Louth star Paddy Keenan announces retirement from inter-county football

Paddy Keenan

Louth have been dealt a huge blow ahead of their 2015 campaign following the announcement by star midfielder Paddy Keenan that he is retiring from inter-county football.

The 29-year-old – who picked up an All-Star award in 2010 – said he was hanging up his boots because of work commitments, injuries and an inability to commit the necessary time.

One of the finest players to ever pull on the red jersey, Keenan – who turns 30 next month – will continue to play football for his club St Patrick’s, who have a Louth SFC final to look forward to.

His retirement leaves the new Louth manager – still to be announced following Aidan O’Rourke’s departure earlier this season – with a massive hole to fill ahead of the new campaign, which will see the Wee County compete in Division Three.

In a statement issued through the GPA, Paddy said: “I wish to announce my retirement from county football today. It is a decision that I have considered for some time and is not one which I’ve made lightly.

“Due to work commitments and the need to clear up some long-standing injuries, I feel I would be unable to devote the necessary time to the team and I believe now is the right time to call it a day.

“It was a huge honour for me to represent Louth for the past 12 years and I had the privilege of playing with and against so many great players. While we didn’t have the success we worked so hard for, I have only positive memories of my county career and the people who I soldiered alongside.

“Without the support of support of my girlfriend Karen and my family which has been, at all times, unconditional, I genuinely could not have played at this level and I am so grateful to them.

“I would like to thank my club St Patrick’s GFC who I was so proud to represent and I hope this decision will allow me to extend my club career for a few extra years. Thanks to the Louth supporters who have always shown great loyalty to me as a player and to our county squad despite experiencing many difficult periods on the field of play.

“I would like to pay tribute to all five Louth managers I played under for placing their faith in me as a footballer. Thanks also to the various management teams, backroom staff and of course the County Board for their support and kindness over the years.

“Finally, I wish the new Louth manager and the team all the best in the future and I look forward to supporting them from the sidelines next year.”

During his tenure for Louth, Keenan won a NFL Division Two medal in 2006, a Division Three medal in 2011 and the Tommy Murphy Cup in 2006.

He had also captained the county since 2010, having made his debut in 2003.

Dundalk IT aiming for Lynch Cup glory this weekend

Dundalk IT ladies GAA team travel to Queen’s University in Belfast this weekend for the Lynch Cup finals.

The DkIT team will take on St Patrick’s of Drumcondra in the semi-final on Friday.

The weekend will see the O’Connor, Lynch and Giles Cups competed for. They are the female equivalent of the Sigerson and Trench Cups.

The Dundalk IT ladies booked their place in the last four with victory over University of Limerick’s B team in Ballykelly at the start of the month on a 1-12 to 0-10 scoreline.

Amongst the local players to feature in that game were Roche Emmets’ Jenny McCourt, Dowdallshill’s Emily Norton, Naomh Mairtin’s Louise McKeever and Newtown Blues duo Jessica Dyas and Samantha Newman.

Monaghan All Star Caoimhe Mohan also features in the side along with Dromintee’s Shauna Grey.

Dundalk IT won the Lynch Cup in 2007 when they beat Liverpool Hope University in the final. They were also runners up in 1996 when they were then known as Dundalk RTC.