In total seven county competitions were played off during the year. These were U10 Blitz, O'Broin Shield (U12), McCreesh Shield (U11), Feile na nGael (U14) and the championship at U14, U16 and minor grades. Meanwhile county teams (Louth) participated in Roinn 'C' U16 and minor, U16 Leinster Blitz and U14 DJ Carey School of Hurling. By Micéal O'Broin. Intercounty Action The Roinn 'C' competition commenced with a game against Tyrone at Termonfeckin on 28/6/03 Louth scored a narrow win in a great game 1-11 to 1-8. In the remaining five games Louth gave two concessions, the first against Antrim 'B' in Ballymena and the second agianst Fermanagh in Knockbridge on August 16th. They did compete against Cavan in Breffni Park on July 5th winning with a massive score 4-16 to 0-5 and faced Monaghan in Carrickmacross on July 19th losing 2-14 to 2-6 before going under to Donegal in Derrytresk a week later (3-10 to 0-6). Louth panel - James Connolly, Tony De Luca, Shane Kerrigan, Ciaran Brannigan, Conaill Byrne, Mark Rafferty, Aaron Caffrey, Shane Kennedy, Patrick Coyle, Eamonn McAuley, Gavin Kane, Eugene Litchfield, Gerard Smyth, Keith Taffe, Dara Herr, Cormac Cullen, JJ McAreavey, John Sharkey, Barry McCluskey, Darren O Handrahan, Shane Callan, Ronan Byrne, David Kettle, Kevin McNally, Chris Lennon. Mentors: Aiden Kerrigan, Miceal O'Broin, Paddy Murphy. The Roinn 'C' U16 commenced with a game against Monaghan at Young Irelands grounds on July 2nd with the home side losing on the score 4-11 to 0-5. In the remaining five games Louth conceded one against Armagh at the O'Raghallaighs on August 6th. The other results were as follows. At Breffni Park July 9th - Cavan 3-12, Louth 2-9 At Middleton July 16th - Armagh 4-7, Louth 3-5 At Carrickmacross July 23rd - Monaghan 5-9, Louth 0-5 At Young Irelands July 30th - Louth 2-11, Cavan 1-9 Louth panel - Donnacha O'Connell, David Kettle, Barry McCluskey, Mark Wallace, Liam Woods, Conaill Byrne, Dara Herr, Kevin McNally, Carl Farnan, David Macken, Barry Hoey, James Connolly, Chris Lennon, Sam Farnan, Stephen Ryan, Darren O hAndrahan, Andrew McCrave, Ciaran Donnolly, Philip McGovern, Seamus Drum, Peadar McArdle, Brian McCabe, Jason Condon, John Roddy, Mark Devin, Shane Devin, Mark Hoey, Brian Gargan, David Kenna, Paul Grimes, Owen McEvoy, Kevin Conway. The U16 Leinster Blitz took place in Longford on May 10th with a 7am start for the 21 players plus mentors Shane Darcy and Miceal O'Broin. Louth played three games with the following results . Wicklow 3-11, Louth 1-4, Westmeath 5-8, Louth 2-4, Longford 5-4, Louth 4-2. Louth panel - Donnacha O'Connell, Kevin Campbell, Eoin McEvoy, David Kettle, Brian McCabe, Andrew McCrave, Paul Grimes, Darren Macken, Mark Devin, Chris Lennon, Barry McCluskey, Philip McGovern, James Connolly, Darren O Handrahan, Jason Condon, Kevin McNally, Kevin Conway, Mark Wallace, Darren Reid, Brendan Duffy, David Kenna All the panel and mentors were presented with Leinster T-shirts and refreshements were supplied to all concerned. County Championships and Tournaments O'Broin Shield (U12 Championship) This competition was played in Termonfeckin on September 20th. It was divided into 3 sections with six teams taking part. Section 'A' Shield: Cnoc Brid 4-0, Collon 0-1 Section 'B': Pearse Og 0-6, Naomh Moninne 0-1 Section 'C': St Paul's/St Olivers 2-1, Naomh Feicin 1-0 Other results were as follows: Cnoc Brid 3-3, Naomh Feicin 0-1 Naomh Feicin 2-0, Naomh Moninne 2-0 Cnoc Brid 7-6, Naomh Moninne 0-1 Collon 5-1, Pearse 1-3 Pearse Og 5-1, St Paul's/Olivers 1-1 Collon 1-5, St Pauls/Olivers 0-1 Feile na nGael League (U14) Eight teams took part in this competition which was divided into two sections. The winners of Section 'A' Cnoc Brid (2-4) defeated Naomh Feicin (1-2) Section 'B' winners in the final played in St Moctas on 22/5/03. Other results as follows: Section 1: Cnoc Brid 7-4, Naomh Moninne 1-1 Naomh Moninne 4-2, Naomh Merdoc 1-2 Pearse Og 5-4, Naomh Moninne 3-4 Cnoc Brid 5-4 Naomh Medocs 1-2 Section 2: Naomh Feicin 2-5 W Tones 1-1 Collon 4-0 St Vincents 3-0 Collon 0-12 Naomh Feicin 3-5 Cnoc Brid represented Louth in the National finals which were played at venues in Meath, Westmeath and Kildare. Cnoc Brid were hosted by the Dunshaughlin Club. McCreesh Shield (U11) Blitz was played in Knockbridge on 7/9/03 and attracted six teams. It was divided into two sections with Collon winning Section 'A' and St Vincents claiming Section 'B'. Peggy McCreesh was thanked for her generous sponsorship of sweets etc. Under 10 Hurling one-day blitz This was a new venture and was hosted by the Collon Juvenile Club five clubs were represented by 61 players who took part in several mini games played in a non competitive atmosphere. Light refreshments were supplied and each player was presented with a hurley at the end of the day. There was a good presentage of parents present as well. Minor hurling championship This competition was played on a league basis with six teams taking part. Pearse Og and Knoc Brid have reached the final which will be played in early November. Results of games played: Naomh Feicin 8-9, Naomh Moninne 0-2 Cnoc Brid 4-6 Pearse 1-2 Naomh Moninne 4-4 Naomh Medocs 0-1 Pearse 6-3 Naomh Medocs 0-3 Cnoc Brid 3-16 Naomh Moninne 2-0 Naomh Feicin 2-4 Collon 1-1 Collon 2-10 Naomh Medocs 0-2 Pearse Og 5-15 Naomh Moninne 0-2 Semi-Finals Cnoc Brid 3-8 Naomh Feicin 1-2 Pearse Og 3-6 Collon 1-5 Under 16 Hurling Championship Played on a league basis it attracted six teams and was divided into two sections. Semi-finals results: Cnoc Brid 3-8 Collon 3-4 N. Feicin 6-3 N Moninne 1-0 The final played in Dunleer on Sunday October 12th was a great game with Naomh Feicin losing out by a solitary point to Cnoc Brid on the final score. Cnoc Brid 0-14 to 2-7 for Naomh Feicin. The latter were deemed unlucky not to force a replay as they missed from a last minute '65'. Under 14 championship Six teams took part in a knock out competition which has reached the final stage due to be played 26/10/03. Results: Quarter Finals: Collon 4-6 Pearse Og 1-3 C Brid beat N Feicin Semi-Finals C Brid 5-10 St Vincents 1-2 Collon 3-5 N Moninne 2-1 Final still to be played. Sceim Iomana For the 6th year Coiste Iomana submitted plans to the Leinster Development Committee for the promotion of the game in Louth. Details of eight projects organised have been sent to Leinster Council for payment or grants which are available. On March 11th 24 dozen hurleys and 80 sliothars were presented to the following eight juvenile clubs - Naomh Feicin, Naomh Moninne, Cnoc Brid, Collon, St Vincents, Wolfe Tones, Naomh Medocs, Pearse Og at a presentation in O'Raghallaighs by Paddy Kerr, Chairman of the Leinster Development committee. This ammounted to over £4000 and is part of the annual grant paid to Louth during the year. Hurley/Helmet Scheme This scheme monitored by Coiste Iomana has been a tremendous success supplying 1000 hurleys and 150 helmets to the primary and post primary schools as well as to the camogie and hurling clubs. Development areas Development in these new areas continues to be satisfactory and St Vincents retained the Section 'B' Shield in the McCreesh competition. In these areas indoor hurling is the first priority and Coiste Iomana is pleased with these developments as well as the school activities that have been undertaken. Post Primary Activities Three schools (Colaiste Ris., St Josephs CBS Drogheda and the Ardee CC School) took part in a one day blitz which took place in Termonfeckin on May 24th. St Josephs were the winners with Conail Byrne of Colaiste Ris winning the skills award. Congratulations are due to Aiden Kerrigan of Colaiste Ris whose school won the North Leinster U14 championship by defeating Dunshaughlin in the final. Earlier in the competition they defeated St Josephs Drogheda, De la Salle Dundalk and Ardee CC. DJ Carey School of Hurling 2003 Louth, represented by 15 U14 hurlers, were one of the six Leinster counties which attended the 'DJ Carey' School of hurling in St Kierans College Kilkenny for four days July 15th/18th. The remaining six counties will took part from July 22nd/25th. In its first year and organised by Comhairle Laighean it proved to be a great success. Practical sessions took place on each of the four days comprising of (A) Ground/Striking/Blocking, (B) Hooking/Clashing, (C) Ball handling skills, (D) Specialist skills (Frees/Sideline Cuts), (E) Scoring/Defending Skills, (F) Frontal Block/Flicking). Each of these sessions concluded with a 35 minute Conditioned Game. The entire squad were divided into six mixed teams and played four games each of 20 minute duration also each county were involved with a local Kilkenny club team. In Louth's case it was against the Clara team. The school also consisted of lectures on the different rules dicipline and there was visits to the hand ball alleys and gym. On one of the nights all the squad and their mentors visited Nowlan Park to watch the Kilkenny senior team in training. Accommodation for all was provided in the spacious St Kierans College with all the meals supplied in the canteen. All the 15 members of each squad plus their mentors received gear and a t-shirt all of which were branded with the school of hurling. The five teams who took part with Louth were Kilkenny, Carlow, Offaly, Wicklow and Westmeath. Louth squad Andrew Macken (Naomh Moninne); Donal Rafferty (Naomh Moninne); Kevin Keenan (Naomh Moninne); Lorcon Kavanagh (Collon); Ryan Lenaghan (Collon); Pauric Bannon (Collon); Paul Dillon (Naomh Feicin); Christopher Gargan (Naomh Feicin); Daniel Clinton (Naomh Feicin); Ruairi Kirk (Cnoc Brid); Niall Meegan (Cnoc Brid); Barry Hoey (Cnoc Brid); Cormac Bellow (Pearse Og); Brian McCabe (Pearse Og); Sean McFaul (Pearse Og). Mentors - Alan Moore (Naomh Moninne), Tony Corcoran (Collon), Miceal O'Broin (Runai Coiste Iomana Co Lu). Coiste Iomana intends to use this squad plus others as a development group (U15) for the coming year. Tweet

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