New management teams in Louth begin tenure

The GAA calendar is back up and running, in a month where the Wee County’s men and ladies teams begin their campaigns, with new management teams beginning their tenures in both men and ladies football, as well as the hurling side, who like their football counterparts, will begin their campaigns with matches in the first week of the new year.

First up on January 2 (today), Trevor Hilliard begins his reign as Louth senior hurling manager in the opening round of the Conor MacGurk Cup, which sees his new team take on his former employers Monaghan in Cloghan.

Having previously enjoyed success with the Farney county and Inniskeen Grattans, the Knockbridge native could face another away trip to take on Down in a quarter final, should Louth beat Monaghan on Tuesday night.

Looking further afield, and having ensured their Division 3A league and Nicky Rackard Cup status in 2023, Louth will be hoping for a similar outcome in this year’s campaign, which also sees them take on Monaghan in their opening league clash at home on February 4.

Switching codes to football, and akin to the hurlers, Louth’s footballers go into 2024 under new management, with former Dublin footballer Ger Brennan taking the reigns from Mickey Harte, who will be managing last year’s Ulster championship winners Derry this season.

UCD GAA executive, Brennan who previously managed club sides Bray Emmets and Moorfield from Wicklow and Kildare respectively, as well as serving as Niall Carew’s selector at Carlow, will be hoping to hit the ground running, when he takes charge of his first inter-county side, when Louth take on Meath in their opening round clash of the O’Byrne Cup on January 6.

Should Brennan’s side emerge victorious from Ashbourne, Louth could face Longford or Kildare in a semi final, with the O’Byrne Cup operating as a straight forward knockout competition this year.

This month will also see Louth begin their league campaign, with a trip to Armagh, a league which will also see them visit the Royal county on February 18.

January will also see Paul Hanlon begin his tenure as manager of the Louth ladies, when they come up against Antrim on January 21 in their first of five away matches for the Reds in Division 3, in a campaign where a return to the All-Ireland Intermediate ranks is surely a top priority for Louth, who were relegated to the Junior championship in 2023.