Louth GAA legend Stephen Melia passes away

Stephen Melia in action for Louth against Offaly in the 2000 National Football League Division Two final

The death has occurred after illness of Louth GAA’s most capped player, Stephen Melia.

No one featured for the Wee County more in the county’s history than the towering midfielder, who made his debut in November 1984. He would remain part of the panel until early 2002, with his last appearance coming in July 2001.

Melia’s 17 years with Louth is a record shared with Michael ‘Muckle’ McKeown and Leslie Toal, one behind Benny Gaughran and two behind Eoin “Ine” Markey.

Throughout his 179 appearances, his greatest achievement was helping the county to Division Two league success against Offaly in 2000.

Twice named County Player of the Year, Melia started his playing career with the John Mitchels and was a key component to their 1992 junior championship success.

He later transferred to Dublin side O’Dwyer’s before joining St Joseph’s GFC in Dromiskin. While he kept his age a close secret, he was arguably one of the oldest players to win a Senior Championship medal when he lined out in midfield for the the Cluskey Park outfit in their 2006 County Final success over St Patrick’s GFC. It is believed he was in his mid-40s at the time.

Remarkably, Melia never played for the county at minor level but did represent Leinster numerous times in the Railway Cup.

Off the field, Melia featured as part of Paddy Clarke’s management team in 2000/2001 and under Eamon McEneaney in 2006 when the county clinched the Division Two league title against Donegal.

Commenting on his passing on Twitter this morning, St Joseph’s clubman Jonny McGailey said: “Gutted to learn of the passing of my former team mate, mentor and friend Stephen Melia. Words can’t describe how great he was. Gutted.

“An absolute warrior whose work ethic and leadership knew no bounds. One of the most inspiring and influential people I’ve ever known.”

St Joseph’s GFC tweeted: “Stephen Melia was not only a great player, but an even better person. A sad loss. Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.”

Funeral arrangements will be made later.

Louth GAA Championship draws are made

St Patrick’s GFC will be hoping for more silverware this year after clinching a championship and league double last season. They are pictured here celebrating their league success

County champions St Patrick’s have been paired with Mattock Rangers and the O Raghallaigh’s in the group stages of this year’s Carrickdale Hotel Senior Football Championship.

The Lordship men were drawn in Group 4 following last night’s draw in Darver and will face a stiff test from the outset against a Mattock side who won back-to-back titles as recently as 2010 an an ever-improving O Raghallaigh’s side.

Elsewhere, last year’s beaten finalists the Dreadnots were drawn in Group 1 alongside St Mary’s and Naomh Mairtin while intermediate champions the Sean O’Mahony’s have been drawn in Group 2 alongside the O’Connells and Cooley Kickhmas.

Meanwhile, there will be a local derby in Group 3 where both Dundalk Gaels and the Geraldines have been paired alongside 2013 champions the Newtown Blues.

Meanwhile, in the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Championship last year’s beaten finalists St Fechin’s have been drawn in Group 4 alongside Na Piarsaigh and St Mochta’s.

In Group 1 last season’s relegated outfit Kilkerley Emmets have been paired with fellow former senior heavyweights Clan na Gael and Glyde Rangers while in Group 2 are Naomh Malachi, Hunterstown Rovers and St Joseph’s. Dundalk Young Irelands are in Group 3 with St Brides and junior champions Oliver Plunketts.

In the Junior Championship, Roche Emmets will be hoping to bounce back to the intermediate grade straight away but face a tough pairing in Group 1 alongside Naomh Fionnbarra and the Sean McDermotts.

In Group 2 are the county’s newest club Cuchulainn Gaels, the John Mitchels and St Nicholas while Group 3 contain sides who all either won the Christy Bellew Cup or came close to it on numerous occasions in the Noughties – St Kevin’s, Dowdallshill and the Westerns.

Finally, Group 4 is made up of Lannleire, the Wolfe Tones, Glen Emmets and Stabannon Parnells.

For all three grades the winners and runners up of Group 1 will face the winners and runners up of Group 3 with the winners and runners-up of Groups 2 and 4 doing likewise.

In the Senior Hurling Championship, holders Knockbridge have a bye with Mattock Rangers facing Pearse Og and St Fechin’s playing Naomh Moninne.

Halpenny elected new Louth County Board chairman

New County Board chairman Des Halpenny

Des Halpenny was last night elected the new chairman of the Louth County Board at its annual convention in The Fairways Hotel.

The John Mitchels clubman, who has served as secretary for the past five years, won the vote to succeed Padraig O’Connor after pipping outgoing vice chairman Declan Byrne 95-25.

Meanwhile, Clan na Gael’s Fra Kieran was elected the new County Board secretary on the night after defeating Bob Doheny by 68 votes to 53, with the latter later being returned to his outgoing position of PRO.

The new make up of the County Board is as follows:

• Chairman: Des Halpenny (John Mitchels)
• Vice chairman: Peter Moore (O Raghallaigh’s)
• Secretary: Fra Kieran (Clan na Gael)
• Assistant Secretary: Sean Carroll (St Mary’s)
• Treasurer: Aidan Berrill (Naomh Mairtin)
• PRO: Bob Doheny (St Kevin’s)
• Coaching Officer: John Grogan (St Patrick’s)
• Development Officer: Tomás O hEocaidh (Oliver Plunketts)
• Central Council delegate: Paddy Oliver (St Patrick’s)
• Leinster Council delegates: Paddy McMahon (Sean O’Mahony’s) and Padraig O’Connor (St Patrick’s)
• Children’s Officer: Stephen O’Connor (St Patrick’s)
• Delegates to Leinster Convention: Des Halpenny (John Mitchels), Declan Byrne (O’Connells), Bob Doheny (St Kevin’s), AN Other (to be elected in January)
• Delegates to Congress: Aidan Berrill (Naomh Mairtin), David Rogers (St Kevin’s)

Draws made for Louth football championships

Newtown Blues’ Stephen Moonan lifts the Joe Ward Cup after his side’s victory over Cooley Kickhams in last year’s senior final

County champions the Newtown Blues will face their Drogheda neighbours the O Raghallaigh’s and Dundalk Gaels in the group stages of this year’s Carrickdale Hotel SFC.

The draw for the championship was made last night in Darver with the three teams being paired in group one.

Last year’s runners-up Cooley Kickhams have been drawn in group four – arguably the group of death – with the O’Connells and Mattock Rangers while their neighbours St Patrick’s will be in group two alongside Naomh Mairtin and the Dreadnots.

Meanwhile, newly-promoted the Geraldines have been given a kind draw having been placed in group three with St Mary’s and Kilkerley Emmets.

In the Anglo Printers IFC, the stand out group is group two which includes the Dundalk trio of Sean O’Mahony’s, Dundalk Young Irelands and Clan na Gael.

The other big Dundalk club, Na Piarsaigh, have been drawn in group one with St Fechin’s and St Joseph’s while newly-promoted Hunterstown Rovers are in group three with St Mochta’s and Naomh Malachi.

Finally, in group four Glyde Rangers, St Brides and Roche Emmets will all be vying for a return to senior football following relegation in recent years.

Elsewhere in the Integral Fitness & Leisure JFC, Dundalk outfit Dowdallshill will be in a four-team group in group four that also includes the Oliver Plunketts, Stabannon Parnells and the Sean McDermotts.

Group one includes the Westerns, the Wolfe Tones and Glen Emmets, with St Kevin’s, John Mitchels and Cuchulainn Gaels making up group two. Finally, in group three are St Nicholas, Naomh Fionnbarra and Lannleire.

The draw in full is as follows:

Carrickdale Hotel Senior Football Championship Draw 2014

• Group 1 – O Raghallaighs, Newtown Blues, Dundalk Gaels
• Group 2 – St Patricks, Naomh Martin, Dreadnots
• Group 3 – Geraldines, St Mary’s, Kilkerley Emmets
• Group 4 – O’Connells, Cooley Kickhams, Mattock Rangers

Anglo Printers Intermediate Football Championship 2014

• Group 1 – St Fechins, Na Piarsaigh, St Josephs
• Group 2 – Sean O’Mahonys, Dundalk Young Irelands, Clan na Gael
• Group 3 – St Mochtas, Hunterstown Rovers, Naomh Malachi
• Group 4 – Glyde Rangers, Roche Emmets, St Brides

Integral Fitness & Leisure Junior Football Championship 2014

• Group 1 – Westerns, Wolfe Tones, Glen Emmets
• Group 2 – St Kevins, John Mitchels, Cuchulainn Gaels
• Group 3 – St Nicholas, Naomh Fionbarra, Lannleire
• Group 4 – Oliver Plunketts, Dowdallshill, Stabannon Parnells, Sean McDermotts