Holders pulled in tough group
WEDNESDAY night’s Meath championship draws did few favours to Keegan Cup holders Summerhill who are included in the toughest of the four groups in the SFC.
The ’Hill start the defence of their title against Ballinabrackey, a repeat of last year’s opening round which the eventual champions won on a 2-12 to 0-7 scoreline.
Two of the teams that reached the knockout stages in 2023 are also included in the group with Dunshaughlin, the first team to be drawn, taking on Donaghmore/ Ashbourne. Both of these clubs will have aspirations of extended runs with Dunshaughlin desperately unlucky to exit at the quarter-final stage to holders Ratoath last year. They led by six points at the midpoint of the second half but were eventually undone by a late, late Ben McGowan goal.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne only won one of the three group games in 2023 and eventually went through on score difference which led to a number of appeals. They defeated St Colmcille’s in a last eight tie before losing out to Summerhill, 0-10 to 0-8, in the semi-final.
Last year’s beaten finalists, Ratoath, are included in Group D with the opening round against 13-time champions Skryne, who failed to win any of their three group matches in 2023. Also included are last year’s intermediate champions, Rathkenny, who play Trim in their first game back in senior ranks.
Wolfe Tones, who reached the last four in 2023, will fancy their chances of a knockout spot again. They are included in Group B with Gaeil Colmcille, Dunboyne and Curraha, three teams who were involved in the scrap to avoid relegation last year. Their clash with Gaeil Colmcille is a repeat of the opening round from 12 months ago which Tones won by 2-15 to 0-7.
Niall Ronan’s first championship match in charge of St Colmcille’s will be against Seneschalstown, while Simonstown Gaels take in Na Fianna in the remaining game in Group C.
Duleek-Bellewstown will be hoping to make it back to the intermediate decider for the third year in a row and their opening tie in Group B is against Longwood. Ballivor and Castletown, both of whom reached the knockout stages in 2023 are also included in the group.
Newly-promoted Kilbride are included in Group D and will play St Michael’s in their opening round. The clash of Walterstown and O’Mahony’s, who have plenty of past history at senior level, is another interesting tie in the group.
The tie of the round in the IFC is probably the meeting of St Patrick’s and Oldcastle, two clubs with genuine aspirations of outright success.
In the Meath SHC, which has a new format this year, champions Kildalkey and runners-up Ratoath were seeded and are included in different groups. The opening round will see two mouth-watering ties with the Jubilee Cup holders taking on Trim who will be attempting to win the title for a record equalling 29th time. Meanwhile, Ratoath, beaten finalists for the past two years, meet another of the big guns, Kiltale, who are third in the honours’ list with nine titles, in the opening round.
In the IHC holders Kildalkey start the defence of their title against Kilskyre/Moylagh.