2020 LMFM Meath MFC Previews – Division 3
Division 3 – Ballinabrackey, Drumconrath/Meath Hill, St. Colmcille’s, St. Mary’s, St. Michael’s/Nobber, St. Patrick’s, St. Ultan’s/Cortown Gaels, Wolfe Tones
The top two sides in Division 3A and Division 3B progress to the semi-finals with top in 3A playing second in 3B and top in 3B playing second in 3A. The third-placed team in 3A plays the fourth-placed team in 3B in the Shield semi-final with the third-placed team in 3B playing the fourth in 3A.
Division 3A – St. Colmcilles (B), St. Mary’s, St. Michael’s/Nobber, Wolfe Tones
St. Colmcilles (B) – In 2019 they contested the Division 4 Final on the October Bank Holiday Monday and despite throwing everything bar the kitchen sink at Ballinlough, just came up short in the end. Fast forward twelve months and the ‘Cilles are in Division 3 with their second Minor side which is a real show of strength from the club. They may find the air thinner at this higher altitude than last year and while the depth of talent in the club is impressive, they may find the going tough this year.
Manager – Stephen O’Brien. Selectors – Paddy Gillick & Mickey Conlon. Captain – Josh
McLoughlin.
St. Mary’s – In the not too distant past St. Mary’s were joined with Slane as Brú na Boinne at this age grade and contested a Division 4 League final with only a handful of players from the Donore club togged out. Fast forward a few years and the club are fielding a Minor team in their own right which is a testament to the work being done from Go Games right through their juvenile section and is something to be applauded. In Joey Greene they have a fine talent and he will look to dovetail with joint captains Willian McSweeney & Ben Loughran to fire the club to the knockout stages. Can they make the most of their two home games? If they pick up two wins there against Wolfe Tones & St. Colmcilles then they will surely be there or thereabouts.
Manager – David Gogarty. Selectors – Robert Victory & Sean Loughran. Joint Captains –
William McSweeney & Ben Loughran.
St. Michael’s/Nobber – One thing is for certain in Division 3 of the LMFM MFC and it’s that St. Michael’s/Nobber will be one of the best-motivated sides around with the inspirational figure of Larry McEntee pulling on the Bainisteoir bib. Larry will be looking to Kuba Bidzinski & Jo Ojunbe to lead the charge and both of these players have an uncanny ability to score goals at pivotal moments while Lorcan McEntee is a very reliable free-taker who will keep the scoreboard ticking over at all times.
Manager – Larry McEntee. Selectors – Michael Owens & Darren O’Connell. Joint Captains – Lorcan McEntee & Brian Reilly.
Wolfe Tones – Having lifted the Noel Curran Cup last year in a dramatic final played in Dunganny, Wolfe Tones are back to defend their crown. Kyle Moran and Conor McKeever are two players to watch out for while Thomas Donegan who could line out around the middle of the field is a player capable of making hay with his eye-catching high fielding ability. Wolfe Tones have a remarkable ability to hit the back of the net, averaging almost four goals a game in the Spring League and it’s this ability which will always give them a chance of winning a game.
Manager – Con Begley. Selector – Paddy Diamond. Captain – Joseph Smith
Division 3B – Ballinabrackey, Drumconrath/Meath Hill, St. Patrick’s, St. Ultan’s/Cortown Gaels
Ballinabrackey – The ‘Bracks were flying early in the year and will come into the Championship wearing the tag of favourites in many people’s eyes. With the club not fielding at the U-15 grade this year due to small numbers at the age-grade, all focus will be on the Minor team and under the tutelage of Darren Bannon, they will be a very well organised
outfit. It feels like there has been a Coffey leading the charge on their Minor team every year now for the past while and this year is no different with county Minor panellist Mark Coffey the latest of the family to be pulling on the jersey. Having shown well with his school St. Mary’s Edenderry in the last school year, he has shown plenty of ability and he might be the one who
ends up lifting the Noel Curran Cup to make up for their 2019 defeat in the final.
Manager – Darren Bannon. Selectors – Chris Kennedy, Pauric Ennis & Sean Quinn. Captain – Mark Coffey.
Drumconrath/Meath Hill – Fortress Meath Hill will be called upon as Drumconrath/Meath Hill have landed two home games against St. Ultan’s/Cortown Gaels & St. Patrick’s either side of their long journey to Ballinabrackey in Round 2. They are likely to find the going difficult in what is a tough group but the two home games will give the Independent side from the north of the county hope that they can prevail and qualify for the semi-finals.
Joint Managers – Tony Slavin & Thomas Owens. Selectors – Emmet Boyle & Shay Durnin.
Joint Captains – Cormac Sheehy & Josh Flanagan.
St. Patrick’s – Having been relegated to the Intermediate ranks in 2019, St. Patrick’s will be looking to bring some youth into their adult sides over the next few years and there are no shortage of players on this year’s crop of Minors who have the potential to go on and be stalwarts of the club in the coming seasons. In Sean Emmanuel they have a player of superb athletic ability and he will help them be in with a live chance of making the semi-finals.
Manager – Niall Black. Selectors – Pat Mannion & Nadeem Akhtar. Captain – Joe Butler.
St. Ultan’s/Cortown Gaels – It’s difficult to know what to expect from the St. Ultan’s/Cortown Gaels combination. Only having one home game is somewhat of a handicap and they’ll be hoping not to be needing a win from their final day showdown away to Ballinabrackey to qualify for the semi-final stages as it’s a notoriously difficult venue to come away from with a win as the Cortown second team found out over the weekend in the adult Premier Championship. The two games in the Spring League which they played resulted in heavy defeats for Tomás Coyne’s side and they will be hoping to show improved form in the Championship.
Manager – Tomás Coyne. Selectors – Vincent Rennicks, Eddie Casserly, David Rispin,
Michael Reilly & Tommy Allen. Joint Captains – Sean Óg Yore & Luca Brady.
2019 Winner – Wolfe Tones
Playing For – Noel Curran Cup
2020 LMFM Meath MFC Previews
Predicted semi-finalists – Ballinabrackey, Drumconrath/Meath Hill, St. Colmcilles (B) & Wolfe Tones
Predicted winners – Ballinabrackey.
Predicted Shield Contestants – St. Mary’s, St. Patrick’s, Michael’s/Nobber & St. Ultan’s/Cortown Gaels.
By Brian Kelly Tue 4th Aug
