Super Sunday Lies Ahead

There are five mouthwatering encounters to look forward to on this ‘Super Sunday’ of action as we approach the dénouement of the Club Football Championships.  By the end of the day’s proceedings, we will most likely know the winners of the Coolrite Junior B Football Championship and the completed pairings for the remaining Championships.

Tickets for the games including the newly available Weekend Pass are available via the link:  Football Championship Tickets

Saturday’s games saw Donaghmore/Ashbourne topple Ratoath to qualify for the Fairyhouse Steel SFC Final, Navan O’Mahony’s downed St. Patrick’s to return to the Meade Farm IFC Final and Ballinlough overturned St. Vincent’s to book a place in the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation JFC Final.

They are perennial contenders for the Keegan Cup and therefore it is somewhat surprising that this is the first meeting of Summerhill and Bhulf Tón CLG in the Championship since 2023 when the men from the ‘Hill won out by 2-13 to 0-11.  Bhulf Tón CLG were not helped by the fact they had to play for three quarters of the game with fourteen men.

On that day, Kevin Ryan plundered a first half goal for Summerhill and Eoghan Frayne backed that up with a second major in the second half and they could line up this afternoon in Devenish Park, Dunganny with ten of that day’s starting line-up once more commencing the match while Bhulf Tón CLG could have a similar number, showcasing the settled nature of both groups of players.

Both teams have had seamless paths to this stage of the Championship, boasting 100% winning records and in truth the only time either side was troubled to date was the Quarter-Final for Bhulf Tón CLG who were put to the pin of their collar by neighbouring Rathkenny in a riveting encounter fifteen days ago but they found a way to pull through by two points.

The ‘Tones look set to be missing the services of Brughach Ó Fionnagáin who is rumoured to have picked up an injury and for those who were at the Kiltale game last week or tuned in to Clubber will have to be doubtful that Ross Ryan will line out for Summerhill after he had to be helped off the field of play due to picking up a lower leg injury.

That will test the defensive reserves for both sides but Summerhill are likely to have Ronan Ryan to come in for today’s game while Adrian Crawford is slated to pull on the number five jersey for Bhulf Tón CLG.  Ryan’s credentials speak for themselves, and Crawford is a tenacious defender.

Both sets of management teams will be well aware of the key players they have to shut down in today’s game with the extended Frayne family dominating the scoring charts for Summerhill, Eoghan with nineteen points, Conor with eighteen and their soon to be brother-in-law Sean Muddiman also on eighteen points.  The race for the golden boot in that family is fascinating!

On the opposite side, Thomas O’Reilly who is enjoying an excellent Championship, leads the way for his side in the scoring charts with nineteen points and he is closely followed by Caolan Ward on seventeen before the top three is brought to a close by Tom Gavigan on thirteen.

It is highly unlikely that any side will tie up all three players so whoever can limit two of the three could well be planning a date with Donaghmore/Ashbourne on Sunday October 18.

Adam Flanagan who missed much of the season, is once more named among the replacements for Summerhill but just as he replaced Jack Regan before the throw in against St. Colmcille’s, don’t be surprised if he does so once more today and form a partnership with Diarmuid McCabe that proved to be so string against the ‘Cille’s.

As has so often been the case with Dave Clare’s side, one of their strongest lines tends to be at half back and against St. Colmcille’s the trio of Adam McDonnell, Padhraig Geraghty and Jamie O’Shea provide both a solid line defensively but also an excellent attacking platform, illustrated by the fact that both Geraghty and McDonnell have landed six points in their run to the penultimate stage.

If ever a PHD student wanted to do a study on a club that maximises its resources year after year, then they should look no further than Bhulf Tón CLG.  Since climbing the grades of Meath Football in the early 2000’s, they have more than held their own at the top table, and more often than not, have been among the contenders for ultimate glory.  All of this is off the back of a relatively small pick in terms of numbers and a juvenile section that is rarely playing in the higher divisions.

It is to their great credit that the club are so competitive and every year they seem to be able to unearth a gem to boost their playing ranks.

Caolan Ward had a quiet day by his standards against Rathkenny and he will need to get back towards his best today if he is to help his club back to the biggest day on the club football calendar.  Sarán Ó Fionnagáin was a late withdrawal from the starting line-up against Rathkenny due to an injury and in his place came Fiachra Ward who enjoyed a fine outing as a target man in the full forward line.  Ó Fionnagáin though is so important to his side that were he to be ruled out once more then that could be a near fatal blow as the inclusion of Ward from the outset robs them of a potential match changing option off the bench.

Having been named to start against Rathkenny before being withdrawn in a reshuffle Kyle Moran came off the bench to great effect, striking a dagger through the hearts of the men in black and red late on as he fired in a brilliant match winning goal. He is once more named in the starting line-up, but will he start or be held in reserve once more?

This one is likely to be close, very close indeed and it would be of no surprise if it takes an extra twenty minutes to separate the teams.

Boliden Tara Mines Park in Simonstown is the venue at 16:30 for the Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final meeting of Walterstown and Duleek-Bellewstown.

Two weeks ago, Walterstown came to the same venue for the Quarter-Final against Castletown and despite being written off by so many, the men in black turned in a stunning performance to take down the beaten finalists of 2025.

A fortnight on, can they reach the same heights against Duleek-Bellewstown or will they have to climb even higher to take down the side from the east of the county?

Players such as Adam Quinn, Ciaran Cox and Conor Farrelly excelled in that game against Castletown and the likes of Lorcan O’Connor and Ruairí O’Dowd who did so well in the central attacking positions will also need to replicate or improve upon those showings.

Duleek-Bellewstown came through the proverbial Group of Death and fresh off the back of that, they turned in the most impressive opening ten minutes against Clann na nGael that you are ever likely to see as they landed blow after blow, leading their fancied opponents by 2-10 to 0-00 after less than a quarter of an hour.

Central to that blitzkrieg was the platform laid by Shane Crosby and Robin Clarke who dominated proceedings around the middle of the field.  Others who were key in that period were Oisín Miland, Eamonn Armstrong and Sam O’Leary and this quintet are likely to be key to anything positive that Anthony Malone’s side can manage.

20 September 2026; Eamonn Armstrong of Duleek-Bellewstown scores his sides third goal, in the 13th minute, during the Meath County Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final match between Duleek-Bellewstown of Meath and Clann na nGael of Roscommon at Walterstown GFC in Johnstown, Meath. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

But it is important to note that just as their opening to the game was ultra-impressive, there was much in their second half showing that will concern them for had Clann na nGael not been so wasteful, nine second half wides were hit, then they could easily have come back to deny Duleek-Bellewstown as the gap between the sides was only four points when Adrian Corcoran sounded the long whistle.

One thing is for sure, they will need to perform for much closer to the full hour today if there is to be any hope of the Mattie McDonnell Cup residing on the banks of the River Nanny this winter.

The evening offering is the eagerly awaited Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship Semi-Final meeting of Curraha and Slane at 19:00 in Skryne.

Since drawing with St. Vincent’s in the opening round, Curraha have cruised to this stage of the competition courtesy of a comfortable victory over St. Brigid’s in Round 2 before a thorough dismantling of Carnaross in the final round, a game in which they struck seven goals.  In total they have registered 11-46 over the three group games and conceded just 3-41.

A club that were in the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship just two seasons ago, they have regrouped this year after a difficult couple of seasons and when you look through their team there is no shortage of top quality talent sprinkled through the playing group.

David Toner and Diarmuid Moriarty are a high quality midfield pairing, although it would be no shock to see Moriarty operating closer to goal and the half forward line of Jack O’Connor, Neil Shortall and James McEntee is as classy as you will find.

In the inside line of the attack, Conor Moriarty is back in situ and he is ably assisted there by Andrew Coyle who was brilliant against Carnaross and Niall McLarnon.

Slane will be travelling south down the N2 and are looking to go one better than at this stage of the Championship twelve months ago when they lost out to Clann na nGael by seven points.

Since coming up from the Junior B grade a few years ago they have threatened to push on and move up another tier in Meath football.  Martin Barrett and his management team have a nice blend of youth and experience in their ranks.

Kyle Tallon and Evan Murray would get into any defence in the county and at wing back Tadgh Martyn is one of the best prospects in the county and is a player who has ambitions of forcing his way onto the county panel.

Matt Tully is a clever operator at centre forward and as well as being a big scoring threat, he pulls the strings and is capable of providing the bullets for the likes of Podge McGowan and Alan Harding inside to fire.

Slane come into this game as massive underdogs, but they will relish that and can give Curraha their fill of it.  Will it be enough to take down the favourites?

The Coolrite Junior B Football Championship Final sees Kilmainhamwood and Kilmainham facing off in Grangegodden at 11:30 with the Fintan Ginnity Cup on offer for the victors.

Whoever wins today will be ending a famine for Kilmainhamwood haven’t plundered a Championship since their greated ever day when they defeated Seneschalstown to win the Senior Championship in 1996 and it is 2001 since Kilmainham claimed a Championship when Longwood were defeated in the Junior B decider.

One thing we are guaranteed is that the celebrations will be of epic proportion regardless of the victor.

When the sides met in Round 3 it was Kilmainham who came out by a double scores margin but how much can be read into that game is hard to decipher as Kilmainhamwood were already guaranteed progression to the knockout stages whereas Kilmainham required a positive result to be sure of making it to the last four.  That probably fed into what transpired as Kilmainham found the win they required.

Driving through both clubs catchment areas this week, the colour and vibrancy associated with a county final has been on full display and it will be a short winter wherever the Fintan Ginnity Cup resides.

Kilmainham will look to their captain Dylan Morgan and Michael Hoey to lead their attacking threat and what a boon it has been for them to get Morgan home from Australia this season.  He is an forward out of the top drawer and had he been in the country then it is likely their struggles over the last few years wouldn’t have been as pronounced.  Hoey was a member of the Meath U-20’s panel this year and he brings a youthful vigour to a side that still has more than its fair share of wise old heads.

Harry Newman is still a vital cog at the heart of the defence, twenty-five years on from starring against Longwood and Michael Newman serves as the Player/Manager and Michael is very much the conductor of the orchestra from his midfield berth.

Kilmainhamwood are coming into this final with some rising stars of their own and while Rian Stafford grabs the headlines, the likes of Darragh Smith and Noah Madden have come through as excellent Minors in recent years and are now driving on at adult level, with Matthew Vaughan bringing a youthful exuberance to their attack as well.

At the other end of the spectrum is the evergreen Padraic Barber who is still soldiering for the club many moons after lining out in the 2009 IFC Final loss to Oldcastle.

Kilmainham won the last day but will Kilmainhamwood turn the tables today and spark scenes of wild celebrations on the Cavan border?

The Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation JFC Relegation Play-Off sees St. Mary’s who were desperately unlucky to lose out to Dunderry the last day, get another opportunity to survive against St. Brigid’s who are in the one and done category as this their only opportunity to avoid the dreaded drop.

Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

Summerhill vs Bhulf Tón CLG.  14:00.  Venue:  Devenish Park, Dunganny.  Live on Clubber.

Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final

Walterstown vs Duleek-Bellewstown.  16:30.  Venue:  Boliden Tara Mines Park, Simonstown.  Live on Clubber.

Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship Semi-Final

Curraha vs Slane.  19:00.  Venue:  Skryne.  Live on Clubber

Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship Relegation Play-Off

St. Mary’s vs St. Brigid’s.  18:00.  Venue:  Martry.

Coolrite Junior B Football Championship Final.  11:30.  Venue:  Grangegodden.  Live on Clubber.

Saturday’s Results