“Hunterstown Claim Sweet Intermediate Victory After Long Road”

CTI Business Solutions IFC FINAL

From DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee.

Hunterstown Rovers 2-10

Stabannon Parnells 0-15

Hunterstown Rovers reached their long awaited pinnacle as they edged out Stabannon Parnells on Sunday afternoon in the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship Final at DEFY Páirc Mhuire in Ardee.

After a weekend of heavy rainfall, conditions were tough and this was show through a cagey start from both sides – who struggled to get intial scores. The opening score came on 9 minutes as Ryan Ward was alert to a Michéal Reid effort that dropped short, flicking it to the back of the net.

Ryan Burns added a close range free before Stabannon Parnells took control of the half. Harry Butterly (0-3) and Colm Giggins hit over scores for their side to level proceedings before Conor Clinton converted a sweetly struck score to send the Parnells’ into the lead. However the momentum would then swing back to Hunterstown.

Daithi Carroll played a clever one-two with Ryan Burns before splitting the posts. Burns then added a peach of a two-point effort from the deck as the flying Ciaran Russell quickly added further to the purple patch. Midfielder’ Jason Monaghan who was a standout presence in the first half, clipped over a booming two-point effort outside the boot, right before the interval. Half Time – Hunterstown Rovers 1-7 Stabannon Parnells 0-5.

After the restart, Parnells’ captain Colm Giggins found his range once again with a stunning long range two-pointer. Burns added another free to leave Hunterstown 1-8 to 0-7 clear with 20 minutes remaining.

Harry Butterly curled over another two-pointer with the left boot in what was one of the games eye-cathing scores. Tony McKenna made an instant impact with a point and indeed, brought a great deal from the bench for the Rovers’. Dylan Shevlin then added two points on the trot as he came storming into the game. Butterly landed another two-point effort from a free that left Stabannon leading by a point with 10 minutes to go.

As the momentum was swinging with Stabannon, Hunterstown’s main man stepped up just in time. An inspiring lung-busting run from Cillian Taaffe ended with a beautiful pass to Ryan Burns who sharply turned an hit a rasping shot along the ground to send his side back into the lead.

As always, a Harry Butterly two-pointer was never far away and he drew the sides back level with a free on 27 minutes. Though it was the long-serving David Finn who had the last and games most-telling impact as he showed great composure late on to clip over the games winning score. Full Time – Hunterstown Rovers 2-10 Stabannon Parnells 0-15

Player of the Match –

Cillian Taaffe (Hunterstown Rovers)

Other notables:

Hunterstown Rovers: Michéal Reid and Ryan Burns.

Stabannon Parnells: Conor Clinton and Harry Butterly

Hunterstown Rovers Team:

Donovan Sheridan; Adam O’Reilly, Patrick Taaffe, Euan Woodlock; Daithí Carroll (0-1), Michéal Reid, Cillian Taaffe; Marc Ward, Jason Monaghan (0-2); James Russell, Ryan Burns (1-4, 4f), David Finn (0-1); Dean Burns, Ryan Ward (1-0), Ciaran Russell (0-1).

Subs: Paul Carrie for Dean Burns (7 Mins), Tony McKenna (0-1) for Ryan Ward (33 Mins), Shane Halpenny for Marc Ward (41 Mins), James Rogers for Daithí Carroll (57 Mins), Colm Murphy for Ciaran Russell (57 Mins)

Stabannon Parnells Team:

Michael Lynch; Johnny McGee, Alan Reynolds, Daniel Clinton; Richard Rogers, Bobby Butterly, Jake Corrigan; Colm Giggins (0-3), Sean Reynolds; Ryan Shevlin, Harry Butterly (0-9, 7f), Conor Clinton (0-1); Robert Callaghan, Dylan Shevlin (0-2), Padraig Reynolds.

Subs: Barry McCoy for Padraig Reynolds (37 Mins), Mark Byrne for Ryan Shevlin (62 Mins).

Referee: Steven Devlin (St Josephs)

Photos: Ciaran Culligan Photography