Promoted but who can take home the silverware?

For all of the teams in this evening’s Football League Finals, the main goal of achieving promotion to a higher division has been achieved but there is nothing quite like the prospect of lifting silverware to whet the appetite and for some it is a while since a trophy was brought back to the club by their first team.

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Having come third and fourth in the table after the round robin games, Simonstown Gaels and Seneschalstown had to upset the formline in their semi-finals but the Championship gradings came through as they defeated their Intermediate opponents Duleek-Bellewstown and Navan O’Mahonys respectively.

Some might debate the merits of the top placed team not automatically gaining promotion across the various grades but the clubs who came fourth and gained promotion won’t care about that when they line out in a higher division come the 2027 season.  Perhaps though we may see some discussion about altering this when clubs get to submit motions at the back end of the current calendar year.

Neither Seneschalstown or Simonstown Gaels have set the world alight in recent seasons but both have showed promising form over the course of the League and raising a trophy would be a welcome confidence boost ahead of the opening round of the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship in a fortnight.

Ten years ago the best half back line in the county as the North Side Blues won the Keegan Cup was Brian McGrath, Brían Conlon and Níall Kane and such is their durability that this trio are named once more to start the JM Food Services Division 2 Final this evening in the same positions.

Will Byrne was a standout Minor in recent years and he will take watching from the Seneschalstown defence as will Aaron Farrelly and the ever-wily Padraig McKeever.

For Seneschalstown, how Colin Scanlon who excelled for the Meath U-20’s deals with McKeever will be very interesting.  A noted ball-carrier, will Scanlon look to put McKeever on the back foot with his attacking forays or could this leave gaps at the back which McKeever can exploit?

Woodley Nicholson appears to have nailed down the troublesome full back jersey for the Boynesiders and he will have Conor McDonnell and Simon Rooney alongside him in the full back line.

If Seneschalstown’s defence can get on top then they could well have the firepower to land the title but that is a big if against a talented Simonstown attack.

JM Food Services Football League Division 2 Final

Seneschalstown vs Simonstown Gaels – 19:00.  Devenish Park, Dunganny.

JMB Sportsfield Services Football League Division 4 Final

Drumbaragh Emmets vs Ratoath- 18:00.  Walterstown.

Tommy Dowd Oil Football League Division 5 Final

Gaeil Colmcille vs Moylagh – 18:00.  Cortown

Friday’s Results

County Board Chairperson Jason Plunkett presents the Mooney Cup to Liam Shaw, captain of the victorious Summerhill side. Photo is courtesy of Brian Mulligan.