While there was rare disappointment on the SHC front for Knockbridge in 2002, the village club did win a commendable third successive county minor hurling championship as well as annexing the senior hurling league crown for the third time in four years. There were a number of other worthwhile successes to record too. In a year of mixed fortunes for the club, Knockbridge - though relinquishing their senior championship title after two years upon the throne - still chalked up many noteworthy successes. The baby of the Wee County hurling family won the Louth senior hurling league for the third time in four years and completed remarkable trebles at minor and also at U-14 Feile levels. In addition, they also had notable wins in the U11 and U12 championships and reigned supreme in the INTO Sevens. As if that wasn't enough, at the time of going to press, the 'Bridge were also in the final stages of the U14 and U16 championships. Three-in-a-row of minor titles Knockbridge minor hurlers retained the county title for the club for the third successive year with a narrow victory over Pearse Og, 1-3 to 0-5, at the Gaels' pitch on Sunday 13th October. This match was a replay, with the original fixture ending in a draw, 2-l each (on May 30th in Young Irelands' pitch). Pearse Og went into the replay as red hot favourites, buoyed up by their senior championship success over the same opposition the previous Sunday. However, a Man of the Match performance from Shane Kennedy paved the way for victory over a very determined Pearse Og side. Knockbridge trailed early on but levelled with a goal in the second half from David Mackin and fine displays of power hurling from Shane Kerrigan, Eamonn Peticrew (0-2), Adrian Wallace, Stephen and Kevin Hilliard, Gavin Kane, Stephen Mackin and Ronan Byrne (0-1) turned the game around and secured a well deserved victory for the village side. The cup was presented to the victorious captain Adrian Wallace by Coiste Iomana Secretary Miceal O Broin, who congratulated both teams on a fine display of hurling and praised both sets of players for serving up a very competitive match in very bad weather conditions. Knockbridge, 2002 Louth minor hurling champions: Ciaran Byrne; Stephen Mackin, Shane Kerrigan, Kevin Hilliard; Adrian Wallace (captain), Shane Kennedy, Dara Herr; David Mackin, Eamon Peticrew; Gavin Kane, Stephen Hilliard, John Donnelly; Ronan Byrne, Ciaran Thornton, Michael McKenna. Subs. Conaill Byrne, Chris Murphy, Liam Woods, Kevin McNally, Karl Priestman, Barry McCloskey, Mark Cumiskey, Brendan Duffy, Darren Mackin. Senior hurling league winners - again! Knockbridge won their third senior hurling league title in the space of four years when they beat old rivals Naomh Moninne by 1-15 to 3-8 at Pairc Clan Na Gael. While they dominated most of the game, Knockbridge didn't have things all their own way and were made to fight tooth and nail for victory in the end. A great rally by the town side in the last ten minutes saw them draw level. Knockbridge led by seven points with just over five minutes left - with goals from Padraig Mulholland and Brian Brady - but before they knew what had hit them Moninne had levelled matters. But a devastating run by team captain Raymond Kelly followed by an inch perfect handpass to the big centre forward Gareth Corcoran secured victory for Knockbridge when the latter-named player sent over the winning point right at the death. There were excellent performances from Paul Dunne (0-1), Ray Kelly (0-1), David Dunne (0-1), Eddie Quigley (0-1), Conal O hUallachain (0-1), Gareth Corcoran (0-2), Paddy Mone (0-1), Niall Byrne (1-1), Brendan Corbett (0-1) and Sean Byrne (0-5). Afterwards, the Paddy Rice Cup was presented to winning captain Ray Kelly by County Board Chairman Paddy McMahon, who congratulated both teams on a great game of close and intense hurling in spite of the very difficult weather conditions. Team captain Kelly paid tribute to Naomh Moninne on a fine sporting game and then thanked mentors Gerry Dunne and Aidan Kerrigan and all the players for their dedication and commitment throughout the year. Senior hurling championship Even though Knockbridge defeated Naomh Moninne on a scoreline of 1-10 to 1-8 in the county senior hurling championship semi-final on 28th July, a replay was ordered when Naomh Moninne took the unusual step of appealing the result first to Louth County Board and then to the Leinster Council, objecting on the grounds that normal time was not completed. However, Knockbridge ran out decisive winners in the re-fixture on Thursday evening, September 19th on a scoreline of 7-11 to 2-8. In the county final, though, the defending champions of two years ran up against a very determined Pearse Og side and lost an intense and very entertaining final on a scoreline of 3-11 to 1-9. Despite the obvious disappointment of failing in their bid for an historic three-in-a-row, Knockbridge were the first to congratulate Pearse Og on their first ever Louth senior hurling championship heist. Armagh senior hurling league The Knockbridge hurlers competed again in Division One of the Armagh senior hurling league and narrowly missed promotion, having played twelve matches and losing three - to Derrynoose, Lisnaskea and Pearse Og. Next year, the club hopes to make a return to Division Two of the Armagh League Allianz national hurling league: County hurlers Paul and David Dunne, Trevor Hilliard (captain), Niall and Sean Byrne, Paddy Mone, Brendan McNally, Diarmuid Duffy and Shane Darcy played with the Louth senior hurlers during the year. Joe Power's charges played five games in Division Three of the Allianz national hurling league, but failed to secure promotion after defeat to Longford in the league final. However, the big disappointment for the county senior hurlers was defeat to Meath in the first round of the All-Ireland junior hurling championship. Knockbridge hope to see more of their players on the Louth senior hurling panel for the league and championship of 2003. Congratulations to the senior and juvenile footballers Knockbridge HC extends hearty congratulations and well done 'to St. Brides on reaching the senior football championship final, only to be narrowly beaten by Mattock Rangers, 2-11 to 1-11. Knockbridge wishes them every success in the coming year both in the league and the championship and hopes they can capture the Joe Ward Cup! The U10 team rounded off a great year for the footballers by winning the county championship . congratulations and well done to all concerned! Three-in-a-row of Feile titles The U14 hurlers retained their Feile title when they beat a very skilful Pearse Og side in Termonfeckin by 3-11 to 2-4 on Monday 27th May in the county final. There were good performances from Barry Piper, Dara Herr, David Kettle, Conaill Byrne and Kevin McNally. The team went on to represent Louth in the national Feile where they were hosted by Dungannon. After success against the host club, Knockbridge lost to Four Roads of Roscommon and Armagh side Cuchulainns. They nevertheless proved worthy representatives for their club and county. The club would like to pay a special word of thanks to team mentors Derek Kettle, Aidan Kerrigan and Gerry Dunne, and also to Paddy Farrell, John and Ronan Byrne. A special word of thanks also to the host club, Dungannon and their mentors Ciaran Mc Hugh and Cathal McErlean and also the host families for their generosity and hospitality. Thanks also to the numerous sponsors whose generosity helped defray some of the expense involved by supporting the Feile fund and sponsored walk. U12 championship winners The 'Invincible' panel coached by Aidan Kerrigan achieved a notable treble of INTO sevens, McCreesh Shield and U12 Louth championship. In the U12 championship th 'Invincibles' defeated Termonfeckin, Collon and Pearse Og to clinch the title. Coiste Iomana Secretary Miceal O Broin presented the O'Broin Shield to team captain Ruairi Kirk. The championship was held on the excellent St Fechins pitch and was very well organised. Knockbridge's winning team: James King, Niall Meegan, Joseph Edwards, Frank McGeeney, Ruairi Kirk (captain), Gavin Kerrigan, Aaron Kirk, Peter Brennan, Conaill Devin, Darren Brennan, John Gernon, Richard McGuinness, Andrew Kane, Greg Kehoe, David Deane, Conor Deane, Andrew McGuinness, Kenneth Thornton, Steven Hoey, Shane Devin, Gerard McKeown, Conor McMahon, Cormac McAdam. McCreesh Shield winners Knockbridge won the U11 county championship by winning the McCreesh Shield when they beat new club Collon by 1-2 to 1-0 in Pairc an Chuinnigh on Saturday October 12th in the final of the blitz. Coiste Iomana secretary Micheal O Broin presented the Shield to team captain Shane Devin. The Man of the Match award went to Dermot Mone. New club St.Mochtas won the B Section. Coiste Iomana and Knockbridge Hurling Club would like to pay a special thanks to Peggy and Kevin McCreesh and their family for their very generous sponsorship of this prestigious U11 Louth championship over the years. The winning team was: A Kane, S Kearns, R McGuinness, P Gallagher, M Keane, G McKeown, S Devine, D Mc Kiernan, D Mone, Greg Kehoe, C Deane, S Hoey,A Morris and C Thornton. INTO/GAA Mini Sevens winners Knockbridge School won the county INTO/GAA hurling sevens title when they beat Collon School by 2-1 to 1-1 at the end of April in Knockbridge. Best players were Gavin Kerrigan (2-0), Shane Devin (0-1), Frank McGeeney, James King, Conal Devine and Niall Meegan. The victorious team was picked from a large panel dubbed 'The Invincibles', which included the following players: James King, Niall Meegan, Conaill Devin, Shane Devin, Ruairi Kirk, Gavin Kerrigan (captain), Frank McGeeney, Joseph Edwards, Steven Hoey, Darren Brennan, Kenneth Thornton, Greg Kehoe, John Gernon, Richard McGuinness, Andrew Kane, David Deane, Andrew McGuinness, Gerard McKeown, Aaron Kirk and Conor Deane. Subsequently, one player was selected (after the play off on Monaghan Harps' pitch) to play in the sevens competition in Croke Park. The honour fell to Shane Devin who played to a packed stadium before the All-Ireland hurling final between Clare and Kilkenny. Successful summer camp One of the biggest and most enjoyable summer camps in the county was the hurling camp in Knockbridge at which one hundred boys and girls from U7 to U14 attended from August 19th to 23rd. Many of the young players that started hurling at the camp have continued training and hope to be playing with the club over the coming years. Chief organisers Mickey Heeney and John Byrne did an excellent job running the camp and distributing tee shirts and prizes for the various age groups. Thanks is due to the excellent work carried out by coaches Aidan Kerrigan, John Byrne, Paddy Farrell, Mairead Kerrigan, Brendan Mc Nally, Noel Callan, Shane Kerrigan, Paddy Mone, Ronan Byrne, Kevin Kirk, David Kettle and Mark Devin. A special word of thanks also must go to St Brides GFC for the use of their facilities, Sincere thanks. Finally, a sincere word of thanks is due to the following, all of whom gave invaluable help to the club and the various teams during what was a fabulous year on the playing field: Knockbridge Hurling Club officers and committee would like to thank: St Brides GFC, Glyde Rangers GFC, St Mochtas GFC, Naomh Malachi GFC and DKIT for all their help, and for the use of their facilities during the year. Thanks also to Irene Brennan for her very professional help and patience with juvenile training. Thanks to John Byrne for his expert work with hurley repairs and his support with training. Also Ronan Byrne, Conaill Byrne, Kevin McNally and Brendan McNally for their great work with preparation of playing gear and hurleys. To Derek Kettle for his invaluable help with the new set of juvenile goals, public address system, club flags, hurleys, glues etc. Thanks to Niall, Conaill and Ronan Byrne for their help and expertise with first aid; to PRO Frank Carney for match reports and the Lotto; and Paddy Farrell for all his help at County Board level .and at training and matches. Thanks to the following for their great help on match days: Paddy Farrell, John Byrne, Fintan Wynne, Aidan Costello, Val Corcoran, Joey Callan and Seamus Moore. Thanks also to the many people who helped on the flag days and a special word of thanks to all who helped with the very successful auction in March. Also thanks to Ann Byrne for her organisation of the annual poker classic. Thanks also to the many sponsors whose invaluable financial help is much appreciated. Thanks to the players who gave great loyalty and support throughout the year. The club is looking forward to the continued support of everyone involved for the coming season in an effort to build on the great success of the last four years. Tweet

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