Courtwood GAA

Courtwood
Coill na Cúirte
Founded: 1962
County: Laois
Nickname: The Wood
Club colours: All White
Grounds: Kilbracken
Playing kits
Standard colours

Courtwood GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association gaelic football and hurling club, located in the north east corner of County Laois in Ireland. The club is located in the eastern half of Emo parish with a small catchment area around the village of Ballybrittas and the local school Rath NS.

The locality is bordered on one side by County Kildare and by neighbouring clubs in Laois, Annanough, O'Dempseys and Emo.

The club is almost completely a football club, although recent years have seen Courtwood dabble in the small ball game. Courtwood field football teams at intermediate and junior B but in 2008 opted out of hurling competition.

Juvenile football and hurling affairs are catered for by St Pauls Juvenile GAA club, an amalgamation with fellow parishioners, Emo. Courtwood also amalgamate with Emo at minor and Under 21 level.

Contents

History

The current Courtwood club was founded in 1962. Previous to this, players from the locality played with the Jamestown club.

Courtwood has won the Laois Junior Football Championship twice (1970 and 1986) and the Laois Intermediate Football Championship twice (1971 and 1987).

In 2006, Courtwood won the Laois Junior "C" Football Championship. The previous year Courtwood reached the Laois Intermediate Football Championship final where they were narrowly beaten by Crettyard. 2007 saw Courtwood again reach the Laois Intermediate Football Championship final but Graiguecullen were to deny them once again.

At underage level, Courtwood have successfully combined with Emo on a number of occasions to win county titles. Emo won the Laois Minor Football Championship in 1964 and 1965 and the Laois Under 21 Football Championship in 1966 and 1967, with players from Courtwood playing on the winning teams.

The two clubs also combined to win the Under 21 title again in 1989 and 1990 as Courtwood/Emo.

Courtwood as a separate entity won the 2003 Laois Minor "B" Football Championship and Emo/Courtwood returned to the county roll of honour in 2008 winning the Laois Minor "B" Football Championship, having lost out in the 2007 final of the same competition.

Famous players

Courtwood is the home club of Fergal Byron, the 2003 All-Star goalkeeper who was also instrumental in Laois's 2003 Leinster SFC triumph. He was joined in 2007 on the Laois senior panel by Niall Donoher, a minor and under 21 star with Laois.

George Doyle and John O'Connell both played senior football with Laois in the 1990s while Danny Luttrell and Tommy Dunne were on the Laois team beaten in the Leinster SFC final in 1968.

Managers

Years Name
2011 Mick Behan
2010 Richie Connor
2009 George Doyle and Mick Behan (joint)
2008 George Doyle
2007 John Strong
2004–2006 Mick Behan
2003 Karl Lenihan
2001–2002 George Doyle
2000 Tom Kinsella
1998–1999 Tommy Dunne
1997 Larry Swayne
1996 Martin Dunne
1995 Danny Luttrell
1993–1994 Karl Lenihan
1992 Brian Lawlor
1991 Martin Dunne
1989-90 Seamus Lawlor
1988 Tom Kinsella
1986–1987 Brian Lawlor
1984–1985 Mick Behan (Carlow)

External links

References