2023 Club championship draw sees Senior and Intermediate champions collide

The 41 Football and hurling clubs across the county learnt on monday night their championship fates as the draw for the group stages of 2023 Senior, intermediate and Juniors competitions took place at the Louth GAA Centre of Excellence in Darver.

And while there are plenty of tasty ties to look forward to later this year, one game stood out from the crowd as the Senior and Intermediate Champions of 2022 are on a collision course.

The race for the Joe Ward Cup sees 12 teams divided into four groups of three. The same rules apply to the race for the Intermediate Championship. But with no seeding, any number of combinations were possible following the draw.

However, it did the end keeping county’s big guns largely kept apart.

Just like a year earlier, when Naomh Mairtin faced St Fechins, the marquee draw sees Senior Champions Ardee St Mary’s squaring off with the newly promoted Cooley Kickhams in Group 4. Joining them will be St Brides, who were eliminated last year by Ardee.

First out of the hat was 2021 champions Naomh Mairtin, who were drawn in Group 1 alongside Dundalk Gaels and St Mochtas, the side they defeated to win the trophy two year ago.

Group 2 sees semi-finalists from last the Geraldines taking on two strong outfits in the Dreadnots and St Fechins, who meet at this stage in the competition for a second year running.

Finally Group 3 is where last year’s runners up Newtown Blues were drawn. Another huge rematch from last year sees them taking on St Patricks, having had a feisty encounter last season in Castlebellingham. Joining them will be St Josephs, another quarter finalist from 2022.

Moving over to the battle for the Seamus Flood Cup, which is also full of intrigue. Group 1 contains three of the last four Junior Champions with current holders Stabannon Parnell’s drawn to play 2021 winners Glen Emmets and Roche Emmets, who triumphed in 2019.

Group 2 is just as tasty, with last year’s runners up St Kevins set to lock horns with Mattock Rangers, who have just been relegated from the Senior ranks. Joining them will be O’Raghallaighs, who came close to promotion to Division One last season before struggling come championship.

Group 3 sees Hunterstown Rovers, semi-finalists in the last two years, paired with Young Ireland’s and Kilkerley, who are looking to bounce back having failed to get to the knockout stages in 2022.

Finally we have Group 4, another that looks tough to call with Dundalk rivals Clan na Gael and Sean O’Mahony’s colliding with O’Connell’s, who are entering into their second season in Intermediate Football having been relegated in 2021.

The first draw of the night was actually the DkIt Junior Championship, which sees teams put into two groups of three and two more filled with four sides.    

Oliver Plunketts have been given a mixed draw as they return to the third tier of Louth football, following last year’s relegation. They will face John Mitchels, county finalists in 2021 as well the Westerns in Group 1.

Wolfe Tones were a surprise package last year having made it to the semi-finals and they have been landed in Group 2, where they will fancy their chances of progressing alongside the Dundalk duo of Cuchulainn Gaels and Dowdallshill.

In the first of the four team groups, Glyde Rangers have been given a tough ask having been paired in Group 3 with last year’s beaten semi-finalist Naomh Fionnbarra. Also in the group are Drogheda outfit St Nicholas, who will be hoping for a better showing in 2023 and Annaghminnon Rovers.

Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock and LannLeire look to be the heavy hitters in Group Four, having been drawn with Sean McDermotts and Naomh Malachi.

The draw for the Senior Hurling championship was also made on the night, with champions St Fechins beginning their defence by clashing with Naomh Moninne. Also in the race for the Paddy Kelly Cup is Knockbridge. The trio will square off in a round robin competition ahead of a final.

Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship

Group 1: Naomh Mairtin, Dundalk Gaels, St Mochtas

Group 2: Geraldines, Dreadnots, St Fechins

Group 3: Newtown Blues, St Josephs, St Patricks

Group 4: Ardee St Mary’s, St Brides, Cooley Kickhams

CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Championship

Group 1: Stabannon Parnell’s, Roche Emmets, Glen Emmets

Group 2: St Kevins, O’Raghallaighs, Mattock Rangers

Group 3: Young Irelands, Kilkerley Emmets, Hunterstown Rovers,

Group 4:  O’Connells, Sean O’Mahonys, Clan na Gael

DkIT Sport Junior Football Championship

Group 1: John Mitchels, Oliver Plunketts, Westerns

Group 2: Cuchulainn Gaels, Wolfe Tones, Dowdallshill

Group 3: Annaghminnon Rovers, Naomh Fionnbarra, Glyde Rangers, St Nicholas

Group 4: Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock, LannLeire, Naomh Malachi, Sean McDermotts

Anchor Tours Senior Hurling Championship

St Fechins vs Naomh Moninne

St Fechins/Naomh Moninne vs Knockbridge

Knockbridge vs Naomh Moninne/St Fechins