Who can book their place in the county final?

The action on the penultimate weekend of the Meath Hurling Championships concludes today with three games down for decision including two Senior Semi-Finals split across the A and B Championships as well as a Relegation Play-Off in the Abbey Pharmacy Intermediate B Championship.

Tickets for the games are available via the link:  Club Hurling Championship Tickets

The action on Saturday saw the K Windows & Doors Junior Hurling Championship title won by St. Patrick’s as they defeated Kildalkey by seven points in Ratoath and in the K Windows & Doors Junior B Hurling Championship Final, Donaghmore/Ashbourne claimed the honours as they downed Dunderry by 2-12 to 1-12.  Player/Manager Colm Ó Méalóid picked up his first Championship title after playing adult hurling for the ‘Moors for twenty-six years.  Perseverance pays off.

The action in Devenish Park, Dunganny saw both Clann na nGael and Boardsmill book their places in their Championship Finals after defeating Trim and Drumree respectively.  Clann na nGael were in the driving seat at half time and were never troubled in the second period as they won out by fifteen points and Boardsmill survived a second half fright before pulling away to take down Trim.  In the Abbey Pharmacy IHC Final, Rathmolyon now take on Clann na nGael and in the B Final also sponsored by Abbey Pharmacy, it will be a Bhulf Tón CLG vs Boardsmill decider.

Today’s offering has as its centrepiece the Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim SHC Semi-Final encounter between Kiltale and Ratoath at the later time of 15:00 in Devenish Park.

When these sides met back on August 16, it was Kiltale who came out on top by two points but will they be able to repeat that victory today?

There are injury concerns in their camp as Hugh O’Sullivan isn’t named in their match day panel after being forced off injured a week ago for Moynalvey and in addition to O’Sullivan, doubts persist about the availability of Anthony Forde and Adam Murphy, with Forde not having played in three weeks due to injury and Murphy rumoured to also be struggling with a knock.

If this trio are all out injured then the resources available to Kiltale will be sorely tested although they have named Cillian O’Sullivan at centre forward and his addition to their ranks is an intriguing one.

Ratoath came through in Round 5 when defeating Trim, with eighteen year old Eoin Flanagan coming up trumps with a ‘Roy of the Rovers’ esque cameo when he landed a hat-trick of goals after being introduced as a second half replacement.

They will be hoping not to be in a position where such heroics are required from a replacement today in the closing stages and with their footballers having booked their spot in the last four of the Fairyhouse Steel SFC last week, the carrot of the Senior Double is still ahead of them.

The curtain-raiser in Devenish Park at 12:00 is the meeting of Dunderry and Longwood at the penultimate stage of the Loman Dempsey Property Consultants SHC B.

Longwood came up just short in the replayed final of this last October and they will be hoping to book their place in the decider once more but come up against a Dunderry side who have been in impressive form thus far.

Tommy Leavy will be hoping that his side have enough petrol left in the tank at this late stage of the competition to take down a seasoned outfit such as Longwood and avoid his sides journey coming to an abrupt ending.

Their dual players lined out last Monday in a Relegation Play-Off while Longwood have had two weeks to prepare for this game.  Could that be a factor in how things play out today and are Longwood pulling an ace from their pack with Mickey Burke named in their team for the first time in this year’s Championship?

Ted Murtagh Clothing & Footwear, Trim Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Kiltale vs Ratoath.  15:00.  Venue:  Devenish Park, Dunganny.  Note the change of time

Loman Dempsey Property Consultants Senior B Hurling Championship Semi-Final

Dunderry vs Longwood.  12:00.  Venue:  Devenish Park, Dunganny

Abbey Pharmacy Intermediate B Hurling Championship Relegation Play-Off

Kildalkey vs Kilmessan.  11:00.  Venue:  Fr. Plunkett Memorial Park

Saturday’s Results