2023 Louth Senior Football Championship Explained

2023 Louth Senior Football Championship
County:	Louth
Year:	2023
Trophy:	Joe Ward Cup
Sponsor:	Anchor Tours^[1]
Date:	27 August – 22 October 2023
Num Teams:	12
Defending Champions:	St Mary's
Winners:	St Mary's
Qualify For:	Leinster Club SFC
Runnersup:	Naomh Máirtin

The 2023 Louth Senior Football Championship was the 130th edition of the premier Gaelic football tournament for Senior graded clubs in County Louth, Ireland, organized by Louth GAA. The tournament consisted of 12 teams, with the winner going on to represent the county in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship. The championship began with a group stage and progressed to a knockout stage after the four teams that finished bottom of their group were eliminated.

St Mary's entered the tournament as defending champions after defeating Newtown Blues in the 2022 decider.^[2]

The Ardee club retained the Joe Ward Cup, beating Naomh Máirtin by one point in the final at Dowdallshill.^[3]

Team changes

Cooley Kickhams were promoted to Senior football for 2023 as winners of the 2022 Louth Intermediate Championship.^[4] They replaced Mattock Rangers, who lost the 2022 Senior Championship Relegation play-off to Dundalk Gaels.^[5]

Group stage

Group 1

Team
Naomh Máirtin	2	1	0	1	35	22	+13	3
St Mochta's	2	1	0	1	34	27	+7	3
Dundalk Gaels	2	0	2	0	23	43	-20	0

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group 2

Team
Dreadnots	2	2	0	0	28	23	+5	4
Geraldines	2	1	1	0	28	27	+1	2
St Fechin's	2	0	2	0	20	26	-6	0

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group 3

Team
St Patrick's	2	2	0	0	26	20	+6	4
St Joseph's	2	0	1	1	22	23	-1	1
Newtown Blues	2	0	1	1	26	31	-5	1

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Group 4

Team
St Mary's	2	2	0	0	35	18	+17	4
Cooley Kickhams	1	0	1	0	24	28	-4	1
St Bride's	1	0	1	0	22	35	-13	1

Round 1

Round 2

Round 3

Relegation Play-Off Final

• Dundalk Gaels are relegated to Intermediate football for 2024.

Knockout stage

Final

Notes and References

1. Web site: Anchor Tours SFC Rd 2:Full Time Naomh Mairtin 2-07 St.Mochtas 0-13 . Louth GAA. 4 September 2023.
2. Web site: Ardee St Marys end 27 year wait for Joe Ward Cup following thrilling Senior Replay . Dundalk Democrat. 16 October 2022.
3. Web site: Senior final result: Ardee St Mary’s 0-15 Naomh Mairtin 1-11. Dundalk Democrat. 23 October 2023.
4. Web site: Brian White the hero as Cooley Kickhams end 32-year wait for Louth championship title . . 3 October 2022.
5. Web site: Dundalk Gaels show some guile to punish wasteful Mattock and retain their senior championship status. Drogheda Independent. 1 October 2022.