Local championships will throw up lots of surprises
CLUB championship season is now upon us with the action kicking off on Thursday evening when Glen Emmets take on one of my old foes Stabannon at the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda.
The Junior championship has thrown up a few surprises in recent years with neither 2015 winners Naomh Fionnbarra nor 2016 champions St Kevins fancied at the outset.
On paper Roche should be playing at a higher level but the favourites tag has not sat well with them.
They are again most people’s choice to lift the Christy Bellew Cup but don’t rule out another surprise.
All four groups are quite evenly matched so it should provide for another good competitive championship.
The Intermediate grade begins the following evening with a double-header in Stabannon which sees St Brides facing Na Piarsaigh and St Fechins taking on Hunterstown.
St Brides, St Fechins and Hunterstown could be in the final shake up but the latter may struggle without the scoring power of the suspended Ryan Burns.
Although their league form has dipped slightly in recent weeks, Clans must fancy their chances of making a return to the senior ranks this season. Mattock Rangers are the other main contender in a grade that has consistently been the most competitive in the county for some time.
And finally on Saturday evening at The Grove the 2017 Senior Championship gets under way with another double-header between Ardee and St Josephs and Newtown Blues and Kilkerley.
Just like the previous season, this competition is wide open for some club to make their mark.
Sean O Mahony’s seized their opportunity in 2016 to land their first Joe Ward title when defeating Ardee in the final. Who will it be this season?
I’m not sure whether its a levelling off of standards or whether its the style of football that’s currently being played, but anyone of nine or even ten clubs could be in with a real chance this year.
I’ll put my head on the block and go with Roche, Clans and St Patricks, but don’t go throwing your money away.
Minor matters
LOUTH minors travel to Wexford Park on Wednesday evening to take on the locals in the Leinster semi final.
To our shame it was way back in 1971 when we last contested a provincial decider when Dublin beat us on a scoreline of 2-7 to 0-4. Those men are now in their mid 60s and it would be a great boost for underage football in the county to get back onto the big stage on Leinster final day.
Wayne Kierans and his management team have done a wonderful job with this talented group of youngsters. That fighting comeback in the previous round versus Offaly was as good a display that any Louth team has produced in recent years and more of the same will be required on Tuesday evening.
There was a reasonable crowd in attendance that Saturday afternoon in the Gaelic Grounds but these young lads deserve more from us.
Let’s try to fill an extra couple of cars from each club to bolster the travelling support heading to Wexford. Throw in is at 7.30.
Outgunned
THE British and Irish Lions were outgunned in the first test at Eden Park in Auckland but a week later they came roaring back to level the series thanks in no small part to the contribution of the Irish contingent.
Conor Murray, Sean O Brien, Tadhg Furlong, Johnny Sexton and Jack McGrath all played their part in the 24-21 victory in Wellington. Everything hinges on the third and final test in Eden Park on Saturday.
IT Gremlins
APOLOGIES but due to an IT problem there was no column last week.
I mislaid my laptop on Monday morning and missed the deadline.
This weeks Sideline Bet is Meath at 5/2 to cause an upset against Donegal in Pairc Tailteann on Saturday.