Everywhere you look over the weekend there have been gripping stories being written in the Club Football Championships and we are set for more on Sunday when there are nine games spread across the four primary football championships, four in the Fairyhouse Steel SFC, two in the Meade Farm IFC, one in the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC and two in the Coolrite JBFC.

On Saturday, Summerhill edged a clinker against Donaghmore/Ashbourne in Páirc Tailteann to book their place in the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship quarter finals with the Frayne brothers Eoghan and Conor accounting for 1-08 between them.  They of course join Dunshaughlin in the last eight and the table toppers ran out comfortable winners over Ballinabrackey in Trim.

In the Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship, Oldcastle showcased their credentials when defeating Moynalvey by fifteen points in Simonstown to secure top spot in Group C while St. Patrick’s picked up a confidence boosting win over Drumbaragh Emmets in Walterstown.

St. Vincent’s, regarded by many as the favourites for the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation Junior Football Championship, defeated Dunderry by eight points and Ballinlough took care of St. Brigid’s by fourteen.  Those results saw Ballinlough remarkably overtake Dunderry on score difference to secure second place and a spot in the knockout stages.

Then we had the scoring performance of the weekend in Slane.  Moynalty needed to defeat Eastern Gaels by thirty-nine points to secure their place as top seed in the Coolrite Junior B Football Championship and they duly managed it as they ran out 7-28 to 0-04 winners, a winning margin of forty-five points.

But where will the most captivating storyline be played out on Sunday?

Will it be in Group B of the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship where Wolfe Tones meet Curraha in Walterstown and St. Peter’s Dunboyne meet Gaeil Colmcille in Páirc Tailteann?  If we rewind the clock back twelve months to September 10 2023, Gaeil Colmcille came from eight points behind to defeat their Dunboyne opponents in the relegation quarter final.  Could we possibly get more drama like this today?

The Ger Robinson managed St. Peter’s Dunboyne are top of the table with four points and a very healthy score difference of +15.  Anything other than securing their passage safely through to the last eight would be remarkable.  But Gaeil Colmcille are sticky opposition and if they bring their shooting boots then anything is possible.  Signs were evident against Curraha two weeks ago that they are coming to life and it would be another step forward in form if Dunboyne can be toppled.

Wolfe Tones take on a Curraha side which have been struggling for form thus far in the Championship but they know a win over the ‘Tones, coupled with a St. Peter’s Dunboyne win over Gaeil Colmcille would leave three sides tied on two points and a quarter final spot would be possible.  Don’t rule it out.

Group D is very open and there is a plethora of different permutations going into the final round with all four sides still in with a chance of qualifying for the last eight.

Skryne sit top of the table with three points and know that if they get a win or a draw over Trim then they will be safely through. A win would see Trim through as would a draw but only if Rathkenny defeat Ratoath.

Ratoath know a win over Rahkenny will see them qualify as would a draw provided Skryne get at least a point from their game against Trim.

For Rathkenny, they need a win over Ratoath which would see them get to three points and hope that Skryne and Trim doesn’t end up as a draw for if it does, Trim would knock them out by virtue of having defeated them in Round 1.

In Group D of the Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship, Kilbride are top with two wins from two games but are not yet assured of their place in the last eight.  Should Navan O’Mahonys defeat them today and Walterstown take care of the St. Michael’s challenge then all three sides would be tied on four points and that infamous regulation with mini leagues would come into play again. That said, the equation is pretty clear for the Leo Turley managed side.  A win or a draw and they’re through.

Walterstown know a win or a draw over St. Michael’s would see them through if O’Mahonys don’t defeat Kilbride and O’Mahonys have the scenario that the same would see them through if St. Michael’s defeat Walterstown.

The picture is a whole lot clearer in Group C of the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation Junior Football Championship when Clann na nGael and Kilmainham meet in a high noon showdown in Boardsmill.  The winner qualifies for the quarter finals and a draw would see Clann na nGael through as their score difference is -3 compared to -4 for their opponents.

In Group A of the Coolrite Junior B Football Championship, both Cortown and Kilmainhamwood are assured of knockout football, irrespective of whoever finishes bottom of the table.

Meanwhile in Group C, Boardsmill and Clonard are virtually assured of a place in the quarter finals as it would take a defeat of behemoth proportions for either side to be knocked out.

The Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Group D Round 3 game between Rathkenny and Ratoath at 16:00 will be streamed live by Clubber. Link to purchase the stream: Rathkenny v Ratoath Live-Stream

27-07-23, SFC at Skryne GAA Ratoath v Moynalvey Eamon Wallace (Ratoath) and Cillian Kelly (Moynalvey) Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net

Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Group B Round 3

Wolfe Tones v Curraha

St. Peter’s Dunboyne v Gaeil Colmcille

Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Group D Round 3

Rathkenny v Ratoath

Skryne v Trim

Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Group D Round 3

Navan O’Mahonys v Kilbride

St. Michael’s v Walterstown

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Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation Junior Football Championship Group C Round 3

Clann na nGael v Kilmainham

Coolrite Junior B Football Championship Group A Round 3

Cortown v Kilmainhamwood

Coolrite Junior B Football Championship Group B Round 3

Boardsmill v Clonard

Saturday’s Results

Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Group A Round 3

07-09-24, at Pairc Tailteann, Navan Fairyhouse Steel SFC Group A Round 3, Summerhill v Donaghmore-Ashbourne Adam Flanagan (Summerhill) and Conor Carton (Donaghmore-Ashbourne) Photo: David Mullen/www.cyberimages.net

Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Group C Round 3

Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation Junior Football Championship Group B Round 3

Shane Caffrey (St. Vincent’s) attempts to break through the tackles of Fionn McHale and Sean Traynor (Dunderry) during the Balreaak Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC Group B Round 3 game in Dunsany. Photo via Orla Brady.

Coolrite Junior B Football Championship Group C Round 3