New boss Harte names an extended Louth panel

ANDY McDonnell has made a welcome return to the Louth fold as new manager Mickey Harte named his first panel.

The extended squad list is believed to contain more than 40 players with McDonnell (pictured) the headline addition after taking a year out from inter-county duty.

McDonnell’s clubmate Ciaran Downey also returns after opting off Wayne Kierans’ panel in September and the Blues have as many as eight players involved, with Daire Nally joining existing panellists Fergal Donohoe, Emmet Carolan, Ross Nally, Alan Connor and Conor Branagan.

Like Downey, St Mochta’s brothers Declan and Ciaran Byrne also return to the squad after departing before the return to action post-lockdown.

However, there is no room for Jim McEneaney or Derek Maguire at the moment following their one-year hiatus from Kierans’ set-up.

The Blues lead the way in terms of player representation with at least eight, while county champions Naomh Mairtin, St Mochta’s, St Fechin’s and St Mary’s all have four.

Daire McConnon could well make it five from the Ardee club when he returns from injury in the new year.

Harte and his assistant Gavin Devlin held extensive trials and also poured over club and county footage as they sought to get a handle on the talent at their disposal.

While the Tyrone duo were due to take full responsibility for the senior team without additional selectors it has emerged that U-20 selectors Christy Grimes and Derek Walshe will assist with the senior set-up, while Harte and Devlin will also have an input in the U-20 set-up.

Tom Jackson, Conall McCaul and Daire Nally, who are all in the extended senior squad, are also eligible for the Under-20s next season.

With the Allianz Leagues not due to kick-off until mid to late February, Harte still has plenty of time to prepare his new squad and hone tactics.

It seems certain that Division 4 will be split in two, with Louth competing against Wexford, Waterford and Carlow in the groups stages and the top two qualifying for the semi-finals.

The other group will contain Sligo, Antrim, Leitrim and London and the finalists will be promoted.