Who will complete the 2024 Football Finals cast?

Dunshaughlin, Navan O’Mahonys, St. Vincent’s and Carnaross are all safely through to their respective Championship finals but who there opponents will be is still to be decided as we look forward to what promises to be another day of Championship action filled with drama.

Tickets for all games this weekend in the Club Championships are available here: Club Football Championship Tickets

The second of the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship semi-finals sees Wolfe Tones and Skryne meet at 16:00 in Páirc Tailteann. Around the local hostelries in Skryne, they talk of their poor record in Championship football against the ‘Tones and when they met in the Championship two years ago, Wolfe Tones won out on a scoreline of 3-09 to 0-12, Saran Ó Fionnagáin doing a lot of damage on the scoreboard with 1-03 from play.

Twelve of that Wolfe Tones side are named in their starting XV in today’s match programme while by contrast, seven of the Skryne side are named to start in the publication.

There are few if any sides around who embrace the underdog status in a greater fashion than Wolfe Tones but today they come into this game wearing the favourites tag after a solid group stage and then an impressive quarter final win over neighbours Simonstown Gaels. In that game, Adrian Crawford was a late addition to the starting lineup at corner back and turned in a brilliant performance. Something of a similar level will be the minimum required in Páirc Tailteann should he once more be a late introduction to the side and he would be ably assisted in defence by the likes of Shane Glynn and Niall O’Reilly.

Skryne under Mick O’Dowd have had a remarkable renaissance this year and he will be looking to lead the club to a repeat of the 2001 SFC Final against Dunshaughlin, a final in which O’Dowd captained Skryne. The half back line for the team in blue have been outstanding and bring a youthful fearlessness in their approach to the game. Shane Smyth who is the senior member of the line at 22 years of age has a huge engine and the trainee guard will get up and down the pitch all day and he is joined by James Reeves (19) and John O’Regan (20).

Harry Rooney recovered from injury to line out at midfield two weeks ago and his clash with Alan Callaghan is one to savour. Up front, Billy Smyth is an exciting talent but much of the focus in their attack revolves around Darragh Campion who is in the form of his life at present and finally getting an injury free run.

The Meade Farm sponsored Intermediate Football Championship semi-final sees a novel pairing in Meath Hill and Ballivor. Both of these clubs are relatively recent winners of the Junior Championship with Meath Hill claiming the honours in 2017 and Ballivor in 2020.

Meath Hill will bring a huge support to Páirc Tailteann as they always do and there has been a growing sense around the club all year that 2024 could be the season where they bring the Mattie McDonnell Cup to The Barracks. The hurt of the manner in which they exited the Championship at the quarter final stage twelve months ago seems to be spurring them on and there is a fine balance to their side even though two members of the 2023 side have proven to be huge absences this year with Kieran Slavin away and Paddy Matthews out with a long term injury.

Damien Turley is their spiritual leader and tone setter in defence, Ryan Owens the enforcer around midfield (although his footballing attributes are massively underrated), James Mooney is a leader in attack but there is little doubt who has been bringing the bit og magic up front as Gary Breslin has lit up the Championship with some superb scoring performances.

Ballivor were mightily impressive in their last eight victory over a fancied Oldcastle side and they will come into this game full of belief that they will be in the decider in a fortnight. Sean ‘Crash’ Corrigan has them flying and they bring plenty of steel to the fight as well as having forwards up top who have an innate ability to pick off brilliant scores.

The Healys (Martin and Mark) have been outstanding in the defence and at the very back, Thomas Raleigh has pulled off some vital saves at big moments. Brendan McKeon will be difficult to pin down as he drifts around the forward line and Adam Gannon along with David Raleigh and Nicky Potterton will be other forward to watch.

The Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accomodation Junior Football Championship semi-final meeting of Slane and Dunsany takes place at 12:00 in Bective. Will Slane, the new kids on the block at Junior A level be able to take down Dunsany who are the perennial contenders at this grade?

Friday, Sep. 20, 2024, Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation JFC Qr Final, Dunsany v Ballinlough at Cortown GFC Declan Smyth (Dunsany) and Louis Finnegan (Ballinlough) Photo: © David Mullen 2024 www.cyberimages.net

Momentum is always a big thing in sport and despite losing their League Final earlier in the season, Slane have loads of momentum coming off the back of a brilliant 2023 and oodles of success at Minor level in recent seasons and in Des Teeling they have a manager who is gaining quite the burgeoning reputation.

His opposite number with Dunsany, Kevin Cahill, is a shrewd operator and his charges showed a resolute doggedness in how they ground Ballinlough down in their quarter final. Eoin Harkin will as ever be a key player with his scoring ability allied to the ball carrying strengths which he brings being central to how Dunsany operate.

At the same time in Sean Newman Park, Moynalty and St. Mary’s meet in the last four of the Coolrite Junior B Football Championship. Moynalty are on a mission to go one better than last year when Slane proved too strong but will be up against another young side from the banks of the Boyne when they take on St. Mary’s.

The carrot of a local derby against Carnaross is there for Moynalty and that will only serve to add to their motivation in Bohermeen.