LOUTH GAA JOHN O’NEILL SAND & GRAVEL ALL-COUNTY LEAGUES

NAOMH MÁIRTÍN ARDEE ST MARY’S

NOT very much love is lost between these two and while this is unlikely to be the last time their paths cross this season, Thursday night’s league opener could be a tense, nippy affair. Home advantage could swing the outcome Naomh Máirtín’s way, especially given that they have more of their first choice artillery than Ardee St Mary’s. VERDICT: Jocks.

ST MOCHTA’S ST PATRICK’S

THESE two have formed a fair bit of rivalry in recent years having met in the championship almost annually. St Mochta’s are the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup holders and will be keen to hold on to that crown for another term. It was a difficult pre-season for St Patrick’s off the field but they still have quality on it to cause the Louth Villagers a few problems. VERDICT: Mochta’s.

SEAN O’MAHONY’S ST FECHIN’S

SEAN O’Mahony’s know their form in the ‘San Siro’ is vital to their survival prospects and they will see a major opportunity to get off the mark in round one when St Fechin’s visit the Point Road. O’Mahony’s should be close to full strength and having finished last season fairly well, they will be eyeing up the Drogheda natives, who they defeated in the intermediate championship final of 10 years ago. VERDICT: O’Mahony’s.

NEWTOWN BLUES ROCHE EMMETS

BACK in the big time and a baptism of fire for Roche Emmets. It’s over 20 years since they last defeated Newtown Blues and in what will be the first meeting of the clubs since 2012, the visitors’ set-up can cause the hosts plenty of problems. If Blues can get their strongest available XV on the pitch, with the Nallys, Andy McDonnell and co, Emmets could find the going much tougher, however. VERDICT: Draw.

GERALDINES MATTOCK RANGERS

MATTOCK have been in fine form during pre-season and travel to Haggardstown for the second time this campaign seeking to get off the mark. The Collon outfit prevailed in their Sheelan Cup duel but expect Geraldines to be a far trickier proposition several weeks on. If Mattock can carry forward their good start to the term, they may just nick it. VERDICT: Mattock.

COOLEY KICKHAMS DREADNOTS

A REPEAT of last year’s championship quarter-final, which Dreadnots won, but Cooley gained some measure of revenge in the opening round of the Sheelan Cup. With no county distractions of note, Kickhams, who are so well-coached by Mark Poland, are an outside bet for a top six finish and they can get off to a good start against a Dreadnots side who will be looking to peak later in the year. VERDICT: Cooley.

GLEN EMMETS STABANNON PARNELLS

GIVEN both clubs are to be without their marquee men – Conor Grimes and Seán Reynolds – don’t expect very much to be between them at full-time. Getting points early to pull away from danger will be on the agenda for Emmets and Parnells, and they will view this fixture as very winnable. VERDICT: Draw.

DUNDALK GAELS HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS

HOME advantage could sway this one Dundalk Gaels’ way, especially if Dylan McKeown is available for selection. Gaels should be a lot better this season after a miserable 2023 but Hunterstown, with their swathes of youngsters and talent, have appointed Seáns Kelly and Barry to get them out of the intermediate grade. Thus, they will expect nothing less than a win here. VERDICT: Gaels.

DUNDALK YOUNG IRELANDS LANNLÉIRE

YOUNG Irelands were comfortable winners of the clubs’ recent Sheelan Shield clash and though Lannléire started the campaign off with a play-off victory over Oliver Plunkett’s, they look set for a term of struggle in Division 2. Irelands have a habit of starting the league like the proverbial house on fire and they will see this as an ideal opportunity for an early two points.

VERDICT: Young Irelands. ST BRIDE’S KILKERLEY EMMETS

DERBY day in Knockbridge and though St Bride’s prevailed in the Sheelan Shield meeting in March, Kilkerley Emmets will have been plotting for this one from a good while back. If their forwards deliver, it is difficult to see how Bride’s will match what Emmets can post. But Mark McCann should have the hosts a lot more organised than they were when relegated last season.

VERDICT: Kilkerley. ST KEVIN’S O RAGHALLAIGHS

A HARD one to call given the seeming lack of expectation around both clubs this season. St Kevin’s have propelled their promotion pushes of the past two years on impressive home form and O Raghallaighs are without a league victory since August 2022. Don’t expect there to be much between the teams come full-time but Kevin’s may just shade the outcome. VERDICT: Kevin’s.

CLAN NA GAEL ST JOSEPH’S

JOE’S are flying and while Clan na Gael will have been preparing for this game quietly, if the Dromiskin/Darver natives produce what they did throughout the Sheelan Cup, they will win their opener and start as they mean to go on. This is the strongest squad Joe’s have had since winning the intermediate championship in 2016 and with Conall McCaul and Ben Collier back from Louth duty, they should prevail. VERDICT: Joe’s.

GLYDE RANGERS O’CONNELL’S

O’CONNELL’S have been moving ominously well in the Kevin Mullen Shield and though league matches can take on a different degree of meaning, current form would suggest an away win is the likeliest outcome in Tallanstown. VERDICT: O’Connell’s.

JOHN MITCHEL’S NA PIARSAIGH BLACKROCK

THESE two could well be fighting against the drop as the season progresses so an early two-point return would be gladly accepted by both. John Mitchel’s have the better forwards but may not be as well-balanced as Na Piarsaigh Blackrock, who have a very shrewd management team in charge. Home advantage could swing it the way of the Division 3B holders. VERDICT: Mitchel’s.

NAOMH FIONNBARRA OLIVER PLUNKETT’S

THE Barrs are brimming with confidence at present but Oliver Plunkett’s will provide their sternest test yet. Plunkett’s withdrew from the Kevin Mullen Shield, having drawn with Naomh Fionnbarra in the one game they did play, and are still feeling disappointment at losing the play-off against Lannléire in February. The hangover could see them drop a point here. VERDICT: Draw.

CUCHULAINN GAELS NAOMH MALACHI

KEVIN Carragher really got Naomh Malachi moving last year and while they may have fewer options to call upon this time around, the Shelagh natives will still have promotion firmly in mind. Gaels are developing but Malachi’s are superior at present. VERDICT: Malachi’s.

ST NICHOLAS DOWDALLSHILL

ST NICHOLAS will expect nothing less than the two points on offer here as they seek to push for promotion. They have proven to be an inconsistent team in recent years but given Dowdallshill’s current plague, you would imagine that Karl O’Connor’s charges will be too good in Rathmullen. VERDICT: Nicks.

WOLFE TONES SEAN MCDERMOTT’S

GETTING up – preferably as champions – will be Wolfe Tones’ primary goal this term and they should see off Sean McDermott’s in their opener on home sod. VERDICT: Tones.

ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS WESTERNS

ANNAGHMINNON certainly won’t be taking Westerns for granted given how the Reaghstown natives whipped Rovers in the JFC two years ago. The hosts have momentum on their side but Westerns will be tricky. VERDICT: Annaghminnon.