Ryan Burns’ Fires Hunterstown to Provincial Semi Final

AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Football Championship

Quarter Final

From Stabannon

Hunterstown Rovers 0-11

Park Ratheniska (Laois) 0-6

Louth Intermediate champions Hunterstown Rovers earned their place in this year’s AIB Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship Semi-Final after a hard fought 0-11 to 0-6 win over Laois champions Park Ratheniska.

After an awesome opening round performance two weeks ago, Hunterstown produced a different type of class today as they stayed patient to grind out a tough win.

Ryan Burns opened the scoring with a close range free before the Laois men took over in Stabannon, racing into a 0-1 to 0-3 lead on 10 minutes. Though, Rovers had missed a serious of chances in the opening period – with wasteful efforts.

Burns landed another free and hit a sweet score off the left boot to level the game up for his side. Micheal Reid, who was deployed in a more advanced position got his sides fourth point with Park Ratheniska responding soon after to leave the game at 0-4 all on the 20 minute mark.

A close range free from Burns was the only remaining score of the opening half. Half Time – Hunterstown Rovers 0-5 Park Ratheniska 0-4.

The Laois men equalised early in the second half, though, this was as close as they would get as the Hunterstown men truly took control from there on in. David Finn edged them ahead, while Ryan Burns then hit a bullet from long range for an orange flag. This left the scores at 0-8 to 0-5 on 40 minutes.

The All-Star nominee converted another free from the deck and Ryan Ward neatly struck over a left footed effort to leave the Louth champions in control on 50 minutes, 0-10 t0 0-5.

Park Ratheniska were reduced to 14 men late on as Ryan Burns marked yet another fine performance from himself with the games best effort late on, as he came on his trademark loop and let fly. Full Time – Hunterstown Rovers 0-11 Park Ratheniska 0-6.

Hunterstown Rovers will now face Tubberclair of Westmeath in two weeks time in the Semi Final after the Westmeath champions had a convincing win over St Mairtins of Wexford. This will be a home game for Hunterstown.

Player of the Match:

Ryan Burns (Hunterstown Rovers)

Hunterstown Rovers Team;

Donovan Sheridan; Adam O’Reilly, Euan Woodlock, James Russell; Shane Halpenny, Patrick Taaffe, Daithi Carroll; Jason Monaghan, Marc Ward; Cillian Taaffe, Micheal Reid (0-1), David Finn (0-1); Ciaran Russell, Ryan Ward (0-1), Ryan Burns (0-8, 6f).

Subs: Paul Carrie for Ciaran Russell, Tony McKenna for Marc Ward, James Rogers for Ryan Ward, Colm Murphy for Daithi Carroll.

Referee: Seamus Farrelly (Dublin)