Butterly Masterclass Fires Stabannon Parnells to Victory

CTI Business Solutions Louth Intermediate Football Championship – Group 2, Round 2

Stabannon Parnells 1-20 St Brides 1-13

Venue: Protection and Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver

Referee: Damien Connor (St Patricks)

“Butterly’s 14 points was one of the standout individual displays of this year’s Intermediate Championship.”

Stabannon Parnells produced a commanding performance in Darver as they swept past St Brides in Group 2 of the Intermediate Football Championship. The night will be remembered for a stunning individual display by Harry Butterly, who landed 14 points, including five brilliant two-pointers, to inspire his side to victory.

Explosive opening

Butterly wasted no time in making an impact, clipping over the opening point after just a minute. Kieran McArdle equalised immediately for St Brides, but moments later the game tilted Stabannon’s way when Conor Clinton hit the net in the third minute, finishing coolly after a surging move through the middle.

The goal energised Parnells, and with Butterly punishing every foul, the scores mounted quickly. He landed two excellent two-pointers from placed balls, while Sean Reynolds and Dylan Shevlin also added points from play.

St Brides, however, showed their threat, with Andrew Smyth and Sean Marry responding, but they were living dangerously as Stabannon’s forwards found space repeatedly. By the 14th minute, Butterly had already struck his third two-pointer of the half.

Tobin gives Brides hope.

Just as Stabannon looked like they might run away with it, Morgan Tobin produced a moment of class, rifling a low finish into the net on 27 minutes to reduce the gap. That goal gave St Brides belief, cutting the margin to five.

But Parnells answered in style, Butterly once again punishing a foul with a long-range free for another two-pointer. At the break, the scoreboard told the story: Stabannon 1-14 St Brides 1-8, with Butterly already on nine points.

Physical second half

The game tightened after the restart, with both teams upping the physical stakes. Stabannon’s Richard Rogers was black-carded, while Cillian Kirk of St Brides also went to the line later in the game.

St Brides battled gamely, with Marry, Tobin, and McArdle all pointing, and Bernard Laverty producing the score of the match in the 54th minute, bursting through from midfield before splitting the posts with a brilliant two-pointer.

Yet every time the Brides threatened a comeback, Butterly calmed Stabannon nerves. He clipped over further scores to keep the margin steady, and late efforts from Ryan Shevlin and substitute Robert Callaghan stretched the lead.

Frustration boiled over for St Brides in the closing stages, with Patrick Reilly shown a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident as their hopes faded.

Butterly brilliance the difference

This was a night when one player’s performance towered over the game. Harry Butterly’s 14 points were not just about quantity but quality — long-range two-pointers, nerveless frees, and clever movement that St Brides simply couldn’t contain.

He was ably assisted by Clinton’s early goal and the tireless running of Sean Reynolds, but Butterly’s display will be remembered as one of the highlights of this year’s Intermediate Championship.

For St Brides, there were bright sparks: Tobin’s goal, Marry’s consistency, and Laverty’s leadership stood out, but defensive lapses and costly indiscipline left them chasing the game.

Man of the Match – Harry Butterly (Stabannon Parnells)

Butterly was simply unplayable in Darver. The Stabannon sharpshooter finished with 14 points, including five two-pointers that broke St Brides’ momentum time and again. Whether from frees or open play, his accuracy never wavered. On a night where discipline and composure mattered most, Butterly stood tallest, leading by example and inspiring his team to victory.

Scorers

Stabannon Parnells: Harry Butterly 0-14 (5 x 2-pointers, 4f), Conor Clinton 1-0, Sean Reynolds 0-3, Dylan Shevlin 0-1, Ryan Shevlin 0-1, Robert Callaghan 0-1.
St Brides: Morgan Tobin 1-1, Sean Marry 0-3, Andrew Smyth 0-2, Kieran McArdle 0-2, Bernard Laverty 0-2 (1 x 2-pointer), Oisin McBride 0-1, Patrick Reilly 0-1, Kevin Hearty 0-1.

Teams

Stabannon Parnells:
Michael Lynch; Johnny McGee, Colm Giggins, Ryan Halpenny; Richard Rogers, Bobby Butterly, Alan Reynolds; Harry Butterly, Ryan Shevlin; Sean Reynolds, Jake Corrigan, Conor Clinton; Dylan Shevlin, Patrick Reynolds, Daniel Clinton.
Subs: Robert Callaghan for R. Halpenny (41), Mark Byrne for C. Giggins (60).

St Brides:
Emmet Kirk; Stephen Hoey, Cillian Kirk, Padraic Mackin; Andrew Smyth, Bernard Laverty, Ross Murnaghan; James Costello, Robert McCaughey; Sean Marry, Kieran McArdle, Morgan Tobin; Oisin McBride, Kevin Hearty, Donal McArdle.
Subs: Paddy Reilly for K. Hearty (33), Nathan Kirk for M. Tobin (40), Ronan Bailey for J. Costello (42), Sean Brennan for E. Kirk (inj, 45), Aaron Donnelly for O. McBride (50).