A staple phrase on Saturday evening television in the early 1990’s was “Contenders Ready, Gladiators Ready” as contestants took on the Gladiators on the hit ITV show.  This evening at grounds around the county it was more like “Players Ready, Calculators Ready” as the permutations in Groups A of the Fairyhouse Steel SFC and Meade Farm IFC continually changed on a night of great drama.

In the Fairyhouse Steel sponsored Senior Football Championship, Dunshaughlin have topped Group A but it looked at times like they could be in danger of failing to make the last eight as Curraha led by four points at various stages of the second half while the other game in the group which was being played in Navan ebbed and flowed.  Ultimately the Richie Kealy managed side came good in the closing stages to win and go three from three in the group.  Ruairi Kinsella came to the fore late on with three of the last four points, including the all important winner.

Meanwhile in Navan, Donaghmore/Ashbourne came out on top by the minimum against Na Fianna, having earlier lost out in the opening two games by a single point on both occasions.  This all meant it was time to get the calculators out and after the various permutations from the regulations were checked out, it was Donaghmore/Ashbourne who came second in the group with Na Fianna and Curraha consigned to the relegation battle.

In the Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship, Navan O’Mahonys got off to a blistering start against Drumbaragh Emmets and held firm to run out 2-18 to 3-07 winners in Sean Newman Park and topped the group as a result.

Carlanstown though was where all the drama took place in the group as Rathkenny looked like they were in big trouble when trailing by 2-06 to 0-06 with forty-nine minutes on the clock.  Were Oldcastle about to bounce back from defeat to Drumbaragh Emmets in Round 2 in the best possible manner?  But while Rathkenny were half dead at this stage, Oldcastle failed to finish them off and hauling themselves off the canvas before dusting themselves down, Rathkenny slowly but surely chipped away at the Oldcastle lead before equalising deep into injury time.  And with that point, the complexion of the group changed and changed utterly.  Rathkenny went from being destined for the Relegation Playoffs to qualifying for the quarter finals while Oldcastle went in the other direction and ultimately finished bottom of the group.

Scores proved hard to come by in Moynalty in the opening half as Kilmainham and St. Brigid’s went in at the interval having shared four points between them, Kilmainham 0-02 0-02 St. Brigid’s.  But whatever happened at the break, St. Brigid’s came out in the second period and blew their opponents away, eventually running out eleven point winners in Group A of the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC.  With six points out of six and one round to go, the Ballinacree outfit are looking like strong contenders for ultimate honours.

There were two games in Group B and they saw Dunsany and Kilbride run out winners.  Clann na nGael had been in impressive form in the opening rounds while Dunsany had shown mixed form but it was Dunsany who were to come out on top in Bective.  The other game took place in Slane and here it was Kilbride who won out as they defeated Syddan by seven points.

There was one game down for decision in the Coolrite Junior B Football Championship and this saw Cortown bounce back from defeat in Round 3 to pick up a vital win over St. Mary’s in Seneschalstown.  This leaves them in second place in the group on six points with a game against Drumconrath to come in a fortnight.

Friday’s Results

Fairyhouse Steel SFC Group A Round 3

Donaghmore/Ashbourne (1-07) (0-09) Na Fianna.  Referee – Joseph Curran (St. Michael’s).  Venue – Páirc Tailteann

Dunshaughlin (0-12) (1-08) Curraha.  Referee – Kieran Olwell (Moynalty).  Venue – Masterson Park, Ardcath

Meade Farm IFC Group A Round 3

Navan O’Mahonys (2-18) (3-07) Drumbaragh Emmets.  Referee – Patrick Clarke (Kilmainhamwood).  Venue – Sean Newman Park

Rathkenny (0-13) (2-07) Oldcastle.  Referee – Robbie Barrett (Walterstown).  Venue – Carlanstown

Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC Group A Round 4

St. Brigid’s (3-07) (0-05) Kilmainham.  Referee – Pat Clarke (Seneschalstown).  Venue – Moynalty

Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC Group B Round 4

Dunsany (1-13) (0-06) Clann na nGael.  Referee – Henry Clifford (Ballivor).  Venue – Bective

Kilbride (1-20) (1-13) Syddan.  Referee – Stephen Cregan (Dunshaughlin).  Venue – Slane

Coolrite JBFC Group A Round 4

Cortown (0-12) (0-04) St. Mary’s.  Referee – Hugo Whoriskey (St. Patrick’s).  Venue – Seneschalstown