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)
The tournament to be run on a ‘round robin’ basis, each team plays each other in their group. 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw
Group positions based on score difference in the event of teams on same points
Top teams in each group qualify for the Gerry Reilly Cup Final
Second team in each group qualify for the Gerry Reilly Plate Final
Third team in each group qualify for the Gerry Reilly Shield Final Winners of the Gerry Reilly Cup to date:
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