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Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Dundalk IT name Lennon Cup All Stars Award winners
The Lennon Cup, established in 1971 in honour of Brendan Lennon, remains a cornerstone of youth GAA in the region. Ardee Community School won the Lennon Cup last December beating De La Salle 0-7 to 0-6 in a gripping match held in DkIT. The Marist team came out victorious to win the Shield competition with a 1-09 to 0-10 win over local rivals Coláiste Rís. As sponsors of the All-Star teams for both the Cup and the Shield competitions, DkIT was delighted to present each selected player with a commemorative DkIT jersey - a symbol of their hard work, skill, and dedication. The jerseys were presented by former All-Star winners and current DkIT students Cormac McKeown and DD Reilly. Both of these players played a key role in the recent Leinster U20 Championship success. The event was hosted by Aoife Gregory (DkIT GAA Development Officer) and other guest speakers on the night included Dalton McNamee (sports reporter and DkIT GAA stats analyst), Sean McClean (Louth GAA Chairperson) and Colin Heaphy (Louth Schools Chairperson). Congratulations to all the Lennon Cup and Shield All Stars, and especially to Shane Lennon of De La Salle, who was named Player of the Tournament for his standout performance at full forward. Lennon Cup All Stars Senon Connolly – De La Salle; Daniel Craven – De La Salle; Luke Shevlin – De La Salle; Keelin Martin – Ardee Community College; Andy Murphy – Ardee Community College; Donnacha Skinnader – St Joseph's Secondary School, Drogheda; Ciaran Russel – Ardee Community College; Rian Devlin – De La Salle; Ryan Shevlin – Ardee Community College; Pearse Murphy Grimes – De La Salle; Shane Lennon – De La Salle (Player of the Tournament); Donal Mc Ardle – De La Salle; Sean Flynn – Ardee Community College; Josh Taffee – Ardee Community College; Cormac Lundon – Ardee Community College. Lennon Shield All Stars Adam Cassidy – St Mary's College (Marist); Jake Young – Scoil Uí Mhuirí; Cian Farrell – St. Mary's College (Marist); Ben McKeown – St. Mary's College (Marist); Michael O'Brien – Coláiste Rís; Patrick O'Connell – Coláiste Rís; Sean Hoey – Coláiste Rís; Finn Carter – Coláiste Rís; Ruairi Carpenter – St. Mary's College (Marist); Oisin Reidy – St. Mary's College (Marist); Adam Dullaghan – St. Mary's College (Marist); TJ Molloy – Scoil Uí Mhuirí; Brendan Cassidy – Scoil Uí Mhuirí; Kayden Fisher – St. Mary's College (Marist); Aaron Donnelly – Coláiste Rís.
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Louth make first All-Ireland under-20 final with one-point win over Mayo
All-Ireland football under-20 semi-final: Louth 2-12 Mayo 0-17 Louth 's momentum wave of a season added another historic notch by reaching their first All-Ireland final at this age grade with a one-point win over Mayo . First-half goals from Shane Lennon, younger brother of All-Star Craig, and Pearse Grimes Murphy provided the spark but Adam Gillespie's additional time score got them over the line. Overall, Louth struck in bunches while Mayo methodically controlled the ball in an effort to conserve energy. Mayo only lead for the first time in the 51st minute. With the younger Lennon brother finding the target after three minutes of the pulsating semi-final, Louth could contain and ease the stress on their reserves. READ MORE Impressive Hugh O'Loughlin led for the Connacht champions and found the target in the Leinster equivalents early blitz. With a midfield platform to build on, the much touted full-forward line drew Peadar Gardiner's side back level. Tom Lydon's dummy bounce the pick of them. However, on top and equal on the 23rd minute Mayo missed three opportunities to take the lead for the first time. That lapse allowed Fergal Reels structured outfit the impetus to hang around and go unpunished. Against the run of play, Pearse Grimes Murphy took off and used all his pace that has caught the eye of AFL scouts to fire to the net and push Louth back ahead by three at the turn. The ball travelled further in the Longford sun and with both sets of youngsters understandably not acquired to the effects of blistering heat they were forgiven for measured approaches. Neither side scored in the opening 15 minutes of the second half. When it did open up three two pointers saw the lead swing like a pendulum. With extra time a strong possibility Gillespie punched Louth into the record books. Louth: T Markey (0-2, tpf); M Reid, K Martin, P Tinnelly; Tadhg McDonnell (0-1), C McKeown, S Lennon (1-2); S Callaghan, J Maguire (0-1); C McGinty, C Mac Críosta, P Grimes-Murphy (1-3, 1tp); A Gillespie (0-2), Tony McDonnell (0-1), D Dorian. Subs: D Reilly for Mac Críosta (48 mins), D Shevlin for Dorian (53 mins). Mayo: D Dolan; R Mortimer, Y Coghill, J MacMonagle; H O'Loughlin (0-1), P Gilmore (0-1), C McHale; D Duffy, S Howard; O Cronin, C Keaveney, C Lynch (0-4, 2tp); D Beirne (0-4, 1tpf, 0-1f), N Hurley (0-2), T Lydon (0-5, 0-1f). Subs: L Feeney for Cronin (38 mins), D Neary for Keaveney (41 mins), E McGreal for McHale (44 mins), J Carey for Hurley (53 mins), O Armstrong for Howard (59 mins). Referee: Conor Dourneen (Cavan)
Irish Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Louth boss Ger Brennan declares neutrality but admits his players cheered Meath on in semi-final against Dublin
Ger Brennan is not hiding away from it – the history, the pressure, the opportunity. He was in Newbridge last Wednesday night to watch the Louth under-20s beat Meath in the Leinster final, claiming a first provincial title at that grade since 1981. That result came in the same week Louth GAA received the go-ahead from the GAA to begin work on their long-awaited new stadium. The rising tide has been swelling nicely towards Croke Park on Sunday when the Louth senior footballers hope to take the Delaney Cup back to the county for the first time since 1957. Meath stand in their way. Brennan hopes the under-20 success acts as a spur for his side to match that achievement. READ MORE 'I hope it puts a bit of pressure on them,' he said. 'One of the competitions the county are involved in has been won and now they have another opportunity to add to it. So, it should inspire them and also a bit of pressure is usually good. 'I'll probably maybe have to wind Craig Lennon up, tell him that he can't just let his brother win one. Shane played in the under-20 final and did really well. It definitely all helps between that and the stadium getting the go-ahead from Croke Park.' There is no doubt Meath's semi-final victory over Dublin was a milestone one for the Royals but it was also a significant result for Louth, who have lost the last two provincial deciders to the Dubs. The Louth players were on the way home from their semi-final win over Kildare when the Meath-Dublin match was taking place. The Leinster final will probably take on a life of its own — Ger Brennan 'We were watching it on the team bus, everyone was engrossed,' recalled Brennan. 'Dare I say there were probably a few Louth men cheering on Meath for 35 minutes. I remained neutral; it didn't bother me who we were going to play.' All recent results indicate this is a more winnable final for Louth than it would have been against Dublin. Louth have actually beaten Meath in their last two outings – in last year's championship and during this year's league. Those victories in Inniskeen, plus a 2023 league win in Navan, are not insignificant. Donal McKenny celebrates with manager Ger Brennan following Louth's Division 2 victory against Meath in March. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho 'Getting results against teams that you hadn't beaten for decades, it probably does help when you break that hoodoo,' said Brennan. 'Even going back to my own playing time with Dublin, we beat Kerry in the National League down in Fitzgerald Stadium in 2009 and then we beat them two years later in the All-Ireland final. 'I think going into this game, it will be fairly evenly matched because both groups of players know each other quite well. The Leinster final will probably take on a life of its own. I think there will be so much at stake for both counties. 'The history that comes with it and the rewards of going into what you would say is probably perceived as a more favourable group for the All-Ireland series. So, it will probably be a nervy affair between two teams who haven't won anything in a while.' [ Seán Moran: Three out of four not bad as Dublin's fall adds spice to provincial finals Opens in new window ] [ Darragh Ó Sé: Donegal and Armagh won't come up short like Mayo did in their use of the new rules Opens in new window ] Dublin's ownership of the province had effectively made a wasteland of the Leinster senior football championship for almost 15 years, so there is a freshness in having a Louth-Meath final. It also means Brennan doesn't have to plot against his native county. He added: 'Last year I felt a bit weird because I obviously played with Dublin for so long and it was a funny situation to be in, albeit I kept my thoughts to myself in the build-up to the game last year. 'In my time in Louth, what I have come to appreciate is that there is a very healthy hatred between Meath and Louth. Similar to what it was with Dublin and Meath in the '90s and that four-in-a-row back then.' Brennan says Meath's win over the Dubs was not as big a shock as some have suggested. Meath manager Robbie Brennan (centre) celebrates his team's victory against Dublin in the Leinster SFC semi-final in Portlaoise. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 'I think we'd all agree that the gap has closed between the chasing pack in Leinster and Dublin,' he said. 'That outrageous talent that began to come as I was finishing up, are those same fellas coming through? They're not and the gap has closed. To be fair to Robbie Brennan, the way he got the lads playing against Dublin the last day, they were worthy winners. 'It wasn't as big of a shock. I think it was maybe a surprise [instead of a shock].' Louth's victory over Kildare not only secured the Wee County a place in the Leinster final but also guaranteed them Sam Maguire football . Brennan admits that it would have been a setback for the group to be consigned to the Tailteann Cup this summer. 'Yes, I imagine there would have been multiple calls from America for fellas to go over to play a few games and I wouldn't begrudge them going if they had been in the Tailteann, given Louth's development. 'I think for Kildare, coming from Division Three with a new manager, they'd have to go all in for the Tailteann. The only benefit to the Tailteann Cup for me is that if you win it, you have All-Ireland series the next year. 'But other than that, I don't think there would have been a lot of appetite among the current Louth group.' Hunger won't be a problem in Croke Park this Sunday, though.
