Leinster club IFC | Hunterstown will "try to get to the final" says Taaffe

Hunterstown Rovers ran out 0-11 to 0-6 winners over Laois side Park-Ratheniska in the AIB Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship quarter-final this afternoon.

The Louth champions' win wasn't pretty, but it was controlled and keeps their Leinster dream alive as they progress to the last four.

Defender Patrick Taaffe emerged from the muck in Stabannon and shared his thoughts on a tough contest.

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He said, “It was very tough going there today and good to get on the right end of it. At times, there even coming in at half time, it was very even.

“So luckily, we kicked on a bit in the second half and played the conditions. It was always going to be sloppy, and we are just happy to be through.

“I think the wind actually died down a bit, but I think the rain picked up, and then the pitch was cutting up a bit.

“But still, to be fair, the amount of rain and the pitch is still in some nick, it's a good surface there at the end.”

Hunterstown had powered past Hollywood in their first round tie, but a repeat performance was not on the cards, even though the chances arrived, but not the scores.

“That's true, and like we were playing the same way, and I think usually the wind actually comes up the pitch this way, but I think it was kind of swirling a bit today.

“So, probably we just didn't have the wind advantage that we had in the first half against Hollywood. But we had to sit tight and then battle it out a bit more today, so thank God, then we came out on the right end of it.

“We had a good few shots that went astray there in the first half, but we tidied it up a bit in the second half.

“To be fair to Ratheniska, they were clinical in the first half; nearly anytime they got shot, it was going over, so thank God then we got them under control a bit in the second half.”

The game swung on fine margins, and All-Star nominee Ryan Burns’ point, followed by his crucial two-pointer, finally gave Hunterstown the lead they wanted.

“The two-pointer was massive, and then even coming towards the end, we're still four or five points up. It's just a break of a ball, and we were probably maybe unlucky there with a square ball call.

“If they got a goal there near the end, it could have been a different story, so just thank God we just kept them out.”

Park-Ratheniska finished with 14 men after Kieran Delaney received his marching orders for an off-the-ball incident with Marc Ward.

“We were starting to get the scores, and we were kind of getting on top defensively, but even still, coming towards the end, they're always going to come at you.

“And with a four or five point lead, you still want to be safer because a goal could break there handy enough and then they're right back in it.”

Hunterstown have remained composed in their Leinster campaign so far, and the defender feels that can be traced back to their tough Louth championship run.

“I mean the semi-final and final in Louth we just got by and no more, so I think those tight games have stood to us good now in this Leinster so far.”

Next up for Hunterstown is a semi-final date with Westmeath’s Tubberclair and another home draw in two weeks.

“Delighted to be home again, and we’ll just keep going and try to get over the line to try to get to the final when we're here.

“I suppose the weather's been bleak, but there's a good attitude to training, and we're just delighted to be still playing.

“You hear of other clubs, they're finished and they're nearly going back now already anyway, so we're delighted to be here and keep the season going as long as we can.”

The Hunterstown squad has a nice blend of youth and experience, and with a fully fit squad, the players are pushing each other in each training session.

“This year in particular, I think everyone's managed to stay fit. We got a bit of luck, and we can get all the bodies available, and we have a strong panel to pick from then.

“Then even the bench coming on then as well, lads who aren't getting a shout have every right to be there as well.

“They could be starting there, and someone else is out, and there'll be no difference in quality at all, so just the panel and everyone being fit is massive for us.

“You can't beat it, and then even the younger lads coming on as well like it's just a great mix there and it's just great everyone's fit and available at the minute.”