Semi-Final Time Arrives in SFC & IFC

Two of the most consistent clubs in the county come face to face today in the Fairyhouse Steel SFC semi-final when perennial contenders Summerhill face off against Donaghmore/Ashbourne. And the game definitely goes ahead after the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) ruled that the Coiste na Mí Regulations pertaining to teams tied on points were correct.

The games are all ticket and are priced as follows.

Fairyhouse Steel SFC & Meade Farm IFC Semi-Finals

Adult – €15
Student/OAP – €10
U-16’s – Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult

Meade Farm IFC Relegation Quarter Final

Adult – €10
Student/OAP – €5
U-16’s – Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult

These sides have reached the last four in contrasting fashions with Summerhill coming through the group stage with a 100% record and then recorded a comfortable quarter final victory over neighbours Simonstown while Donaghmore/Ashbourne scraped through their group and then had a solitary point to spare against St. Colmcille’s under the floodlights in Skryne two weeks ago.

Conor Gillespie is in his second year at the helm in Summerhill and there is little doubt the former Meath midfielder is doing an excellent job, ably assisted Paddy Beirne, Paul Comey and Brian Flanagan who was the All-Ireland U-20 winning manager with Kildare earlier this year.

Twelve months ago, they fell at the final hurdle having put Ratoath to the pin of their collar in the decider and there appears to be a steely determination to set the wrongs of that day right this year.

There is a wealth of talent in this Summerhill side and they have a potent cocktail of youth and experience with the likes of the team captain Padhraig Geraghty and the Ryan twins in defence having seen it all before while the centerfield pairing of either Adam Flanagan and Mícheál Byrne as it was for much of the season or Adam Flanagan and Diarmuid McCabe as it was in the quarter final is as good as what is around in the county.

Further forward, David Larkin has been consistently excellent for the team in the half forward line for in excess of a decade now as has Barry Dardis while Kevin Ryan and Eoghan Frayne are two others who will cause Donaghmore/Ashbourne plenty of problems.

David Larkin (Summerhill) during the Fairyhouse Steel – Senior Football Championship game, Summerhill v Trim, (SFC QF), in Pairc Tailteann, Navan.
Photo: Gerry Shanahan – www.cyberimages.net
10-09-2023

For Donaghmore/Ashbourne who were last in the final back in 2016, this has been something of a roller coaster season in the Championship. An opening weekend defeat to Dunshaughlin was followed up with a Round 2 loss to Curraha and they faced into the final round of fixtures against Na Fianna in Páirc Tailteann knowing that anything other than a win would see them in the relegation battle once more, having been in it in 2022.

That Friday evening win over Na Fianna, coupled with the Dunshaughlin victory in Ardcath over Curraha saw them safely through to the last eight. Or so we thought. Appeal and counter appeal ensued due to a dispute over the regulations but when the Central Appeals Committee (CAC) ruled that the regulations were followed correctly, their quarter final went ahead.

And there the drama ended one would assume but not quite. Leading by a point with the end of the regulation hour fast approaching, the floodlights failed in Skryne, pitching the venue into darkness. Step forward electrician Brian Thomas of the Donaghmore/Ashbourne who saved the day when fixing the problem and after a delay of approximately twenty-five minutes, the game resumed with the ‘Moors edging a gripping encounter.

In Bryan Menton and Kevin Cully they have an excellent midfield pairing and their duel with whichever pairing Summerhill put out will be fascinating while their defensive sextet is as miserly as there is in the county. Sean Curran anchors the effort from centre back and he is flanked by Thomas McGovern and Conor Carton while at full back Shane Melia is a wily operator. Then of course Andy Colgan is the goalkeeper and he brings a wealth of experience to the table as well as being somebody who comes forward to great effect in kicking long range frees.

In attack, Leo Reilly has been something of a revelation this year at wing forward and Dylan Brady at corner forward always has the propensity to pop up with a goal. Andrew Tormey is another who has seen it all in a Donaghmore/Ashbourne jersey and he will line out on the edge of the square. His battle with Ronan Ryan could be worth ‘player cam’ footage!

Summerhill have been fancied by many to go all the way this year but sometimes events can be written in the stars. Donaghmore/Ashbourne have scraped their way to this stage and maybe just maybe, this could be their year? Stranger things have happened.

The opening game on the bill in Páirc Tailteann this afternoon is the eagerly awaited East Meath derby meeting of Duleek-Bellewstown and St. Patrick’s. These sides met fifty-three weeks ago under the floodlights in Ashbourne at the quarter final stage and served up a gripping encounter which went all the way to penalties as Duleek-Bellewstown progressed to the final.

That game had everything, and it is believed there are still people waking up around Stamullen and Julianstown in a cold sweat thinking about the small margins that cost them in that game.

The Ronan Kearns and Daithí Whyte managed side were impressive in the group stages of the Championship this year and showed great composure and resilience to recover from a terrible start against Castletown in the last eight to eventually run out relatively comfortable winners.

In Donal Landy and Jamie Murphy, they have two inside forwards playing at the top of their game with Landy’s movement complimenting the bustling presence of the eighteen year old Murphy. Out in the half forward line, Neil O’Flaherty pulls the strings, and he is flanked by the hard working Barry Mooney and John Mannion.

Sean Emmanuel who missed out on the quarter final win through injury returns to take his place at centre field in what is a significant boost to St. Pats. Further back, the ageless Darren Hagan dons the centre back jersey, it feels like he has worn that jersey forever, while David McQuillan dons the full back jersey. Liam Brennan at corner back had an excellent quarter final and the management duo of Kearns and Whyte will be looking for a repeat performance off him.

Team captain Robin Clarke missed out on that encounter twelve months ago, but he will pick up his customary berth today and forms part of a formidable looking Duleek-Bellewstown defence. Sam O’Leary is named at corner back but having not started the last day against Meath Hill, it would be no major shock were he to be held in reserve once more with Elliott Lenehan possibly coming back into the starting XV.

Robin Clarke (Duleek-Bellewstown) during the Meade Farm Group – Intermediate Football Championship game Duleek-Bellewstown v Meath Hill, (IFC QF)at Páirc Tailteann, Navan, County Meath.
Photo: Gerry Shanahan-www.cyberimages.net
10-09-2023

Alan Bowden is better known as a forward thanks to his exploits with the Meath Minors and U-20’s in recent seasons but he is forming an excellent midfield partnership with Meath Senior panellist Shane Crosby. A fine ball winner, Bowden is a man for the big occasion, and he will relish his likely battle with schoolfriend and Meath teammate Sean Emmanuel. That battle should it come to fruition will be fascinating.

Up front Duleek-Bellewstown had a great spread of scorers against Meath Hill but on the day lacked a forward who chipped in with a big individual tally. One suspects that kind of performance will be required in Páirc Tailteann this afternoon from one of the forwards but who will provide it? John McDonnell has shown he is capable and did it against Castletown in Round 3 and full forward Jamie Crosby is another capable of racking up a big haul.

As previously stated, twelve months ago penalties were needed to split this sides and it would be no great surprise were this game to go to extra-time once more. St. Patrick’s exacted a measure of revenge when defeating their neighbours in the Corn na Boinne Cup Final earlier this year, but will they be able to back that win up by claiming the honours today?

The other game in the Meade Farm sponsored Intermediate Football Championship is the meeting of Longwood and Bective in the Relegation semi-final, a game which will be played in Boardsmill.

Longwood have named a panel which doesn’t include Mickey Burke and his absence were it to be true would be a major blow to the clubs’ aspirations of avoiding the dreaded relegation final.

Bective have been decimated with absentees throughout the Championship and continue to be short going into this game.

This could go anyway and how the sides deal with the pressures associated with the relegation duel will prove crucial.