New format for start of senior championship
THE Ladies Adult Championship got underway last Sunday in its new format for 2016. Instead of the knockout competition format of the previous years the Louth Ladies County Board has introduced a round robin format for all three competitions, Senior, Intermediate and Junior giving all clubs multiple games in the competition.
There are nine teams graded at Senior this year with the Geraldines reintroduced to Senior ranks and no club regraded and therefore the Championship was split into two groups with Dowdallshill, Geraldines, Newtown Blues, St. Kevins and Stabannon Parnells in Group One and Cooley Kickhams, Roche Emmets/Na Piarsaigh, St. Mochtas and St. Patricks in Group Two.
Unfortunately, Dowdallshill had to withdraw due to the unavailability of players leaving two groups of four to challenge for the Senior Championship. The draw having already been made it was decided to retain the original dates as set.
The opening game in Group One saw a repeat of the final last year with champions Stabannon Parnells travelling to the Newtown Blues. Unlike the recent final of the Division One league which was a closely fought encounter with the Blues emerging victorious, Stabannon sent out a warning of their intent with a strong win similar to their 2015 victory with a winning score line of 2-10 to 0-05.
Group Two saw all four teams in action with two nail biting games ending in one point wins for the away teams. Cooley Kickhams breaking St. Mochtas hearts by a single score, 1-12 to 1-11, and goals making the difference as St. Patricks returned home with the points running out victorious 4-10 against 2-15 for the high scoring Roche Emmets/Na Piaraigh combination.
In the Intermediate Champi- onship there are seven teams participating with Glyde Rangers, Kilkerley Emmets, Naomh Mairtin and St. Brides in Group One and the Dreadnots, Naomh Fionnbarra and St. Fechins in Group Two.
Kilkerley Emmets game against St. Brides was postponed as Kilkerley still had the small matter of a League Division Three semi final on Sunday. In the other match we again witnessed the visiting team advance with a one point win as Glyde Rangers got the better of Naomh Mairtin on a scoreline of 5-03 to 4-05. In Group Two the Dreadnots came out on top in a high scoring match beating Naomh Fionnbarra 8-05 to 5-11 where goals again made the difference.
In both the Senior and the Intermediate Championships there will be semi finals with the winners of Group One taking on the runners up of Group Two and vice versa before the finals on 17th September.