Louth GAA club | Stabannon suffer Leinster IFC heartbreak against Dunlavin

Stabannon Parnells suffered a heartbreaking one-point defeat against Dunlavin in the AIB Leinster GAA Intermediate Club Football Championship quarter-final at Echelon Park, Aughrim, on Saturday afternoon.

The Louth GAA champions led by three points at half-time and fought back from five points down in the second half, but two late scores from the Wicklow side proved enough to secure victory.

The Seamus Bellew Cup winners made two changes to their starting team, with Ciarán Titley and Charlie McBride replacing the injured Seán Reynolds and Patrick Reynolds.

Dunlavin took the lead within the first minute from a Jack Reid free, before Harry Butterly replied with an excellent two-point free to put Stabannon ahead.

They then had a great chance to extend their lead, but Dunlavin goalkeeper Tom Davis saved Dylan Shevlin's goal effort. Reid converted another free to level the game before Eoin Murtagh put Dunlavin back in front.

Dylan Shevlin responded with a point for Stabannon, and Harry Butterly followed with a free to restore their lead. Jake Corrigan then kicked a good point after a pass from Harry Butterly before Titley added another from the left to put Stabannon three ahead.

However, Dunlavin hit back when Reid found the net past Ryan Halpenny to bring the teams level, then Shane Brady followed with a point to put the home side ahead

But Stabannon responded almost immediately when midfielder Colm Giggins scored a fine goal to restore the visitors' lead before Ryan Shevlin added a point.

Stabannon had further chances before the break, with Davis saving a goal-scoring effort from Bobby Butterly and Corrigan striking the post. They went into the interval three points ahead but could have been further clear.

Half-time: Dunlavin 1-4 Stabannon Parnells 1-7.

Dunlavin made a strong start to the second half and kicked three unanswered points to bring the sides level.

Eoin Miley then put the Wicklow champions ahead before Seán Doyle scored a goal after Halpenny failed to clear the ball, before Reid added another point to leave Stabannon trailing by five.

However, Shane Sweeney's side responded well and were back in the game when Ryan Shevlin lobbed the goalkeeper from distance for a fortuitous goal in the 41st minute.

Conor Clinton and Tadhg Gorman followed with points to bring the teams level before Dylan Shevlin then put Stabannon ahead, but Miley replied almost immediately for Dunlavin.

Pat Kehoe converted a two-point free to restore the home side's advantage, but Butterly replied with a 45. Substitute Seán Reynolds got a touch to a long ball from Butterly and sent it over for a two-pointer to put his side ahead with three minutes left on the clock

Kehoe levelled the game with a 45 with a minute of normal time remaining before Reid converted a close-range free a minute later following a breach by Stabannon.

Darragh Corrigan added another point in injury time to put Dunlavin two ahead before Seán Reynolds had one final chance for Stabannon, but his goal effort went over the bar for a point.

That proved to be the final action Dunlavin held on to win by the minimum and advance to the Leinster last four.

It was a disappointing finish for Stabannon, who had chances to build a bigger first-half lead and had recovered well after Dunlavin's strong start to the second half.

Full-time: Dunlavin 2-15 Stabannon Parnells 2-14.

Dunlavin scorers: Jack Reid (1-4, 3f), Pat Kehoe (0-3, 1tpf, 1 45), Eoin Miley (0-2), Seán Doyle (1-0), Eoin Murtagh (0-1), Shane Brady (0-1), Darragh Corrigan (0-1), Patrick Byrne (0-1).

Stabannon Parnells scorers: Harry Butterly (0-6, 1tpf, 1f, 1 45), Ryan Shevlin (1-1), Colm Giggins (1-0), Dylan Shevlin (0-2), Seán Reynolds (0-3, 1tp), Jake Corrigan (0-1), Ciaran Titley (0-1), Conor Clinton (0-1), Tadhg Gorman (0-1).

Dunlavin: Tom Davis; Harry Coleburn, Mark Murtagh, MJ Moran; Alan Miley, Eoin Murtagh, Cian Deering; Gary Allen (c), James O'Reilly; Pat Kehoe, Jack Reid, Eoin Miley; Seán Doyle, Cian O'Sullivan, Tom Doyle.

Subs: Paul Murtagh on for Gary Allen (11'), Darragh Corrigan on for Mark Murtagh (50'), Danny Farrell on for Harry Coleburn (56').

Stabannon Parnells: Ryan Halpenny; Johnny McGee, Alan Reynolds, Mark Byrne; Richard Rogers, Bobby Butterly (c), Jake Corrigan (0-1); Colm Giggins (1-0), Harry Butterly (0-6, 1tpf, 1f, 1 45); Conor Clinton (0-1), Ciarán Titley (0-1), Tadhg Gorman (0-1); Charlie McBride, Dylan Shevlin (0-2), Ryan Shevlin (1-1).

Subs: Daniel Clinton on for Alan Reynolds (HT), Seán Reynolds (0-3, 1tp) on for Ciarán Titley (40'), David Cluskey on for Conor Clinton (53'), Patrick Reynolds on for Richard Rogers (59').

Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Dublin).