Hunterstown Make It Two From Two

CTI Business Solutions IFC – Group 4, Round 3

Hunterstown Rovers 3-12 Wolfe Tones 0-4

Páirc Dreadnots, Clogherhead – Referee: Paul Kneel

Hunterstown Rovers stormed into the knockout stages of the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Championship with a dominant display, easing past Wolfe Tones on a scoreline of 3-12 to 0-4 in a rain-soaked Páirc Dreadnots in Clogherhead.

First half

Hunterstown wasted no time asserting themselves, with early points from Marc Ward and James Rogers inside six minutes. On ten minutes, Patrick Taaffe surged forward from defence to palm home the opening goal, giving Rovers a cushion they never looked like surrendering.

Wolfe Tones, who struggled to break down a disciplined back line, finally got off the mark in the 13th minute via a Darren Weldon free. But Hunterstown remained firmly in control, with Colm Murphy pointing before Ciarán Russell and David Finn stretched the lead to 1-6 to 0-1 at the break.

Second half

Any hopes of a Tones comeback evaporated early in the second half. Colm Murphy drilled home a second Hunterstown goal before Finn added a point. Moments later, a flowing team move was finished by Shane Halpenny, sealing a third goal and effectively the contest.

Hunterstown’s bench made their impact too, with Oran Martin chipping in with a fine point, while Taaffe, Ryan Ward and Marc Ward kept the scoreboard moving. Wolfe Tones’ best moments came from Niall Smith, who struck a second-half two-pointer, but the Drogheda men never threatened a revival.

Standout performers

• Patrick Taaffe – As usual, rock-solid defensively, but today he shone breaking forward, finishing with 1-1.

• Colm Murphy – A lively newcomer to the starting XV from last year’s IFC Final, hitting 1-1 and very busy.

• Marc Ward – Another addition making his mark, his 0-3 haul capped a strong all-round display. Two impressive group showings from Ward.

The bigger picture

The result condemns Wolfe Tones to a relegation playoff with O’Raghallaigh’s, while Hunterstown have cruised through Group 4 with three wins from three, including victory over Sean O’Mahony’s.

Hunterstown will hopefully welcome back their main man & Louth star Ryan Burns, who has yet to feature after picking up what’s thought to be a minor knock. His brother Dean hasn’t featured either. With Ryan Burns form at an all-time high in 2025 with Louth and Rovers’ functioning at a serious level, combine the two and they could be in for an exciting 6/7 weeks. They are motoring nicely but there is no room for complacency from here on in, though, with the two Sean’s (Barry and Kelly) in charge, you would imagine – they will be chomping at the bit, come Quarter-Final time.

For Wolfe Tones, this was always going to be a testing group — their first at intermediate level. While the step up has been tough, the experience of playing stronger opposition will stand to them in the long run, and with the strides they are making as a club, they will only grow from it. They are well-capable of rising for the relegation playoff.

Teams

Hunterstown Rovers:
Donovan Sheridan; Adam O’Reilly, Cillian Taaffe, James Russell; Colm Murphy (1-1), Patrick Taaffe (1-1), Dáithí Carroll; Marc Ward (0-3), Shane Halpenny (1-0); Jason Monaghan, James Rogers (0-1), David Finn (0-3); Ryan Ward (0-1), Ciarán Russell (0-1), James Rogers.
Subs: Jamie O’Callaghan for C. Murphy, Oran Martin (0-1) for J. Monaghan, Aaron Levins for D. Finn, Alan Matthews for P. Taaffe, Alan Landy for C. Russell.

Wolfe Tones:
Stephen Murray-Kierans; Danny Byrne, Alan Fanning, Davey Bolger; Paddy Fanning, Rhys McGovern, Seán McQuail; Sam Kelly, Mark Healy; Tadhg Rock, Eoghan Clinton, Niall Smith (0-2); Darren Weldon (0-1), Alan Weldon, Dwayne Leavy.
Subs: Kevin Brady for E. Clinton, Garrett Cooney for D. Weldon, Liam Gaffney (0-1) for A. Weldon, Eoghan Brennan for P. Fanning.