilt by Hollywood goalkeeper Keith Peppard, and Cillian Taaffe reacted fastest to finish from close range.

Burns slotted over a routine free, followed by points from Michéal Reid and Ciarán Russell before Rovers found the net again. This time, Ryan Ward palmed in from a Burns pass to make it 2-3 to no score.

Russell followed up with a point after nice counter-attacking play. Hollywood finally opened their account through Jim Corrigan with 18 minutes on the clock, but Burns responded instantly with the game’s first two-point free.

Russell clipped over another, before wing-back Daithí Carroll burst forward and hammered a brilliant goal into the net after a nice assist by Burns. Further two-pointers from Burns and Ward stretched the gap even wider.

Burns then added a neat point before Hollywood finally struck a lifeline when Ryan Mulvey found the net with a goal against the run of play.

Ward immediately replied with another point to ensure his went into the dressing room at half time with 18 points between them.

Half-time: Hunterstown Rovers 3-13 Hollywood 1-1.

Matthew Kelly pointed twice from frees at the start of the second half to give the Wicklow side some encouragement. But Hunterstown quickly fired back thanks to a point from Russell, who finished off a nice flowing move involving Taaffe and Finn.

A rare mistake from Rovers goalkeeper Donovan Sheridan gifted Hollywood a second goal as David Peppard’s shot went under his legs to reduce the margin to 3-14 to 2-3.

Hollywood enjoyed more of the ball but failed to make it count as they registered several wides in succession. David Peppard used the wind to his advantage to register two superb two-point frees, but Hunterstown never looked in any real danger.

In the closing stages, Carroll added another point before substitute James Rogers fired over from close range. Then, fittingly, Ward struck his second goal when he finished coolly past the 'keeper.

Captain Burns rounded off proceedings with a late free to seal the victory and send Hunterstown into the quarter-finals.

Hunterstown advance to face Laois side Park Ratheniska in the Leinster quarter-final on Saturday, November 15th, with the venue likely to be again in Stabannon.

Hunterstown Rovers 4-17 Hollywood 2-7.

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

Subs: Tony McKenna on for Marc Ward (41'), James Rogers (0-1) on for Glen Matthews (50'), Aaron Levins on for David Finn (50'), Jamie O'Callaghan on for Ciarán Russell (54'), Colm Murphy on for Cillian Taaffe (59')

Hollywood: Kieth Peppard; Ciarán Traynor, Luke Byrne, Shane Kelly; Rory Corrigan, Mikey Healy (c), Rob Houlihan; Luka Harney, Jim Corrigan (0-1); PJ O'Keeffe, Ryan Mulvey (1-0), Conall Byrne; Charlie McGrath, David Peppard (1-4, 2tp), Matthew Kelly (0-2, 2f).

Subs: Ben O'Keeffe on for Ryan Mulvey (41'), Charlie Chamley on for Rory Corrigan (45'), James Durcan on for Charlie McGrath (49'), Conor Mulvey on for Shane Kelly (56'), John Tehan-Burke on for Conall Byrne (58')

Referee: Kieran Olwell (Meath).