“Brilliant Burns Fires Hunterstown Into Semi-Finals”

CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship Quarter Final

Hunterstown Rovers 0-12 St Kevins 1-7

Venue: Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda

Referee: Damien Connor (St Patricks)

Hunterstown Rovers booked their place in the semi-finals of the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship with a narrow but deserved two-point win over neighbours St Kevins in Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.

This was a contest that will not live long in the memory for its quality, but for sheer tension, grit and determination, it ticked every box. It was tight, physical, and often scrappy, but Hunterstown won’t care one bit. For joint-managers Sean Kelly and Sean Barry, it’s simply about being in the last four.

Slow Start and St Kevins in Control

It took all of nine minutes before the first score arrived, a free from Danny Crosbie after Tom Matthews was fouled. Crosbie doubled the Philipstown men’s lead a minute later and added another free on 14 minutes to leave his side three to the good.

Hunterstown were struggling to settle and squandered several good chances in front of goal. St Kevins capitalised, with Cian Callan producing the score of the first half – a superb long-range effort worth two points in the 26th minute – that pushed his side 0-5 to 0-0 clear.

At that stage, the Rovers badly needed a response, and county star Ryan Burns provided it, fisting over after James Russell worked tirelessly to create the opening. Almost immediately, Burns won the resulting kickout and teed up Ryan Ward for their second.

On the stroke of half-time, Burns nailed a 45 to cut the deficit to two.

Half Time: St Kevins 0-5 Hunterstown Rovers 0-3

Hunterstown Fight Back

Hunterstown came out with renewed intent after the restart and once again it was Burns who provided the spark, converting another 45 in the first minute to reduce the gap to the minimum. When the lively David Finn clipped over on 36 minutes, the sides were level for the first time.

Rovers grew in confidence, and Ryan Ward’s fisted point after 42 minutes edged them in front. But St Kevins responded quickly through John Callaghan to square things up again.

Burns restored the Rovers lead from a free after 48 minutes, only for Jacob Finlay to reply with a tidy score. Burns was unerring, however, adding further points in the 52nd and 53rd minutes as Hunterstown pushed two clear.

Callan’s Goal Brings Late Drama

Just when it seemed Hunterstown were taking control, St Kevins hit back with a huge score. On 54 minutes, Callaghan and Finlay combined brilliantly to set up Cian Callan, who finished emphatically to the net, swinging the game back in the Philipstown men’s favour at 1-7 to 0-9.

But Hunterstown, led superbly by Burns, refused to panic. The talisman clipped over a free on 57 minutes to reduce the margin to one before conjuring a brilliant point off his left after a sharp turn on 61 minutes to level the tie.

With the tension rising, Burns kept his cool from another placed ball in injury time, his ninth point of the afternoon, sealing Hunterstown’s passage to the semi-finals.

Key Performers

For Hunterstown, Ryan Burns was the match-winner, scoring nine points in total and dragging his team through at crucial stages. Ryan Ward and David Finn also made telling contributions, while James Russell worked tirelessly in defence and attack.

For St Kevins, Lee Crosbie work tirelessly and John Callaghan also caught the eye.

Man of the Match – Ryan Burns

While this was a game of fine margins, the difference between the sides was Ryan Burns. The Hunterstown ace carried the fight almost single-handedly at times, finishing with a superb tally of nine points.

It wasn’t just his scoring that stood out. His leadership, work-rate and composure under pressure lifted those around him. When Hunterstown trailed by five in the first half, it was Burns who got them off the mark and kept them in touch. When St Kevins struck late with Callan’s goal, it was Burns again who steadied the ship, hitting the last three points to drag his team over the line.

Time and again he showed why he is regarded as one of the most lethal forwards in the county, and his ability to deliver in the clutch moments ultimately decided this quarter final.

Teams

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan, Adam O’Reilly, Euan Woodlock, James Russell, Michéal Reid, Patrick Taaffe, Daihtí Carroll, Shane Halpenny, Marc Ward, Jason Monaghan, David Finn 0-1, Tony McKenna, Ciaran Russell, Ryan Ward 0-2, Ryan Burns 0-9 (4f, 2×45).

Subs: James Rogers for Marc Ward (HT), Paul Carrie for Ciaran Russell (39), Cillian Taaffe for Jason Monaghan (46), Colm Murphy for Daithí Carroll (53).

St Kevins: Josh Finlay, John Callaghan 0-1, Niall Gregory, Cian Martin, Donnacha Boylan, Cameron Maher, Aaron Khan, Lee Crosbie, Brian Callaghan; Robert Matthews, Seanie Crosbie, Jacob Finlay 0-1, Cian Callan 1-2, Tom Matthews, Danny Crosbie 0-3 (2f).

Subs: Jack Stokes for Brian Callaghan (45), Joe McArdle for Lee Crosbie (62).