Louth and Proud Award's 2013

Seeing as everyone else is doing an end of year report I decided I’d do a Louth and Proud end of year awards wrap.

Pope Francis award for Player of the year: Shane Lennon
Right from the word go Lenno was on song, a scoring machine...Right up there on the socring tallies nationally. We relied on him for the scores and he usally put the team on his back and got them. By far and away Louth’s best player in 2013. Love him or loathe him it’s a fact.

Aidan O’Rourke’s Player of the year: Adrian Reid
The Armagh man came in as new manager with his own idea’s and needed to. His off the field requirements were felt significantly by the players. On the field he put his own stamp on the team too and the most successful one was the switch of Adrian Reid from Wing forward to wingback. Reido was a revelation in the league and on the scoreboard, a real feather in the Cap for AOR.

Andy Murrayesque Score of the year
Okay I’ll set the scene before I name a free as our score of the year.
League Match.Under lights. Last minute. to win the game. Away. In Armagh. Under the stand. With Ciaran McKeever in your face.
Step right up Brian White.
It gets it for the pressure alone.

Closest thing to Clare Hurling game award for Game of the year
Laois game for me...no, not the one sided championship game but the Saturday night league game down there. We got the draw but the performance of our lads was exceptional, It was a to and fro battle with savage intensity. Our lads really believed in themselves after that night.

Royal Baby Young Player of the year
Without a shadow of a doubt it has to be Ciaran ‘Casey’ Byrne and if he wasn’t AFL bound, the 18 year old Mochta’s man could have picked up this award for the next 5 years!

X-Factor Came from no-where player of the year
John Bingham came right from the auditions stage to the grand final sorry in GAA terms- Early trial games way back in December 2012 to starting for Louth in the championship! not only that, he held his own...kicked a point in his debut and picked up John Doyle in Kildare. Not bad going hopefully he doesn’t end up like previous winner Eamonn McAuley and we do see him again next season!

Robin Thicke Club Player of the year
Hugh McGinn for me, no Blurred lines from the Blues forward this year, his motives were clear from get go.  His Championship form drove the Newtown Blues to their  20^th Joe Ward. Top scorer in the Senior championship too.

Martin O’Neill Roy Keane Team of the year
It has to be the Gers...
They were ultra greedy this year! They won the Championship in comprehensive fashion, Winning the League on the last day and then ending the year winning the Leinster and with more to come! 

Commander Hatfield award for Manager of the year
Eamonn McEnaney See above
Miley Cyrus MTV WTF moment of the year
It has to be the paltry number the Health and safety allowed for our home championship tie’s in the Gaelic grounds. Were they allowing for each person to be twerking at the games?!?
Best Lions impression  of the year
Dessie’s Body Slam on some poor unfortunate Antrim forward was the nearest any GAA player got to George North’s heroics down under.

Hashtag of the year
#NGA On par with Lance Armstrong interviews for level of annoyance in 2013 ha!

Picture of the year
The things Lads would do anything for a Selfie!

Maggie Thatcher award for Enemy  of the year
This goes to Ciaran Lyng for his goal and sunk our momentum and dreams of Leinster semi final crack at 2010’s winner Meath. Class goal though.

Horse Meat award for scandal of the year
County Grounds, DKIT  fiasco. nuff said.

RVP sponsored Goal of the Year
O’Fiaich Cup. Flick to 7.20 in this Vid.

Oscar Pistorious F-ck Up of the year

Dare I say it, Shane Lennon 14 yard free miss against Kildare. It was a bitter blow at the wrong time for the lads moral on that tropical hot day in Newbridge.

AP McCoy 4000th winneresque Celebrations of the year

We have to bow down to Hunterstown Rovers, these lads know how to Party!

They also got to a Leinster final this season imagine if they had won that!!

 

Thanks for reading

tweet @LouthProud if you agree disagree or would like to add to the Wrap up!

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas Folks!!!

From L&P!!!!

feel free to go back over the archive for some light reading on this festive period!!

The Players who ARENOT on the Starter squad for 2014

The best and easiest way of doing this is accounting for the players who were involved last season and are not named in this years panel.

By process of elimination and accountability


Injured
Shane Lennon
Ray Finnegan
Cathal Bellew  
Emmigration
Joe Flanagan
Ruairi Moore
John Bingham Travelling
Ciaran Byrne AFL bound

Trialled.
Tommy Durnin
Thomas Costello
Ronan Greene
Anthony Williams

That's 11 we know have reasons for not being there.

 Which  leaves us with...
JP RooneyRonan Carroll
Mick Fanning
Jim McEneaney
Pepe Smith, 
James Califf 
Conor McGuinnness

Some surprising omissions there...7 very surprising Omissions.
Alot of quality there and could be championship starters!
Why are they not involved

allow me to fill in the blanks, the best I can.


Mick Fanning and JP Rooney have been very unlucky with injuries especially under the AOR reign so maybe thats why they've been omitted.

The Clogher Duo have tons to offer but work commitments might be the reason they are not involved? Same goes with McGuinness although he may have fallen out with AOR anyway.

I'd understand why Jim might not be included as the the Gers are still be involved in the All-Ireland series but then why include Gerry Hoey? 
It says to me, Jim will not be involved with the early part of the season.

However, injuries/operations aside he should still be involved in the panel conversation much in the way Shane Lennon, Ray Finnegan was clarified by AOR. 
That says to me he may be omitted long term.

Finally Ronan Carroll,
It is no surprise AOR wasn't Ronan's biggest fan in and out of the side last season and never really fancied. Ronan maybe has decided to take an easy option and not come back for this season if he wasn't wanted in the first place!



Lads worth a Shot...?
Bear in mind....we've just gone through 54 players already today
who said we don't posess the talent in this county!This is a section I've made up from people's opinions

The list is mainly made up of players from the county champions from across the 3 grades this season.


Newtown Blues
Hugh McGinn  Top scorer in the Senior Championship wasn't asked?

James Murray injured ??
Stephen Moonan ??

Gers Contingent that could be drafted in after the AI semi
Michael Rogers
Glen Traynor
Shane O'Hanlon
James Craven
Tiernan Hand
and maybe more worth a try....?

Hunterstown Duo
Ryan Burns
Keith Brennan
Definitely worth a call up at least.....

Tweet @LouthProud your opinions Please!

 

Louth Player so far this season

This week the Louth panel to start the 2014 season was announced...emphasis on the word Start. I wasn't so sure of the credibility of the panel until I seen it posted on the Louthgaa Facebook page...surely if its on facebook it must be 100% accurate!?

The 2014 Starter Panel
N Gallagher     Cooley Kickhams
S McCoy         Dromintee
P Rath          Dreadnots
K McLoughlin    SOM
D O'Hanlon      St Pats
G Connolly      St Mochta's
L Shevlin       Dreadnots
D Finnegan      St Pats
A Reid          Mattock Rangers
J O'Brien       SOM
D Crilly        Dundalk Gaels
G Hoey          Geraldines
P Reilly        St Brides
C Rafferty      Cooley Kickhams
P Keenan        St Pats
J Kermode       Newtown Blues
A McDonnell     Newtown Blues
B Duffy         Fechins
B Donnelly      Cooley Kickhams
G O'Hare        Naps
B White         Cooley Kickhams
E O’Connor      St Pats
S Campbell      Jocks
K Rogers        Mals
C Doyle         O'Connells
D Maguire       DYI
C Judge         Newtown Blues
P Sheelan       Cooley Kickhams 
D Clarke        Ardee St Marys 
D Byrne         St Mochta's
 
I'd like to breakdown this 2014 starter panel by adding an explanation to the players who are there and are not there.

Enjoy. 




Regulars

Neil Gallagher
Pop Rath
Dessie Finnegan
Adrian Reid
John O'Brien
Derek Crilly
Gerry Hoey
Paddy Keenan
Andy McDonnell
Brian Donnelly
Brian White
Derek Maguire
Colm Judge
Darren Clarke
Total 14

Basically they are the most established and seasoned inter county players we possess in the county.

These lads are the stalwarts at this stage, the non removables, they are the core group that sets the panels standards...Alot of leaders in there and they've proved their worth enough to be given time to recover from injuries or to take an extended break to freshen their mind?

Truth be told, Based on their experience alone, it will be hard not to see 10 out of this core not starting championship come May?



Fringe

Shane McCoy
Liam Shevlin
Conor Rafferty
Bevan Duffy
Gary O'Hare
Eoin O’Connor
Kevin Rogers
Paddy Sheelan
Gary Connolly

Total 9


The lads on this list have yet to find the balance needed to be regulars.

They posses the talent but are either not proven yet or lack consistency.

The role of these lads is to force the regulars out of their positions and show some the talent and skill they show at club level.

Look through the list and you automatically think great club players standouts for their club....give them more time without the pressure of being dropped off the panel and they'll flourish!

The fringe list also gives the panel a little something, a little extra or a option AOR could use for impact off the bench.




Debutants 

Patrick Reilly         Brides
Keith McLoughlin   SOM
John Kermode       Newtown Blues
Cian Doyle             O'Connells
Stephen Campbell Naomh Martin
Darren O'Hanlon    St Pats
6 made the cut

Daniel O'Connell          Roche
Stephen Coleman        Gaels
Shaun Hand                 Kilkerley Emmets
Conal O'Hanlon            Joes
Ciaran Murray              DYI
William Woods              Finbarrs
5 6 Did not make the cut

I did a ROOKIE report recently and over half of the rookie I had seen have made the cut.

The role of the rookie is to add freshness....their enthusiasm is their to rub off on the veterans.
Also,  their fear of the unknown is crucial. They go into battle against Dublin in Parnell park and they don't care if they have been there before. They don't care or might not even know who they are marking. They have no baggage and will try something and give you something obviously that we've never seen before.

It's that greeness that makes playing for Louth fun.

Daniel O'Connell I feel is very unlucky not to make the 2014 starter panel.
Patrick Reilly who I have seen but not a whole lot of comes from pedigree (David's Son) is a player who excites me the most along with Cian Doyle they will have a really positive effect on the panel in 2014.

Forgot William Woods in the first draft, Classy player needs to decide himself if he wants to become a inter county player or not.

1 Returnee 
Declan Byrne is back and rightfully so. 

Outstanding Club player and his dedication has never been in question either. Finding a position for him has.

He can play possibly anywhere on the field and do a job but where can we get the best out of him at intercounty level? He's featured on the wing for Louth in recent O'Fiaich positions. That role could suit him....he's comfortable on the ball, can pick up breaking ball, win some kickouts and he can score too. The workrate the wing position requires will take alot of discipline from Decie.

Hopefully the year out has disciplined him enough to now force his way into the side, follow direction and then stay in the side.

Thats the breakdown of the 30 players named in the Panel now for the players that aren't named!  
actually, I might make this another post!
 

Rookie Report

We've played two games in the 2014 season. Two defeats but, results is not what this time of year is about, Discovering potential new players is.

AOR has taken this on board and trialled numerous players some old and some new in fact 11 Debutants so far....I'll look at these rookies today

Stephen McLoughlin, Dundalk Gaels.
Solid outing against Derry, decent kickout too.

Keith McLaughlin, SOM.
Pacy wingback, Will grow with more experience at this level, tigerish in the tackle.

Darren O’Hanlon, St Pats.
Tough outing on McFaul more at home in the full back line,
his versatility may go against him.

Daniel O’Connell, Roche Emmetts
Good solid shift against Derry in the middle, big man, big boot on him also.
Possible target man too, used there when introduced against Armagh.
Rewarded for super season with Roche.

Shaun Hand, Kilkerley Emmetts.
Skillful player and link up man but his size may affect his chances unfortunately.

 

Stephen Campbell, Naomh Martin.
Not many know him around the county but a promising player,
bags of pace, very busy and proactive when the ball goes anywhere near him.

John Kermode, Newtown Blues.
Found the pace tough going in Derry when introduced but showed why he is seen as a prospect when rattled in a superb goal against Armagh. Check out 7.20 in this Vid

Ciaran Murray, DYI.
Tight marking corner back had tough time on Mullan versus Derry but his club form shows he has potential.

William Woods, St Finbarrs.
One man show at club level has potential at this level but will need to be brought up to speed. The way he won and took his penality shows he's worht sticking with. From 9.24 in the Vid

Conal O'Hanlon, St Joseph's
Tall and rangy player started right half back and the alien position affected him.
Settled in the forward line could be used as target man as per club.

Cian Doyle, O’Connells.
Very, Very Lively elusive player. goes everywhere looking for possession,
Chalk him down as a definite panel member.

With one more game to go (Down Friday night) a few more lads to be tried out and possible Hunterstown, Geraldines contingent to come back also....there seems to be alot of potential untapped talent there yet to be discovered for AOR.

So far so good.

Who Would you like to see tried out?? Tweet @LouthProud who!! 

For those asking about Tommy Durnin from the Westerns he was named to start against Derry but was unfit to start...he will get his chance sooner rather than later I'm sure 

O'Fiaich Cup Louth V Derry

DERRY: 3-11
LOUTH: 2-10

Dark insignificant December night in Athletic Grounds in Armagh, or was it?

Little does the GAA world know but, the game of Gaelic football has now changed, forever. As tonight we saw the firstimplementation of the new Black card rule. The Player in question, who will carry this acrimonious honour forever? Derry’s Declan Mullan, a corner forward, of course!

The incident wasn’t exactly why the powers that be in the GAA wanted the rule introduced in the first place. A tackle which took place where no goal scoring opportunitywas denied. pure unadulterated cynicism? I think not.

In an evenly contested first half, Cian Doyle opened the scoring. The eighteen year old was one of eight debutants that started for Louth on the night. 

Derry then, with their edge in experience took over. Forcing Louth to concede a Emmett McGuckian penalty. The Eoghan Rua duo of Ciaran McGoldrick and Mullan inside were most industrious at this early stage, accounting for half of theirteams first half points between them. Solid defending was the foundation of their success.

However, The bright Louth team fought their way back into the game. Midfielder Daniel O’Connell intercepted a pass out of the Derry defence to set up Stephen Campbell who finished calmly to the bottom corner.  

Declan Byrne finished off the comeback with two sublime points off either foot. Yet Louth still went down a point down at the break.

At this stage there was no black cards and maybe an indication of the openness and quality play in the game?

Derry Manager Brian McIver eluded it was ‘Early in the year’ before correcting himself showing how far ahead he was in his preparations. ‘We had a meeting with two of our referee’s to educate our players on the new rule' but emphasised that ‘until they are in actual competition it is hard to tell.’

Overall he was happy with the game ‘Good run out for both sides and good game of football and the black card rule he thinks bodes well for the future ‘trend for the year high scoring matches‘

Louth brought their subs on during the break and started the half brightly, kicking three scores in a row. This sprung Derry management into action. Bringing substitutions of their own and They scored two points and levelled up the game.

Then the momentous moment happened Down Referee Brendan Rice produced the first black card in GAA history.This however was not a bad thing for Derry as it forced them to bring in Anthony O’Neill, who then scored a goal with his first touch! 

Brian White handed Louth a lifeline with a 45’ which was fumbled into the net by Derry returnee Fergal Doherty.

The powerful Derry side were in determined mood and really dominated from then on. Aaron Kerrigan got another goal and young Ciaran NcFaul ended proceedings with a fine point to match his display.

So remember the date folks, December 6th 2013. 

The day cyncism died in GAA? 

We’ll see.

Louth: S McLaughlin, C Murray, P Rath (Cap), T Costello; D Byrne (0-2), D O’Hanlon, K McLaughlin; B Donnelly, D O’Connell; S Hand, D Maguire(0-1), E O’Connor (0-1); S Campbell(1-1), K Rogers(0-3), C Doyle(0-1).
Subs: J Kermode for Donnelly, W Woods for Hand, White(0-1 145min) For Maguire, G Connolly for C Murray (all HT)D Finnegan for O’Connell(50)O’Connell for Kermode (65)

Yellow cards: 1 McLaughlin

Black cards: 0
red Cards: 0

Derry: T Mallon; O Duffy, C McKaigue, M McShane; C McAtamney, Aidan McAlynn, KMcKaigue; N Holly, F Doherty; C McWilliams, C McFaul(0-2), J Kearney; D Mullan(0-3 1f), E McGuckin(1-0pen), C McGoldrick (0-1).

P Cassidy for Holly B Heron for McWilliams k Johnstone (0-1) for Kearney (all 40mins) A O'Neill (1-1) for Mullan (50 mins) A Kerrigan(1-0),for McGuckian (55mins) SL McGoldrickfor K McKaigue(60)

Yellow cards: 0

Black cards: 1 Declan Mullan 50min
red Cards: 0

Referee: Brendan Rice (Down)

O'Fiaich Cup

What the hell is the Cardinal O'Fiach Cup??


Well it's a tournament involving the counties located in the Armagh Diocese

Armagh obviously Ourselves, Derry and Tyrone

Down replace Tyrone in this case as they are still under the collective training rule.

A complete breakdown of Fixtures, Venues, etc. is listed below.

Thursday 5th December – Athletic Grounds: Armagh v Down 8pm
Friday: 6th December – Athletic Grounds: Derry v Louth 8pm
Sunday: 8th December – Crossmaglen: Armagh v Louth 12.45pm
Sunday: 8th December – Crossmaglen: Down v Derry 2.30pm
Wed: 11th December – Athletic Grounds: Armagh v Derry 8pm
Friday: 13th December – Athletic Grounds: Down v Louth 8pm
Sunday: 15th December – Crossmaglen: Final 2.30pm

Tasty Tournament so amd great preparation for Division 2 next season


We play Derry first up.......and they've named their team already tasty team it is too!






Derry (v Louth):

Thomas Mallon (Loup)
Oisin Duffy (Foreglen)
Mark Craig (Dungiven)
Mickey McShane (Ballinascreen)
Conor McAtamney (Swatragh)
Aidan McAlynn (Loup)
Karl McKaigue (Slaughtneil)
Niall Holly (Eoghan Rua)
Fergal Doherty (Bellaghy)
Carlus McWilliams (Ballinascreen)
Ciaran McFaul (Glen)
James Kearney (Swatragh)
Declan Mullan (Eoghan Rua)
Emmett McGuckin (Magherafelt)
Ciaran McGoldrick (Eoghan Rua)

Subs: Eoin McNicholl (Glenullin), Declan Brown (Bellaghy), Ciaran Conway (Ballinascreen), Mark Lynch (Banagher), Peter Cassidy (Bellaghy), Emmett Bradley (Glen), Patsy Bradley (Slaughtneil), Benny Heron (Ballinascreen), Aaron Kerrigan (Claudy), Anthony O’Neill (Loup).