Knockbridge reclaim Louth SHC title

Knockbridge clinched the Louth Senior Hurling Championship title for the first time since 2011 when they denied Pearse Óg a third successive title at Stabannon yesterday on a 1-15 to 1-8 scoreline.

Sean Byrne was in immense form for the winners with eight frees throughout. Despite this a Tony Teefy own goal had Pearse Óg ahead midway through the first half but a free from Byrne ensured Knockbridge led by 0-8 to 1-4 at the break.

Three more frees from Byrne inside the first eight minutes then saw the village side pull away from their opponents with the killer blow arriving in the 43^rd minute when Conor Deane found the net to make it 1-13 to 1-5.

That killed the game as a contest, allowing captain David Dunne to lift the Paddy Kelly Cup afterwards.

Knockbridge: Paul Dunne; Ricky McKeown, Tony Teefy, Conor Kerrigan; Mark Wallace 0-1, Ronan Byrne 0-1, Conor Deane 1-0; Shane Kerrigan, Gavin Kane 0-1; David Dunne 0-1, Peter Brennan, David Kettle; Shane Fennell 0-1, James Costelloe 0-2, Sean Byrne 0-8. Subs: Stephen Kettle for R McKeown, Andrew Smith for S Byrne, Gavin Kerrigan for P Brennan, Michael Lundon for J Costelloe.

Pearse Óg: Barry Myles; Matthew Myles 1-0, Noel Callan, Richard Scanlon; Andrew McCrave, Shane Callan, Aidan Callan; Donnach Callan, Mike Lyons; Gary O’Brien 0-2, Brian Minogue 0-1, Brian McCabe 0-1; Brian Hassett, Gavin Hartnett, Gerard Smith 0-4.Subs: David Mulholland for A Callan, Kenneth O’Hagan for D Callan.

Callan and Dunne selected on Nicky Rackard team of the year

Two Louth hurlers have been named on the Nicky Rackard Cup team of the year.

Shane Callan from Pearse Óg and David Dunne from Knockbridge have been selected for a Champions 15 award, which is handed out to the best performers in the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher championships.

Both men have won the award in the past but it is nevertheless a tremendous honour for them, their families, their clubs and the county.

The pair will collect their awards on Friday night at the GAA/GPA All-Star banquet at Croke Park.

The team in full is: Christopher McDermot, Donegal; Seán McVeigh, Donegal; Lee Henderson, Donegal; Danny Cullen, Donegal; Shane Curley, Roscommon; Gerry Fallon, Roscommon; Ronan O’Meara, Roscommon; Peter Treanor, Monaghan; Trevor Hilliard, Monaghan; David Dunne, Louth; Shane Callan, Louth; Liam Reidy, Sligo; Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, Sligo; Martin Grogan, Tyrone; Damian Casey, Tyrone.