Sigerson and Louth

Today is the Start of a plethora of College and University football competitions across the Country.

Third level football is now seen as a key stepping stone in a young player's development. Any aspiring player who wants to play inter county will use that elite level to test themselves among the best and allow them to reach the pace and standard of inter county.

Sigerson Cup football is a super competition, a high quality brand of exciting football, very physical and our players aren’t involved.

Throughout the whole competition We have possibly the fewest Player's involved with Sigerson team's. Jim McEnaney is in the highly talented DCU squad but down their pecking order.

James Califf, Shane O'Hanlon, Kevin Keelan and Peter Kirwan make up a large Louth contingent with NUI Maynooth but that’s where our player interest stops.

With such low number's does it highlight our lack of elite players, or the player’s lack of ambition not to put themselves out there and get into the Squads.

More importantly are we being left behind? Because of it?

It seems that way.....Parallel’s can be drawn to a poor tradition and lack of interest in third level competitions and our lack of Minor & U21 inter county success.

Highlighting the fact, that we are not producing elite players or even a tradition of standard’s required to play at the top, therefore as a result we are not winning or even featuring at those crucial inter-county development level’s.

My case in point is Dundalk IT, who are now competing in the second tier Trench cup. After years of neglect by the institute itself and the County board. A prefect opportunity to produce and develop our player’s totally wasted over the years.

Compare that to Cork, who’s top players have and want to come through CIT, UCC system. Playing at that high standard improved those players allowing them to consistently contest in and win; minor, U21 and senior provincial and all-Ireland title’s.
Hopefully now Oisin McConville, the new DKIT manager with his profile can stir up some interest, making our players aspire to play at that level.

We need all our players playing at the highest possible level to improve, as a county we would be better off.

Dundalk IT face St Pats Drumcondra at 2pm today.
Louth players involved Cathal Bellew, Sean McCann, Jason Clarke, Brian Fitzpatrick, Bernard Osbourne, Timmy Smith Paul Crewe,Derek Maguire and Andy McDonnell but he is away
Result: DKIT 4-10 St Pats Drum 1-21
Another Defeat a close one but a defeat non the less but twas to be expected I suppose!??

Don't know where my Sigerson Predictions went UL ran jordanstown close but UCC and UCD too strong

Sligo IT,DIT and Queens

and DCU on the 7th to prevail