County Champions to become League Champions?

The Football Leagues draw to their conclusion this evening (Wednesday) with the final two deciders on the cards for Páirc Tailteann and Ashbourne as Divisions 1 and 2 take centre stage.

2022 winners Summerhill take on Ballinabrackey in the PR Coyne Division 1 Final is what is a preview of their opening round game of the Fairyhouse Steel SFC which will be played next month. Ballinabrackey were something of the draw specialists during the League with four draws out of their eleven round robin fixtures and it was that ability to grind out results rather than slipping to narrow defeats which helped secure a semi-final place.

Having never won a title at the top tier of Meath GAA before, a victory here would be huge for the club which straddles the Offaly border.  They might be relatively small in numbers but there is no little quality within their ranks.  The likes of Chris O’Connor, Nicky Judge, Damien Carroll and Danny Quinn have been around the block a few times and all four have experience of playing Senior Football for Meath.  Then there are the young guns such as Barry Thompson, Dean Pluck, Mark Coffey and current Meath Senior Sean Coffey.  That in itself is an outstanding spine of a team and they are a group of players who may not play the most expansive football but are never beaten until the final whistle.

Summerhill as the reigning Senior Championship winners and as winners of this competition two years ago, know what it takes to get over the line in tight encounters.  Each of their sextet of forwards are potential match winners on their day but it is their inside forward line of the Frayne brothers (Eoghan and Conor) along with Barry Dardis which can be really special on their day.  Eoghan Frayne and Dardis will punish any disciplinary indiscretions with their laser accurate freetaking so Ballinabrackey beware.

The Ryan twins hold down the centre of the defence and the potential battle of Adam McDonnell at wing back with Ballinabrackey wing forward Sean Coffey could be worth the admission fee alone.  Sean Muddiman has come into the club relatively recently and taken over between the uprights from Tony McDonnell and he has fitted in seamlessly with excellent shotstopping and kickouts being his calling card.

It took the ‘Hill extra-time back in 2022 to defeat St. Colmcille’s and there more than a few people who feel the 2024 decider could go the distance as well.

Over in Ashbourne, Seneschalstown and Dunshaughlin go to battle with promotion already secured back to the top tier for 2025.  But coming away from the final with the trophy would be the icing on the cake.

Both clubs have young teams laden with promise and hopes are high that they could be back challenging for Keegan Cup honours in the not too distant future.

Dunshaughlin dispatched of Trim in the semi-final after a game of very high quality and it was Luke Mitchell who proved to be the difference maker with his second half goal separating the sides.  Mitchell is a richly talented forward but if he lines out at wing forward where he is named then expect Seneschalstown to get him tracking back towards his own goal rather than allowing him the freedom of their defence.

Simon Rooney, the regular full back for Seneschalstown, misses out on selection, with Danny Waters dropping back to full back.  How the Meath Minor panellist of 2022 gets on marshalling Mathew Costello in what would be his biggest task to date will be crucial.  But Seneschalstown do have history of young full backs making their mark with Andrew Collins being the same age then as Waters is now when manning the edge of the square for their Keegan Cup success in 2007.

Reports from their semi-final suggest that Seneschalstown struggled at times against Curraha but the introduction of Cathal Hickey, only off the plane from holidays, saw them over the line as he struck for two goals and two points in a mightily impressive cameo.  If Hickey can hit similar heights then Seneschalstown can win but Dunshaughlin might just be a shade stronger given the injuries the Stephen Kernan side currently have.

Tickets for both finals are available here:  Football League Final Tickets

PR Coyne Football League Division 1 Final

Summerhill v Ballinabrackey

Summerhill Path to the Final

Ballinabrackey Path to the Final

JM Food Services Football League Division 2 Final

Seneschalstown v Dunshaughlin

Tuesday’s League Final Results

PS Supplies Doors & Floors Football League Division 3 Final

JMB Sportsfield Services Football League Division 4 Final

Tommy Dowd Oil Football League Division 5 Final

Tommy Dowd Oil Football League Division 6 Final

*After Extra-Time