U16 footballers start Gerry Reilly Tournament this weekend

Dublin’s under-16 footballers open their Gerry Reilly Memorial Tournament this weekend when they face Westmeath on Sunday afternoon (4.0) in Oldcastle, Meath.

The Dubs, who are managed by current senior selector Jason Sherlock, have been grouped with Monaghan and Wicklow as well as Westmeath.

“This year will marks the 28th Anniversary of the Gerry Reilly Memorial U-16 Inter-County Football Tournament played in July every year,” says the tournament chief organiser Eddie O’Reilly.

“Games are always very competitive and at a high standard.

“Next year sees the All-Ireland U-17 Football Championship replacing the Minor Championship, which gives all the counties a great opportunity in developing their teams for next year.

“The competition proved a great success in providing a platform to launch inter-county football careers.

“This is backed up with so many players from all the participating teams making it all the way to represent their senior county teams at the highest level.”

The tournament commemorates Gerry Reilly who died tragically in December 1987 at 16 years of age and he had already proved to be a great footballer with huge potential to go on to great heights in the game.

The 'round robin' games are played on 3 successive weekends

Group A: Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath

Group B: Dublin, Monaghan, Westmeath, Wicklow

Round 1

Saturday, 1 July

Gr B: Monaghan v Wicklow @ 1.00 pm

Gr A: Laois v Louth Time TBC

Sunday, 2 July

Gr B: Dublin v Westmeath @ 4.00 pm

Gr A: Longford v Meath @ 7.30 pm

Round 2

Friday, 7 July

Gr A: Louth v Meath @ 7.30 pm

Saturday, 8 July

Gr A: Laois v Longford @ 2.00 pm

Gr B: Westmeath v Wicklow @ 7.30 pm

Sunday, 9 July

Gr B: Dublin v Monaghan @ 7.00 pm

Round 3

Saturday, 15 July

Gr B: Monaghan v Westmeath @ 7.30 pm

Gr B: Dublin v Wicklow @ 3.00 pm

Sunday, 16 July

Gr A: Longford v Louth @ 3.00 pm

Gr A: Laois v Meath @ 7.30 pm

ALL games in Millbrook, Oldcastle

Finals: W/e 29/30 July (Cup, Plate & Shield Finals)

Westmeath 1990, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2010, 2011

Meath 1989, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2007

Cavan 1997, 2004, 2006, 2014, 2015, 2016

Dublin 1993, 1998, 2008 (U-17 Blitz), 2012, 2013

Winners of the Gerry Reilly Plate to date:

Meath 2013, 2015, 2016

Wicklow 2014

Winners of the Gerry Reilly Shield to date:

Westmeath 2013

Meath 2014

Monaghan 2015

Louth 2016