It was another busy year for underage hurling in the county, with fervent activity on a number of fronts and no shortage of skill on display - at domestic or intercounty level. In total, seven county competitions were played off during the year. These were: the McCreesh Shield (U11); ground hurling (U12); O'Broin Shield; U14 Feile na nGael; and championships at U14, U16 and minor grades. Meanwhile, Louth county teams participated in Roinn C U16, Roinn C minor, and U15 blitz competitions. Intercounty action The Roinn C U16 competition commenced with a game against Tyrone at Knockbridge on 3/7/02. It was a well-contested game with the scores level at the end, Louth 5-4 Tyrone 3-10. In the remaining five games, Louth gave two concessions, the first against Antrim B in Ballymena and the second against Fermanagh in Knockbridge on August 14th. They did compete against Cavan in Mullahoran on July 10th, losing by 2-5 to 1-6 and faced Monaghan at Carrickmacross on July 17th, losing 6-10 to 1-8, before going under at the hands of Donegal in Omagh a week later (5-6 to 2-4). Louth panel: Ronan Keane, Barry Devlin, Brian Gargan, Jason O'Sullivan, Owen McEvoy, Shane McGinn, John Campbell, Gerard Smyth, John Sharkey, Patrick Coyle, Stephen Fisher, Gavin Kane, Peter Rafferty, David Kenna, Thomas Cooney, Tony Deluca, Kieran Brannigan, Wayne Trea, Ciaran Byrne, Dara Herr, Stephen Mackin, Joe McAreavey, Robert McElroy. Mentors: Gerry Dunne, Aidan Kerrigan, Paul Callan, Micheal O'Broin. The Roinn C minor competition commenced on June 29th, but Louth were forced to concede the points in their game against Tyrone in Dungannon. From the remaining games, the results were as follows: Monaghan 5-9, Louth 1-2 (Knockbridge, July 14th) Donegal 2-14, Louth 0-3 (Dungannon, July 20th) Louth 3-7, Antrim B 3-2 (Knockbridge, August 3rd) Louth 2-12, Fermanagh 0-2 (Aghdrumsee, August 10th) Louth panel: Finbar Coyle, John Flannery, Michael Callan, Jonathon Matthews, Richard Sherlock, Shane Kennedy, Eamonn McAuley, Shane Callan, Mark Larkin, Paul Minford, Lorcan Fisher, Martin Gill, Eamon Petticrew, Aaron Caffrey, Andrew McDermott, Sean Gilsenan, Mark Duffy, Shane Kerrigan, Stephen Byrne, Vincent Hynes, Cormac McAuley, Eamon Mulvena, Shane Kirwan, Adrian Wallace, John Donnolly. Mentors: Aidan Kerrigan, Paul Callan, Michéal O'Broin, Gerry Dunne. The intercounty U15 blitz took place in Longford on Saturday August 24th. At 7.30 am, 24 players and five mentors set out for Longford. Louth played three games as follows: 1st game - Meath B 5-8, Louth 0-3 2nd game - Wicklow 1-8, Louth 0-3 3rd game - Roscommon 6-10, Louth 0-3 After the games refreshments were supplied to all participants and each member of the panel received a Leinster t-shirt. The five mentors also were presented with Leinster inscribed jackets. Louth panel: Kevin Campbell, Mark Wallace, David Kettle, Andrew McGrave, Kevin McNally, Liam Woods, Barry Hoey, Mark Devin, Brendan McMahon, Cathal Ryan, Sean McMahon, Conor Walsh, Ronan Seery, Donnacha O'Connell, Paddy McCormack, Dermot Mooney, Shane Dillon, James Connolly, Thomas Cooney, Christopher Lennon, Jason Condon, J Roddy, Darren Reid, Kevin Conway. Mentors: T Ryan, T Corcoran, B McNally, Ronan Byrne, Miceal O'Broin. Louth also supplied a ten-a-side team from 4th classes in the primary schools. Five other teams - Laois, Meath, Dublin, Offaly and Kildare - took part in a blitz in Celbridge on Friday May 17th, Louth were defeated in the three games played. Refreshments were supplied to all concerned. County competitions O'Broin Shield Blitz This competition was played in Termonfeckin on Thursday July 4th. Five teams took part and it was divided into two sections. Cnoc Brid were the winners of Section A, defeating Naomh Feicin in the final by a narrow margin. Pearse Og also took part. In section B, Collon were winners over Wolfe Tones. But Cnoc Brid won the day. Afterwards, Micheal O'Broin presented the trophy to the winning Knockbridge captain Ruairi Kirk. U11 McCreesh Shield This was a tremendous success, attracting a record ten teams. It was played in Knockbridge on Saturday October 12th and was divided into two sections. In Section A (for the shield), Cnoc Brid defeated Collon A in the final on a scoreline of 1-2 to 1-0. In Section B, newcomers Louth village were winners over St Pauls in the final, 2-0 to 0-1. Other Results: Section A: St Fechins 1-0, Pearse Og 0-2 Cnoc Brid 3-1, N Moninne 0-1 Collon A 2-4, Cnoc Brid A'2-0 Collon A 2-2, St Fechins 0-1 Pearse Og 1-1, N Moninne 0-1 Collon A 3-2, N Moninne 1-0 Pearse Og 4-1, Cnoc Brid A 0-2 St Fechins 2-0, N Moninne 0-1 Pearse Og 1-0, Collon A 1-0 C. Brid A 2-1, St Fechins 1-0 Section B: Louth Village 0-2, N Medocs 0-0 St Pauls 0-1, Cnoc Brid B 0-1 N Medocs 1-1, Collon B 0-0 Louth Village 1-1, C Brid B 0-1 St Pauls 3-0, Collon B 0-1 N Medocs 1-0, C Brid B 0-1 Louth Village 1-0, St Pauls 0-1 C Brid B 3-0, Collon B 1-1 St Pauls 4-0, N Medocs 1-0 Louth Village 2-5, Collon B 1-1 Ground Hurling U11 competition This was a new venture, with eight teams taking part, divided into two sections. Two finals were played with winners and runners up receiving hurleys and sliothars. Each juvenile who took part received a hurling stick pen with the Louth crest. Feile na nGael league Six teams participated in this competition, which was divided into two sections. In the first semi-final, Cnoc Brid defeated Collon on May 16th, while Pearse Og were winners over St Fechins in the second 'semi' at the Na Piarsaigh Grounds on May 23rd. In the final, at Termonfeckin on Monday May 27th, Cnoc Brid retained the title defeating Pearse Og by 3-11 to 2-4. They went on to compete in the national finals, which were held at Ulster venues. The Knockbridge squad of 24 players - together with Gerry Dunne, Aidan Kerrigan and Derek Kettle - travelled to Dungannon on June 20th, returning on the 22nd. It was an enjoyable weekend even though they were only successful in one of their three games. Minor championship Six teams took part in this competition, which for the first time was played on a league basis with the top two (Knockbridge and Pearse Og) meeting in the final at Young Irelands Grounds on May 8th. It was a thrilling game and ended in a draw, Pearse Og 3-4,Cnoc Brid 1-10. Due to unforeseen circumstances the replay did not take place until October 13th at Pairc na nGael. While the game was well contested the adverse weather conditions were factors in making it a very low scoring encounter: Cnoc Brid 1-3, Pearse Og 0-5 Michéal O'Broin presented the cup to the winning captain Adrian Wallace. Under 16 championship Six teams took part in this competition as well and again it was like the minor one, played on a league basis. At the time of going to press the final remains to be played. Under 14 championship Six teams took part and it was divided into two sections. The winners of each are to meet in the final, which at the time of going to press remained to be played. Sceim Iomana For the fifth year, Coiste Iomana submitted plans to the Leinster Development Committee for the promotion of the game in Louth. Details of the eight projects organised have been sent to Leinster Council for payment of over £10,000. Hurley/Helmet Scheme This scheme - monitored by Coiste Iomana - has been a tremendous success, supplying 1,030 hurleys and 270 helmets to primary and post primary school as well as to the hurling and camogie clubs. New development areas One new area has been started, in Louth village, which is under the charge of Joe Callan and John O'Flaherty. They tasted success by winning Section B of the McCreesh Shield. There are encouraging signs from the Cooley area (where Damien Callan has been domiciled of late) and in the Lordship area as well (where Paddy Oliver is showing an interest). In these areas, indoor hurling is the first priority. Coiste Iomana is very pleased with these development as well as the school activities that have been undertaken. Post-Primary activities Four schools (Colaiste Ris; St Josephs CBS, Drogheda; St Olivers CC; and Ardee CC) took part in a blitz - confined to first year pupils - in Termonfeckin on May 24th. The winners were Colaiste Ris, Dundalk. Both Tony Ryan and Aidan Kerrigan have been active with their schools in the Leinster Colleges competition during the year. It is hoped to have equipment available to them under a special project funded by Leinster Development. Tweet

Most Read Stories