Wicklow face Carlow in tournament opener

THIS year marks the 30th Anniversary of the Gerry Reilly Memorial Under-16 Inter-County Football Tournament played in July every year.

Wicklow have competed in this prestigious tournament in recent years and have harvested some memorable victories and invaluable experience in the process.

There is a massive change this year with Leinster GAA playing a major part in the tournament. 16 counties are now taking part (11 Leinster and five Ulster), making it more prestigious.

The Gerry Reilly Leinster U-16 Football Tournament 2018 involves 16 teams are split into four groups for a round robin system played over three rounds. The top two teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.

Fixtures - Round 1 (Saturday, July 7): Group A (11am): Longford v Cavan Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Longford); (noon): Westmeath v Fermanagh (The Downs).

Group B: (noon): Kildare v Dublin (Manguard Plus Kildare GAA CoE Hawkfield); (noon): Down v Antrim (Saval GAC Newry)

Group C: (noon): Monaghan v Meath(Monaghan GAA CoE Cloghan); noon: Louth v Offaly (Louth GAA CoE Darver).

Group D: (noon): Wexford v Laois (Halo Tiles Wexford GAA CoE Ferns); (noon): Carlow v Wicklow (Halo Tiles Wexford GAA CoE Ferns).

Round 2 (July 14): Group A (noon): Fermanagh v Longford (Venue TBC); (noon): Cavan v Westmeath (Venue TBC).

Group B: (noon): Antrim v Kildare (Venue TBC); (noon): Dublin v Down (National Sports Complex, Abbottstown).

Group C: (noon): Offaly v Monaghan(Ferbane GAA); (noon): Meath v Louth (Millbrook, Oldcastle).

Group D: (noon): Wicklow v Wexford (Wicklow GAA CoE Ballinakill); (noon): Laois v Carlow (LOETB Laois GAA CoE Portlaoise).

Round 3 (July 28): Group A (noon): Fermanagh v Cavan (Venue TBC); (noon): Longford v Westmeath (Glennon Brothers Pearse Park Longford).

Group B: (noon): Antrim v Dublin (Venue TBC); (noon): Kildare v Down (Manguard Plus Kildare GAA CoE Hawkfield).

Group C (noon): Offaly v Meath (Ferbane GAA); (noon): Monaghan v Louth (Monaghan GAA CoE Cloghan).

Group D (noon): Wicklow v Laois (Wicklow GAA CoE Ballinakill); (noon): Carlow v Wexford (Netwatch Carlow GAA CoE Fenagh).

Quarter-finals (August 11), (Venue: Oldcastle GFC): E: A1 v B2; F: B1 v A2; G: C1 v D2; H: D1 v C2.

Semi-finals will take place on August 18 at Oldcastle GFC with EvFandGvH.

The final will take place on September 8 in Oldcastle GFC.

Winning semi-finalists: Cup Final; Losing semi-finalists: Plate Final.

Winners of the Gerry Reilly Cup to date:

Westmeath 1990, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2010, 2011; Meath 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2007; Cavan 1997, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2015, 2016; Dublin 1993, 1998, 2008 (U-17 Blitz), 2012, 2013. Monaghan 2017.

This tournament commemorates Gerry Reilly who died tragically in

December 1987 at 16 years of age, and he had already proved to be a great footballer with huge potential to go on to great heights in the game.