Kelly ratified for second season as Louth boss

Louth manager Colin Kelly

There will be no change of management in the Louth GAA structures for 2016.

Football boss Colin Kelly was last night ratified for a second season as Wee County manager, with County Board officials backing him to bounce back from a disappointing league campaign this year in which Louth were relegated to Division Four.

Despite that setback and a heavy championship defeat to Tipperary, there was no appetite for change.

Meanwhile, Diarmuid McCarthy was also ratified for a third successive season as Louth hurling manager.

Knockbridge Hurling Club to host golf classic in Mannan Castle next month

Knockbridge Hurling Club will host their golf classic in Mannan Castle on Friday September 4^th.

Teams, sponsors and donations are being accepted at present with clubman Seán Byrne outlining the plans for the event.

He said: “We are currently working in our local community and beyond with over 150 children to promote the national sport of hurling and promote health and well being through physical activity for young people.

“Through our volunteers’ efforts, we field underage teams from Under 8’s all the way to Minor and leading into our two adult teams. It is also our aim to instill in all of our players a sense of community and to give them a sense of belonging to their locality.

“We need to organise various fundraisers throughout the year in order to raise the funds necessary to keep moving forward with our aims of promoting hurling and well being amongst our youth. Accordingly we have organised a Golf Classic for Friday September 4^th and are at present appealing for sponsors for the event.

“While any amount of assistance would be greatly appreciated, here are some suggested donations which would greatly help our club

1. €120 for a team of four – meal afterwards included.
2. €50 for a tee AND green sponsorship or €30 for a tee OR green sponsorship.
3. Prizes for winners on the day.

“Those interested in sponsoring a tee or green should provide us with a contact number or graphic so we are able to place an advertisement for your organisation at the tee box or green in the hope that some of those playing may in turn use your company.”

Anyone who can assists should email Sean.Byrne@louthcoco.ie

Alternatively to sign up for the event you can call 086 333 0331 or 087 793 8940.

There will be prizes on the day for the winning team, longest drive and closest to the pin with a presentation and raffle that night in MacNamee’s in Knockbridge.

Kettle called up to Irish squad

Knockbridge Hurling Club’s David Kettle has been called up to the Irish squad for the forthcoming Marine Harvest Shinty/Hurling International Series against Scotland.

The Marine Harvest Shinty/Hurling International First Test will take place at Bught Park, Inverness on Saturday 18^th October with throw-in at 2pm. Hundreds of spectators are expected at the match, with many thousands more tuning in to live TV coverage on BBC2 in Scotland and TG4 in Ireland.

The series deciding Second Test will take place the following Saturday, 25^th October, at Páirc Esler in Newry, with throw-in at 5pm. The match will be broadcast by TG4 in Ireland and BBC Alba in Scotland.

Also in Newry on that day Scotland’s Senior Women will play a Shinty/Camogie Challenge Match against a County Down select side (1pm) and Scotland’s U21 Men will play a Shinty/Hurling International against the Ireland U21 Men (3pm).

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.

Carlingford to feature in popular Dutch travel series

Carlingford is set to feature in a new series on one of the Netherlands’ most popular travel TV shows, in what will hopefully be a major tourism boost for the area.

3 OP Reis (which means ‘Channel 3 Travels’), visited Ireland this week. Invited here by Tourism Ireland in Amsterdam, the crew filmed some of the many unique and wonderful experiences on offer here for Dutch holidaymakers.

Footage captured here will air this autumn to more than 800,000 people in Holland who have a passion for travel and adventure, on BNN (Bart’s Neverending Network), one of the main Dutch TV channels targeting a young audience.

The 30-minute episode will feature the Carlingford Heritage Centre, as well as Newgrange in Co Meath. In Dublin, the crew captured footage at places like Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Dublin Whiskey Club in the Liberties and in Temple Bar. The crew also filmed at Na Fianna GAA Club in Glasnevin, where they tried their hand at hurling; and also took a cruise across Dublin Bay to Howth, where they enjoyed the cliff walk. Their itinerary was designed by Fáilte Ireland.

Karen van der Horst, Tourism Ireland’s manager for the Netherlands, said: “We are delighted that this popular travel show agreed to film in Ireland, showcasing some of the great experiences Dutch holidaymakers can enjoy here. Lifestyle programmes such as this are an excellent way for Tourism Ireland to get positive exposure for Ireland in the Netherlands. The footage filmed here will be seen by more than 800,000 Dutch holidaymakers – encouraging them to come and sample the destination for themselves.”

This was the second television crew invited here by Tourism Ireland in the Netherlands this month – the other was Pluijm’s Eetbare Wereld (Pluijm’s Edible World) – to capture footage for programmes which will be seen by a combined Dutch audience of more than one million people.

New underage hurling club being setup outside Dundalk

A new underage hurling club is being established on the outskirts of Dundalk.

The new team, which has yet to be named, will cater for children in Haggardstown, Blackrock, Dromiskin, Darver, Castlebellingham and Kilsaran.

Initially, there will be U-8, U-10 and U-12 teams, with both boys and girls welcome.

The first training session takes place tomorrow (Thursday) from 7pm to 8.15pm in Darver.

For further details contact Mairead Monaghan on 087-7560393.

Louth GAA meet and greet

The Louth GAA senior football and hurling teams will be hosting a meet and greet event at the Darver Centre of Excellence on Friday May 9^th.

The event gets underway at 7pm on the night and gives fans the chance to meet stars such as Paddy Keenan and Diarmuid Murphy, amongst others.

The event also takes place just a week before the footballers take on Westmeath in the Leinster Championship.

Louth GAA Easter camp in Dowdallshill

A three day GAA football and hurling camp will be held in St Brigid’s Park in Dowdallshill from Tuesday April 15th to Thursday April 17th.

The Easter camp is open to boys and girls aged between 5 and 12 years and will run from 10am to 2.30pm each day.

The cost is just €10 each day with further information on the Louth GAA website or from Francie McMullen at 087 3741984.

Pearse Óg presentation night

Pearse Óg Hurling Club will hold their presentation night on Saturday March 1st in the Spirit Store.

On the night the senior team will be presented with their championship medals and the under 12 team will be presented with their O Broin Shield medals.

The evening gets underway from 7pm, with food served. There will also be music from former X Factor contestant Randy Roxx.

Tickets are available now from any committee member, priced €10.

Pearse Óg seek volunteers for white collar boxing fundraiser

Local hurling club Pearse Óg are seeking volunteers to get involved in their forthcoming white collar boxing fundraiser, The Contender.

The event will take place on Saturday April 19th in the Fairways Hotel with male and female competitors being sought.

As well as helping you to get fit, this is also a fun and enjoyable way of helping out the club.

There are 20 men and women already signed up, with the club looking for 10 more.

Training lasts just six weeks and no boxing experience is required.

For further details call 086-3890369.