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Hunterstown Pull Off Shock of All Shocks Against Favourites Ardee St Marys

By Bob Doheny
31st August 2026
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Anchor Tours Louth SFC Group 2 Round 2
At Cullen Autoparts Louth GAA Training Centre in Darver

Hunterstown Rovers 1-14 Ardee St Marys 0-14

Hunterstown Rovers pulled off the shock of the senior championship on Sunday by defeating near-neighbours and championship favourites Ardee St Maryss on a scoreline of 1-14 to 0-14 at the Cullen Autoparts Louth GAA Training Centre in Darver.
Led by a lethal scoring display from Ryan Burns and a decisive second-half goal from impact substitute Sam Scott, Hunterstown withstood a late Ardee comeback and a stellar performance from opposition goalkeeper Tiernan Markey to secure a historic victory.
Hunterstown signaled their intent from the throw-in. Only two minutes had elapsed when Ardee goalkeeper Tiernan Markey was called into action, pulling off an excellent save to deny Ryan Burns an early goal. Undeterred, Ryan Burns opened the scoring from a free shortly after, followed quickly by a superb point from play by Dean Burns.
Ryan Burns added another brilliant point off his left foot to push the gap to three before Ardee finally responded. Daire McConnon rattled the crossbar with an effort that deflected over for a point, and Tom Jackson quickly followed up to cut the deficit to one.

Adam Gillespie (Ardee St Marys) is tracked by Euan Woodlock (Hunterstown Rovers)

The sides traded scores in a highly competitive opening half. Ciaran Russell hit a magnificent two-pointer for Hunterstown, while Sean Callaghan and Keelin Martin answered for Fergal Reel’s men. 
Just before the break, chaotic drama unfolded in the Ardee square. Dean Burns was incredibly unlucky not to find the net as Markey produced another great save, and Jason Monaghan’s immediate follow-up crashed off the crossbar. However,  Ryan Burns ensured Hunterstown went into the dressing rooms with a well-deserved three-point cushion, after he landed a late two-point free.

Half-Time – Hunterstown Rovers 0-09 | Ardee St Marys 0-06

Ryan Burns extended the lead with a free early in the second period, but Ardee threatened a comeback. Jonathan Commins hit a spectacular long-range two-point effort, and Tom Jackson trimmed the gap back to one. Colm Murphy briefly steadied the Hunterstown ship with a well-taken point from play.

Dean Burns (Hunterstown Rovers) is tracked by Paraic McKenny (Ardee St Marys)

The game’s defining moment arrived in the 40th minute. Just three minutes after being introduced as a substitute, Sam Scott found himself in space after Ryan Burns’ clever play in the corner and unleashed a brilliant, clinical finish into the net to blow the game wide open.
Markey again denied Dean Burns with another quality save shortly after the goal to keep Ardee alive. Driven forward by points from Tom Jackson and substitute Carl Gillespie, Ardee launched a fierce fightback.
As the tension rose, Ryan Burns converted another pressure free to keep daylight between the teams, but Ardee refused to go away. Liam Jackson pointed, and Tom Jackson looked certain to goal from close range, only to be denied by an exceptional, match-winning save from Hunterstown keeper Donovan Sheridan.
Ardee keeper Tiernan Markey fired over a massive two-point free to reduce the margin to two points as the game entered injury time.
With Ardee hunting for a late, game-saving goal, Hunterstown held their nerve. In the 62nd minute, the lethal Ryan Burns knocked over his final free of the evening to seal a famous and deserved victory for the underdogs. The local bragging rights lie with Hunterstown Rovers.
Full-Time – Hunterstown Rovers 1-14 | Ardee St Marys 0-14

L-R, Dean Burns, Colm Murphy and Ryan Burns embrace after a historic win for Hunterstown Rovers

Man of the Match – Ryan Burns (Hunterstown Rovers)

There was a case for several of the Hunterstown Rovers side after stellar performances from the likes of Ciaran Russell, Donovan Sheridan and Dean Burns. But, Ryan Burns led the charge for the underdogs and produced a colossal display, hitting over 0-9 and superb general play.

Hunterstown Rovers team: Donovan Sheridan; Euan Woodlock, Micheal Reid, Patrick Taaffe; Daithi Carroll, Colm Murphy (0-1), Ciaran Russell (0-3, 1tp); Jason Monaghan, Cillian Taaffe; James Rogers, Dean Burns (0-1), Jamie O’Callaghan; Tony McKenna, Ryan Burns (0-9, 2xtpf, 4f), James Russell

Subs: Sam Scott (1-0) for Cillian Taaffe (37 Mins), Aaron Levins for Colm Murphy (57 Mins)

Ardee St Marys team: Tiernan Markey (0-2, 1tpf); Paraic McKenny, Donal McKenny, Fionn Coyle; Flynn Markey, Keelin Martin (0-1), Kian Moran; Sean Callaghan (0-1), Eimhin Keenan; Tom Jackson (0-3), Ciaran Keenan (0-1), Jonathan Commins (0-2, 1tp); Adam Gillespie, Daire McConnon (0-1), Conor Gillespie (0-1)

Subs: Liam Jackson (0-1) for Daire McConnon (half-time), Carl Gillespie (0-1) for Adam Gillespie (37 Mins), Tadhg McDonnell for Kian Moran (37 Mins), Shane Mathews for Conor Gillespie (40 Mins),

Referee: Colm McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra)

Kian Moran and Jonathan Commins (Ardee St Marys) tackle Tony McKenna (Hunterstown Rovers)

Daithi Carroll (Hunterstown Rovers) wins the ball ahead of Fionn Coyle (Ardee St Marys)

Photos: Ciaran Culligan

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