2024 Louth Club Championship draws

The 2024 Louth Club Championship draws threw up some very intriguing ties across the Senior, Intermediate, and Junior Football grades, which were made in Darver on Thursday night.

Starting in senior, and Ardee St Marys’ bid for a third consecutive Joe Ward triumph sees them face the Geraldines who reached the quarter finals last year, with former three in a row winners Newtown Blues completing the group.

Last year’s runners up, Naomh Martin will once again face St Mochtas for the second year running. Both sides will also face Cooley Kickhams in a somewhat group of death.

2023 Intermediate Championship winners Roche Emmets will begin their first senior campaign since 2006 against St Josephs and St Fechins. They will take on a Joes side who reached the quarter finals of the championship last year, with St Fechins aiming to emerge from this group, having needed to beat Dundalk Gaels in a relegation play off to preserve their Joe Ward status last time out.

Last but not least, 2023 semi finalists Dreadnots will face St Brides who narrowly avoided relegation to Intermediate last year, with fellow beaten semi finalists St Patricks completing the group, who will be managed by Down pair Declan Mussen and Kevin Franklin, brother of Joes manager Tom Franklin.

Intermediate Championship:
The Intermediate championship also drew up some tasty encounters, including a Dundalk derby in group one, with Clan na Gael taking on the Sean O’Mahonys, with the Glen Emmets the third team drawn out in that group, who preserved their Intermediate status with victory over Dundalk Young Irelands last year.

Dundalk Young Irelands will face Hunterstown Rovers in the group stage for the second year running, Last year’s finalists O’Raghallaighs complete the group, aiming to go one better this time around.

Group 3 sees Mattock Rangers hoping to fare better in 2024, having failed to make it out of the group stages last year on score difference, when they face 2023 Junior Championship winners Glyde Rangers. The third team of this group, Dundalk Gaels who dropped down from the senior grade last year, will hope for a swift return to the Joe Ward table.

Finalists from 2022, St Kevins will take on last year’s semi finalists Kilkerley Emmets, with both sides facing last year’s surprise package Stabannon Parnells.

Junior Championship:
The race for Christy Bellew is always an intriguing one with two or three strong candidates usually there or there abouts, with Lannliere, Naomh Fionnbarra, and the O’Connells among those vying for promotion to the intermediate grade.

Having preserved their Division 2 status ahead of this year’s new league campaign a few weeks prior, Lannliere will be hoping that that this provides the springboard for a tilt at Junior glory, as they face last year’s quarter finalists Naomh Malachi and Dowdallshill.

The O’Connells will face the Westerns and Annaghminon Rovers who despite failing to emerge from their groups las year, are capable to giving any opposition a scare, with the Westerns drawing with St Oliver Plunketts last year for example.

Speaking of the Plunketts, last year’s semi finalists will be aiming to go one better this time around, when the face into a four team group with the fellow beaten 2023 semi finalists the Wolfe Tones, along with St Nicholas and Na Piarsagh.

The other four team group will see 2023 finalists Naomh Fionnbarra face the John Mitchells in a repeat of last year’s quarter final, as well as facing Cuchulainn Gaels managed by former Barrs boss Paddy White, in a group which also includes the Sean McDerrmotts.

Senior Hurling Championship:
As for the Senior Hurling Championship, Knockbridge will take on Naomh Moninne in the opening round, with holders St Fechins receiving a bye.

ANCHOR TOURS Senior Football Championship

Group 1
St Bride’s, Dreadnots, St Patrick’s.

Group 2
Naomh Máirtín, Cooley Kickhams, St Mochta’s.

Group 3
Geraldines, Ardee St Mary’s, Newtown Blues.

Group 4
St Joseph’s, Roche Emmets, St Fechin’s.

CTI BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Intermediate Football Championship

Group 1
Clan na Gael, Sean O’Mahony’s, Glen Emmets.

Group 2
Hunterstown Rovers, Dundalk Young Irelands, O Raghallaighs.

Group 3
Mattock Rangers, Glyde Rangers, Dundalk Gaels.

Group 4
St Kevin’s, Kilkerley Emmets, Stabannon Parnells.

DKIT SPORT Junior Football Championship

Group 1
Lannléire, Naomh Malachi, Dowdallshill.

Group 2
Westerns, O’Connell’s, Annaghminnon Rovers.

Group 3
Oliver Plunkett’s, Wolfe Tones, St Nicholas, Na Piarsaigh Blackrock.

Group 4
Cuchulainn Gaels, John Mitchel’s, Naomh Fionnbarra, Sean McDermott’s.

ANCHOR TOURS Senior Hurling Championship

Round 1
Naomh Moninne vs Knockbridge
St Fechin’s bye