Will O'Mahonys take another step towards a return to the Senior ranks?

The big games take place wherever you look today with semi-finals, relegation semi-finals and one final on the cards on what is a Super Sunday of action in the Meath Football Championships. Supporters heading to Páirc Tailteann will be treated to a feast of football with a an attractive triple header scheduled for the Brews Hill venue.

The games are all ticket and are priced as follows.

Fairyhouse Steel SFC, Meade Farm IFC & Balreask Bar Restaurant & Guest Accomodation JFC Semi-Finals

Adult – €15
Student/OAP – €10
U-16’s – Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult

Fairyhouse Steel SFC Relegation Semi-Final & Balreask Bar, Restuarant & Guest Accomodation JFC Semi-Finals

Adult – €10
Student/OAP – €5
U-16’s – Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult

The race for the Keegan Cup is down to three teams following the victory for Summerhill in the first semi-final but by 18:30 this evening we will know who the second team into the final on Sunday October 8 will be. Whether it be Ratoath or Wolfe Tones that emerge victorious in today’s semi-final, the winner will have a rich pedigree of success in the Senior Championship.

Ratoath are going for a second title in as many years after last year’s narrow win over Summerhill and are aiming to bring the famous cup back to the club for a fourth time in five years having claimed a first ever Senior Football Championship success back in 2019. Wolfe Tones are another relatively new side on the roll of honour with their first title coming back in 2006 but they came again to win the trophy two years ago.

Incidentally these teams met at the same stage in 2021 with Wolfe Tones coming out on top by 0-13 to 1-08 en route to glory and could the stage be set for a similar result today?

Ratoath started the Championship in impressive fashion when defeating Moynalvey on the opening night before dismantling Skryne in Round 2. That left them safely through to the quarter finals and perhaps with their busy dual schedule in mind, the team was freshened up for the final group game against St. Colmcille’s. That game saw the seasiders defeat the reigning champions.

Dunshaughlin were next up under the floodlights in Ashbourne and this was a night when Ratoath lived on their nerves. The reigning Intermediate champions were excellent on the night and had Kevin Reilly’s charges almost dead and buried but as great champions do, Ratoath found a way to stay alive when Ben McGowan rose highest amidst a thicket of bodies to fist the ball to the back of the net deep into injury time showing there is plenty of heart in his side while simultaneously breaking every heart in the neighbouring Dunshaughlin.

Since that win over Skryne, Ratoath have been stumbling along but that win over Dunshaughlin may just be the spark which sets them on fire once more. There is no doubting the talent is there, but something hasn’t clicked over the last month.

Ratoath manager, Kevin Reilly, during the Ratoath v St Colmcille’s, Seamus Connolly Catering Football A League Division 1A final in Donaghmore/Ashbourne GFC, Ashbourne, County Meath.
Photo: Gerry Shanaan – www.cyberimages.net
02-07-2023

Shane Duffy is back between the posts, and he brings a wealth of experience to the role having while the full back line of Ben Wyer, Conor McGill and Ciarán Ó Fearraigh bring plenty of steel to the outfit. Further forward Ben McGowan and Jack Flynn form a formidable midfield pairing and the inside forward line of Daithí McGowan, Bobby O’Brien and Bryan McMahon has two of the top scorers in the Championship. Can Wolfe Tones stop the inform McGowan and McMahon?

Sarán Ó Fionnagáin returns from suspension for this encounter having missed the Round 3 clash with Ballinabrackey and the quarter final win over Simonstown following a disciplinary indiscretion against Summerhill. Named on the bench, it would be no surprise to see the talented forward come straight back into the starting line-up but where could he slot in?

Niall O’Reilly and Eoin Donegan are both named at wing forward, but the veteran Stephen Sheppard is likely to come in for Donegan and he along with O’Reilly gets through a mountain of work and they are integral to the excellent form the ‘Tones have shown in recent weeks. Oisín Martin and the Ward brothers, Cian and Fiachra are dangerous inside with Fiachra showcasing his goal scoring abilities the last day and everybody remembers how Cian effectively had the ball on a string when orchestrating the attack in this game two years ago.

Sean Penney at wing back has been having an outstanding season but was forced off early against Simonstown having picked up a head injury in an accidental collision. Fears that he may be side-lined longer term were quickly allayed, and he returns to the side today forming an impressive half back line along with Caolan Ward and team captain Daniel O’Neill.

Paddy Martin has his side moving very well but they will face their stiffest task yet in this years Championship. It is a challenge they will relish but Ratoath have their eyes set on righting the perceived wrongs of 2021. This is likely to be tight and could go to the wire.

The Meade Farm Intermediate Championship semi-final sees Navan O’Mahonys and Rathkenny meet in a repeat of their group game which saw the town side come out on top by the minimum in what was an entertaining affair in Páirc Tailteann.

How much either side has learned in the intervening six weeks could prove crucial but in advance of the game, Rathkenny have been dealt a hammer blow with the news of the absence through injury of promising young forward David Curtis. Curtis has been enjoying a breakout season and he lit the venue up two weeks ago with a scintillating goal against Walterstown.

On that day his cousin Keith was on fire inside with his movement causing untold problems for the for the Blacks defence. He along with Jack Gore and the pacy Eoghan Heavey make up an excellent full forward line as Brian Meade who dons the number fourteen jersey drifts out towards his more customary midfield berth.

The Byrne brothers Adam and Mark have been showing well in defence while Donal Keogan is as ever the heartbeat of the team.

O’Mahonys are looking to bounce back to the Senior ranks at the first time of asking and they have been quietly going about their business to date. Ballivor proved to be a tough opponent in the quarter final but the depth in the O’Mahonys panel came to fruition with substitute Ronan Clarke coming up trumps with a second half goal. Clarke is rewarded today with a starting berth at top of the right, and he forms a potent full forward line along with the ever-reliable Jake Regan and former Meath player Oisín O’Brien.

Cathal Smyth caused Rathkenny plenty of problems in that Round 2 game and another performance in that ilk will be required today while much will depend on the form of the half back line of Louis Collins, Mike O’Reilly and Darragh Maguire who have formed a formidable partnership.

The two Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship semi-finals also take place today with games in Kilmainham at 11:30 and Walterstown at 12:00.

Clann na nGael play their first game in a month when they take on Ballinlough who were only in action last Tuesday when they overcame the stiff challenge posed by Syddan under the floodlights on a rain-soaked night in Moynalty. Niall McLoughlin’s charges went straight through to the semi-finals after topping the group but haven’t had a win in six weeks after losing their Round 4 game against Dunsany before having a BYE in the final round.

That must be a concern for Clann na nGael as does the fact they have a few injury concerns in addition to the absence of the Ó Donnchadha brothers Eamon and Diarmuid who have gone travelling.

Ballinlough have a large number of players playing their third game in eight days with their hurling commitments meaning they lined out for Kilskyre/Moylagh last Sunday before that quarter final game on Tuesday. Recovery sessions rather than training sessions have been the order of the day this week.

When their backs were to the wall on Tuesday night, Tom Shine came up trumps with a series of points, each one better than the last to help inspire their comeback but somewhat concerningly for Conn Cleary, he appeared to pull up in injury time. Shines’ fitness will be key.

The second of the semi-finals sees St. Brigid’s and Kilbride meeting in Walterstown and there is potential for this being the clash of the day. St. Brigid’s were very impressive in the early stages of the group campaign and had their place in the knockout stages booked with a round to spare. Perhaps they took their eye off the ball in the final round, but they were disappointing in defeat to Ballinlough.

They had built up great momentum throughout the season having earlier won the League title, but that momentum has now hit a major speed bump. How the Ballinacree outfit deal with this will be crucial while on the other had Kilbride now have built up a head of steam with their impressive performances in recent weeks.

An opening round defeat to Clann na nGael wasn’t a great start to the Championship but they bounced back with a win over St. Ultan’s before very impressive victories over Syddan and Dunsany secured their quarter final place. Their excellent form continued there where despite not being at their very best, they proved too strong for Moylagh.

The McWeeney brothers Andrew and Conor have hit a rich vein of form and two others who have lit the Championship up recently are Josh Harford and team captain Ronan O’Leary. This pairing has been scoring heavily and St. Brigid’s will have their work cut out in limiting their influence.

Having missed the Ballinlough game, Fergal Ingram (otherwise known as Ryan Tighe Jnr.) is back from suspension for this game and even though he is named on the bench, it would be no surprise were he to start. Michael Flood will be as important a player for them as he has ever been at centre back and up front the Blake triumvirate will pose difficult questions for the Kilbride defence.