Courtwood GAA

Courtwood

Coill na Cúirte
Founded:	1962
County:	Laois
Nickname:	The Wood
Club colours:	All White
Grounds:	Kilbracken
Coordinates:	53°06′14.11″N 7°04′59.89″W / 53.1039194°N 7.0833028°W / 53.1039194; -7.0833028Coordinates: 53°06′14.11″N 7°04′59.89″W / 53.1039194°N 7.0833028°W / 53.1039194; -7.0833028
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.

History

The 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
1990–1991	Martin Dunne
1989	Seamus Lawlor
1988	Tom Kinsella
1986–1987	Brian Lawlor
1984–1985	Mick Behan (Carlow)

External links

• Courtwood GAA Official Website
• Laoistalk - Laois GAA News Website

References

• Minor B win of 2003
• 2007 Intermediate final defeat
• 2006 Junior win