Louth clubs to battle it out for the big prizes
CLUB supporters could be in for summer blockbuster in the Louth Senior Football Championship, which has the potential to be one the fiercest and most wide races open of recent times.
Sean O’Mahony’s and St Mary’s emerged from under the shadows of St Patrick’s, Newtown
Blues and to a lesser extent Dreadnots to fight it out for Joe Ward last year and that kind of novel pairing could easily be repeated with a number of teams capable of a good run.
The trio mentioned above are definitely stronger than they were last summer, but if the new kids on the block can pick up where they left off too, we could be heading for a perfect storm.
The group stages alone should produce some fascinating duels, but they also throw up the possibility of
ultra-competitive knockout games, which for the first time since the advent of the group format, will be determined by an open draw later in the summer.
Up to six teams - and maybe more - boast genuine Joe Ward credentials.
Even though their form has dipped recently Pat’s are sure to be a force again with Paddy Keenan and Eoin O’Connor back in the fold, while Newtown Blues will surely improve on last year’s showing with the squad of players at Ronan Phillips’ disposal.
Last year’s finalists should be there or thereabouts again, and you cannot discount Geraldines or Naomh Mairtin with the latter showing superb form in the early part of the league.
Cooley Kickhams, Dundalk Gaels, Kilkerley Emmetsand O Raghallaigh’s are all capable of causing an upset on their day and despite a nightmare draw, newcomers St Joseph’s will be determined not to make up the numbers.
But after bouncing back from last year’s semi-final defeat to win the O’Donnell Cup, and with four county panellists in their ranks, Dreadnots may finally relaise their potential.
They’ve lost two semi-finals and two finals in recent years, but 2017 might just be their year.