Blow for Louth as Lennon announces retirement

Shane Lennon fists past Laois goalkeeper Eoin Culleton in the Leinster Championship in 2013

Louth’s preparations for the New Year have been dealt a further blow following the announcement that Shane Lennon has retired from inter-county football.

The Kilkerley Emmets forward follows in the footsteps of Paddy Keenan in stepping away from the county side, leaving new boss Colin Kelly with two huge holes to fill in his first season in charge.

In an injury-interrupted career, Lennon was a virtual ever present in the side when fit having broken into the side back in 2004.

In that time he won a National League Division Two and Division Three title, a Tommy Murphy Cup and was part of the Louth side which reached the Leinster final in 2010.

Commenting on his decision to retire, Lennon said that he had to listen to his body after a series of injuries over the years.

“It is with deep regret that I am announcing my retirement from inter county football. I have thought long and hard about this decision and finally I had to start listening to my body.

“I have been honoured to pull on the red and white jersey and represent this incredible wee county. I have been involved in the Louth senior set up for the last 10 years and enjoyed every second of it. I soldiered beside some Louth legends and have met so many good friends both on and off the field through Louth GAA.

“Unfortunately in the last few years my career has become very stop start due to certain problems with my hips. Over the last 3 years I underwent two hip operations, and during 2014 this started to affect my day to day living. I was going from game to game and not being able to train during the week which was far from ideal for what is expected of a current inter county footballer. This was very frustrating for myself, management and also my team-mates.

“I would like to thank Val Andrews, Eamonn McEneaney, Peter Fitzpatrick and Aidan O’Rourke and their backroom staff for giving me the opportunity to represent Louth at senior level over the past few years. My greatest gratitude goes out to the County Boards past and present for their support and help and of course to the Louth fans that have travelled near and far supporting us through thick and thin, a big thank you.

“I have spoken thoroughly with Colin Kelly and he understands where I stand with my injuries and I wish him and his new backroom staff all the best for the coming seasons and I firmly believe the future is bright in the Wee County.

“I would also like to thank Kilkerley Emmets for all their help and the development they gave me from day one in my football career. A great club from top to bottom and I was honoured to represent them on the county team.

“Finally I would like to thank my girlfriend Linda and my family who have been always by my side whether it be Croke Park or the Gaelic Grounds their support was present. I will continue to work in my role as Games Development Administrator for Louth GAA and I will give my all to improving standards of GAA in the Wee County. I look forward to supporting Colin and his troops in 2015 and beyond,” said Lennon.

In Off The Post to look back on a busy weekend of GAA action

Tonight’s In Off The Post GAA show on Dundalk FM will look back on a busy weekend of GAA action in Louth.

In the opening round of the Intermediate Championship the Sean O’Mahony’s proved too strong for local rivals Dundalk Young Irelands and the show will hear from the respective managers, Brendan Nordone and Enda Murray.

There’ll also be the views of Cooley’s Gary Thornton, O’Connells’ Donal Murtagh, St Pat’s Fergal Reel and Naomh Mairtin’s JP Rooney about their respective matches as well as reaction from James McArtain and Jason Ryan on the Kildare v Down Qualifier played last Sundya in Newry.

The show will also look ahead to this week’s fixtures, including the Dundalk derby between Clan na Gael and Sean O’Mahony’s in Dowdallshill on Friday.

In Off The Post airs each Wednesday night at 9pm on Dundalk FM 100 and is presented by former County Board chairman Peter Brannigan and Naomh Malachi clubman, Dermot Woods, a former chair of the Louth Ladies County Board.

The show can also be accessed online at www.dundalkfm.com and is repeated on Saturdays at 6pm.

Louth to face either Monaghan or Tyrone in Qualifiers

Louth will face a tough task in restoring pride following yesterday’s 15 point defeat against Kildare after being drawn to play either Monaghan or Tyrone in the first round of the Qualifiers.

The game will take place on Saturday June 28^th with the Wee County almost certain to be underdogs after their disappointing showing against the Lilywhites.

Monaghan have already beaten Aidan O’Rourke’s side this season in Division Two of the National League while Tyrone won their last Qualifier clash against Louth when the sides met in 2008. They also beat Louth in the Qualifiers in 2006, albeit after a replay in Omagh.

The Wee County have only met the Farney County once in the Qualifiers, with Monaghan winning on that occasion at Breffni Park by a solitary point.

Should Monaghan lose to Tyrone in their Ulster SFC clash then the game would likely be played in Drogheda but were the Red Hand County to lose then the game would likely take place in Omagh.

In Off The Post to reflect on Louth’s National League campaign

Tonight’s In Off The Post GAA show on Dundalk FM will reflect on Louth’s National League campaign and look ahead to the start of the domestic leagues in the county.

Guests on the night will include St Patrick’s clubman Martin McCauley and Damien McCullough of Newry TV station ‘Destination Newry’.

In Off The Post airs each Wednesday night at 9pm on Dundalk FM 100 and is presented by former County Board chairman Peter Brannigan and Naomh Malachi clubman, Dermot Woods, a former chair of the Louth Ladies County Board.

The show can also be accessed online at www.dundalkfm.com and is repeated on Saturdays at 6pm.

Kearney nominated for Six Nations Player of the Championship

Rob Kearney with Today FM’s Ray D’Arcy on his visit to the station this morning

Ireland full back Rob Kearney is one of 16 players who have been shortlisted for the RBS Six Nations Player of the Championship.

Players were shortlisted based on a points system from each of the games this year. You can vote for your favourite here before voting closes at midnight on Wednesday March 19^th.

As wekk as the Willville man, others shortlisted include Brian O’Driscoll, Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy and Johnny Sexton.

The winner will be announced on Friday.

Meanwhile, Kearney will be back in Cooley tomorrow when he will be visiting his Willville home and maybe a few local business premises.

In an interview with Today FM this morning, the former Cooley Kickhams man was also asked would he line out for Louth for the rest of their National League campaign.

His response was: “Maybe not this year but I miss Gaelic hugely.”

Supporters bus to Louth v Down next Saturday

The Louth GAA Supporters’ Club are running a bus to Newry on Saturday next, March 1^st, for the Wee County’s next National League Division Two outing against neighbours Down.

A bus will leave Drogheda at 5pm and Dundalk at 5.30pm.

For further details and booking contact Kieran on 042-9354140, Gerry McGee on 0877500414 after 5pm or Brian Matthews on 08728300308.

Louth go down to 14 man Laois in National League

Fourteen man Laois held out for their first win of the season in the Allianz League Division Two after overcoming Louth by 2-08 to 0-11 at the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda.

Tomas O Flaharta’s side were in the driving seat from an early stage with goals from Ross Munnelly and Conor Meredith midway through the first half giving them a seven point lead.

However, the dismissal of Meredith two minutes before half-time gave Louth a way back into the game and they had the gap back to a single point late on before a flurry of late scores – including two from substitute Gary Walsh – ensured the two points were going back to O’Moore Park.

Laois started on the front foot with early frees from Donal Kingston and Munnelly.

Declan Byrne did manage a reply for the home side but that was quickly cut out by a James Finn point and another Munnelly free that gave the O’Moore men a 0-04 to 0-01 lead after 12 minutes.

Louth did manage to briefly reduce the deficit back to the minimum courtesy of two points from wide on the right from Byrne and Andy McDonnell.

However, Laois then raced clear of their opponents with two goals in the space of six minutes. The first arrived in the 16^th minute when Munnelly finished low under the outrushing McCoy after breaking through on goal following a neat exchange with Kingston.

Munnelly then turned provider for the second after releasing David Conway, whose ball to the back post was brilliantly met by Conor Meredith who fisted the ball past a helpless McCoy to leave it 2-04 to 0-03.

Louth did manage to reply with further points from Byrne and McDonnell to leave it 2-4 to 0-5 at the break but the closing period of the half was mired in controversy with Laois being reduced to 14 men and the visitors could count themselves lucky not to have been down to 13.

Firstly, Meredith was given his marching orders in the 33^rd minute after striking Derek Crilly off the ball in an incident that was seen the linesman.

Then in stoppage time, Kevin Meaney was lucky not to be shown red as well after striking Derek Maguire to the ground before choking him. Despite this being a more serious incident than the Meredith dismissal, referee Cormac Reilly let him off with just a yellow card – much to the frustration of Wee County boss Aidan O’Rourke who remonstrated angrily with Reilly as he made his way off the field at the break.

That said, Louth made full use of their numerical advantage with three points in as many minutes shortly after the restart from Colm Judge, Eoin O’Connor and Maguire to cut the deficit back to two.

Kingston did manage to reply with a free for Laois but this was cancelled out by two points from Judge that had the deficit back to one at 2-05 to 0-10 just after the hour mark.

Laois were defending stoutly and had a chance to put the game beyond Louth when they broke clear moments later but Gary Walsh’s shot was brilliantly turned behind by Padraig Rath, although Walsh did convert the resulting 45 and a free either side of a point from Kingston to open up a four point lead with two minutes remaining.

O’Connor did manage to fist over for the home side in stoppage time but by that stage it was a case of too little, too late.

Louth: S McCoy; K McLoughlin, P Rath, G O’Hare; P Reilly, D Finnegan, L Shevlin; P Keenan, B Donnelly; A Reid, D Crilly, D Byrne (0-03, 2f); A McDonnell (0-02), D Maguire (0-01), C Judge (0-03, 2f). Subs: E O’Connor (0-02) for B Donnelly (25); S Campbell for A Reid (25); G Hoey for D Crilly (37); C Rafferty for D Byrne (54); A Reid for L Shevlin (64).

Laois: G Brody; R Kehoe, M Timmons, P O’Leary; D Strong, P Begley, P McMahon; K Meaney, J O’Loughlin; J Finn (0-01), D Kingston (0-03, 2f), B Sheehan; R Munnelly (1-02, 2f), C Meredith (1-00), D Conway. Subs: G Walsh (0-02, f, 45) for D Conway (35); C Begley for J Finn (52); E Lowry for B Sheehan (63)

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath).

Source: RTÉ Sport

Louth name unchanged team for Laois match

Patrick Reilly has retained his place in the Louth side after making his debut against Armagh last week

Louth have named an unchanged team for Sunday’s second National League outing against Laois in Drogheda.

That means manager Aidan O’Rourke has kept faith with the players who built up a nine point lead against Armagh last week only to squander it in the closing stages by only escaping with a draw.

The one major doubt from the starting 15 is John O’Brien, who is struggling with a shoulder injury that curtailed his appearance against Armagh to just seven minutes.

Throw-in in Drogheda on Sunday is at 2pm.

The team in full is as follows: Shane McCoy; Padraig Rath, Patrick Reilly, Gary O’Hare; John O’Brien, Dessie Finnegan, Liam Shevlin; Paddy Keenan, Brian Donnelly; Adrian Reid, Colm Judge, Declan Byrne; Andy McDonnell, Eoin O’Connor, Derek Maguire.

In Off The Post to feature reaction from Louth v Armagh

Louth boss Aidan O’Rourke will give his reaction to the draw with Armagh on tonight’s In Off The Post

Tonight’s In Off The Post GAA show on Dundalk FM will have all the reaction from last Sunday’s National League opener between Louth and Armagh, which finished in a draw.

There will be reaction from Louth manager Aidan O’Rourke, captain Paddy Keenan and Armagh’s Jamie Clarke, as well as a look ahead to this Sunday’s home fixture against Laois in Drogheda.

In Off The Post airs each Wednesday night at 9pm on Dundalk FM 100 and is presented by former County Board chairman Peter Brannigan and Naomh Malachi clubman, Dermot Woods, a former chair of the Louth Ladies County Board.

The show can also be accessed online at www.dundalkfm.com and is repeated on Saturdays at 6pm.

Five new faces added to Louth panel

John Kermode of the Newtown Blues, who was influential in his side’s County Title success this year

Louth boss Aidan O’Rourke has added five new faces to his panel for the 2014 campaign.

John Kermode (Newtown Blues), Keith McLoughlin (Sean O’Mahony’s), Cian Doyle (O’Connells), Patrick Reilly (St Brides) and Stephen Campbell (Naomh Mairtin) have all been added to the squad for the forthcoming O’Byrne Cup and National League campaigns after impressing in recent weeks.

While four of the newcomers will be hoping for game time in the O’Byrne Cup, Knockbridge man Reilly will be unavailable as he will line out in the competition for UCD.

The quintet made the cut after O’Rourke cut his panel down to 30. However, despite admitting to LMFM that the decision was “difficult”, he added that the panel wouldn’t be a closed shop.

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