Moving weekend gets underway

It is a relatively quiet evening of games on Friday as Round 2 of the Football Championships crank into gear with four games scheduled and there have been time changes for all four due to a storm which was forecast early in the week with the two Senior games and the Junior match moving forward by fifteen minutes to 19;00 and the Intermediate game going back by 45 minutes to 20:00.

Tickets for all Fairyhouse Steel SFC, Meade Farm IFC, Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC, Coolrite JBFC JBFC and Meath Cleaning Supplies PFC Division 1 & 2 games are available via: Club Football Championship Tickets

The meeting of Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Ballinabrackey in Páirc Tailteann pits two sides against each other who have had impressive League campaigns in 2024 with the ‘Moors reaching the semi-finals in Division 1 and Ballinabrackey getting to their first ever top tier final. But for both sides, the Fairyhouse Steel sponsored SFC got off to a disappointing start when for the second year in succession they lost out to Dunshaughlin and Summerhill respectively in their opening games.

Those defeats mean it is win or bust this evening and Ballinabrackey are buoyed by the return of Sean Coffey to their side after their talisman missed out on that narrow loss to Summerhill due to suspension. His midfield partner Damien Carroll impressed two weeks ago and if they can get the upperhand around the midfield battle ground then it will be significant.

For Donaghmore/Ashbourne, the snatching of defeat from the jaws of victory in Ratoath last time out will have stung but they will view Friday’s game as a great opportunity to get back to winning ways. How their attack copes with the Ballinabrackey packed defence will be intriguing and to this end the form of Michael O’Sullivan who pilfered 1-03 from play against Dunshaughlin and Bryan Mentons ability to kick long range scores could be crucial.

This game is live on Clubber and the stream or season pass can be purchased here: Clubber

If we rewind the clock back twelve months, Seneschalstown were left ruing the concession of two late goals against Simonstown as the sides drew in Páirc Tailteann when meeting in Round 3 of the Championship. The Yellow Furze outfit continue to be shorn of the services of Cathal Finnegan who has worn the title of their marquee forward in recent seasons and that leads to a question of where the scores to win a game at this level will come from. To this end, they will need the likes of Alan Mulvany, Dylan Keating and Eoin Finnegan to raise their game but at the other end, the tap which sees them leaking too many goals will need to be turned off.

Simonstown Gaels made a positive start to the Championship when downing Na Fianna two weeks ago and return to the scene of one of the greatest smash and grab affairs of 2023 when they somehow defeated St. Peter’s Dunboyne to claim a win. Sean Tobin looked like he had a new lease of life against Na Fianna and if he and Padraig McKeever hit top form then they can rack up a match winning tally between them. One of the younger players in their starting XV is Eoghan Gough and he is capable of building on an impressive showing in Round 1 and if he does then Seneschalstown will have difficulties with his pace, power and accuracy.

There will have been inquests around Paddy O’Brien Park as to how Navan O’Mahonys lost out to Walterstown on the opening weekend of the Meade Farm IFC and they face a must win game in Cortown against a St. Michael’s side who themselves lost out to newly promoted Kilbride. Who will get the win that keeps their Championship hopes alive?

Having had a BYE in Round 1, 2023 finalists Clann na nGael open up with a fascinating encounter against a Dunsany side which got the job done against Kilmainham but who know they will need to improve as the season progresses if they are to win that elusive Junior title.