Action heats up on Friday evening

The action cranks up a couple of gears on Friday evening in the Meath Club Football Championships with 5 games on the schedule, 1 in the Fairyhouse Steel SFC, 3 in the Meade Farm IFC and 1 in the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation JFC.  All fames throw in at 19:30.

The game in Páirc Tailteann sees Donaghmore/Ashbourne who have been very consistent throughout the season, topping the table in Division 1 of the Football Leagues and beaten finalists in the Feis Cup taking on a Na Fianna side who found the going tough in the League, only avoiding the relegation playoff by the skin of their teeth.

The ‘Moors are shorn of the services of last year’s captain as Bryan Menton remains on the sidelines after the injury he sustained in the GAA Football All-Ireland Championship semi-final defeat to Donegal whereas the county contingent return to the fold for Na Fianna as Seán Rafferty pulls on the number 3 jersey and Shane Walsh lines out at full forward.

There is an intriguing game in Walterstown as last year’s beaten finalists Navan O’Mahonys take on Duleek-Bellewstown.  Expectations around Duleek-Bellewstown were high coming into the 2024 Championship but their season never really lifted off and they missed out on a place in the last 8 after a final group match in Batterstown which was full of drama.

The East Meath side have lost the services of Eamonn Armstrong who has left for Australia but still have more than enough talent to believe they are capable of contesting for major honours in October with the likes of the Bowden brothers (Alan and Tom), Sam O’Leary and Shane Crosby among their ranks.

O’Mahonys lost out in the decider last October in cruel fashion as Meath Hill came out on top after extra-time and there is a feeling on Brews Hill that this is their year to get back to the senior ranks. They enj oyed a fine League campaign, winning nine of their eleven games and only losing their semi-final by three points.

Dunshaughlin plays host to the meeting of the last two winners of the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship as Kilbride and Dunsany meet in a fascinating encounter.

Having been a selector for the last few years, Anthony Moyles has stepped up to don the Bainisteoir bib this year and he has added former Mayo footballer Conor Mortimer to his backroom team.  Kilbride made the last eight in 2024 on their first season up and only lost out to eventual winners Meath Hill in Walterstown.  They will look to the likes of Josh Harford and Zack McGovern to provide a lot of their scoring threat.

Dunsany are of course still managed by another former Meath player as Kevin Cahill patrols the sidelines and the reigning Junior Champions will be relishing this encounter.  After being the bridesmaids for so long in the Junior ranks, they finally made it to the altar last October and they possess enough threats to be a viable threat up a grade.  Eoin Harkin is their north star and if he hits top form then they have a great chance in any match but he also has able lieutenants in the form of Harry Cahill at centre back and Declan Smyth at full forward.

The other meeting in Group D sees Bective and Blackhall Gaels facing off in Trim.  Blackhall Gaels narrowly avoided the relegation fare in Division 3 of the League while Bective lost out in the semi-finals of Division 4.

Since their League campaign concluded, the Gaels have had two Senior Hurling Championship games to focus on whereas Bective have had largely a free run in towards this encounter.  Luke Jennings misses out for the south Meath side and much will depend on how much scoring threat that Paul Kelly and Luke Jennings provide.

For Bective, David Donnelly and Cathal McConnell look like they will form a strong midfield pairing while at top of the left, Con Smith is always a big threat.

There is just one game this evening in the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship but it sees one of the pre-championship favourites taking to the field in Cortown when Clann na nGael face off against St. Brigid’s.

Niall McLoughlin has added Tony Kearney to his backroom team this year and on the June Bank Holiday the Athboy/Ráth Chairn side claimed the honours as the Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta was plundered on home soil.  That was followed up by an appearance in the Division 3 League Final and there is a sense that something is building for the men in green and gold.

Since winning the Junior B Championship in 2022, St. Brigid’s have consolidated themselves back in the Junior A ranks and while they’ve been a bit short of what it takes up to now for winning the Championship, they’ve had the capacity to take out one of the front runners, as they did to St. Vincent’s a few years ago.

As ever, much depends of Michael Flood and the captain will need to not only be at his very best here but also to inspire all round him if the Ballinacree side are to pick up the two points.  That said, he has a fine supporting cast with the likes of Dylan Scully in goals, Dylan Briody at centre forward and Cormac Brown all fine footballers.

Tickets for the below games which are priced at €8 plus booking fee (a reduction on the admission fee for 2024) are available by clicking the link:  Meath GAA Club Championship Tickets

Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Group D Round 1

Donaghmore/Ashbourne vs Na Fianna

Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Group C Round 1

Navan O’Mahonys vs Duleek-Bellewstown

Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Group D Round 1

Dunsany vs Kilbride

Blackhall Gaels v Bective

Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship Group C Round 1

St. Brigid’s vs Clann na nGael

Thursday’s Results