Line-ups give McEntee food for thought
AN INTERESTING statistic going into the concluding stages of the Meath club championships is the number of county players still involved.
Five teams are still in the race for the Keegan Cup, namely O’Mahonys, Summerhill, Gaeil Colmcille, champions Simonstown and Wolfe Tones; four for the intermediate crown in Curraha, Oldcastle, St Michael’s and Nobber; and two for the junior title, Meath Hill and Moylagh.
However, out of these 11 clubs only four county players from the 2017 panel still have an interest left in the championship. They are Brian Conlon and Sean Tobin (Simonstown), Ruairi O Coileain (O’Mahonys) and James McEntee (Curraha).
That’s food for thought for county manager Andy McEntee who could be set to be without a number of players for the start of the 2018 season.
Midfielder Ronan Jones (Dunboyne) is studying in the States at present and will be for the next two years. Ruairi O Coileain is also expected to depart to the US shortly, while Pauric Harnan is reported to be heading for Canada.
On the positive side, Skryne’s Harry Rooney is expected home from Australia shortly and should be available for selection in the year ahead.
Last Saturday’s Intermediate Hurling Final stalemate between O’Mahony’s and Na Fianna has caused a number of games to be rescheduled over this weekend. That hurling replay takes place this Saturday at Pairc Tailteann, with the last of the SFC quarter-finals between O’Mahony’s and Summerhill now scheduled for Tuesday October 10th in Ashbourne at 8pm.
The first of the Intermediate semi-finals between Nobber and St Michael’s is the curtain-raiser to the hurling replay on Saturday.
St Michael’s defeated Kilmainham, while Nobber overcame Ballinlough in their respective quarter-finals. This could be a close encounter between these north Meath rivals but St Michael’s get the nod to advance to the decider.
The second semi, between Curraha and Oldcastle, is on Sunday, also at Pairc Tailteann.
Curraha had plenty to spare over Donaghmore/Ashbourne’s second team in their last-eight tie, but it was difficult to judge their championship credentials on that display.
James McEntee and Conor Moriarty will provide the biggest threat to Oldcastle, but Curraha have an abundance of talent in every sector, with the likes of David Toner, Neil Shortall, Niall and Brian Murphy and Andrew Battersby.
Oldcastle will provide dogged opposition, though, with former Meath seniors Paddy Gilsenan and Conor McHugh, Cian McPartland and youngsters Jason Scully, Robert Smith and CJ Healy, and Curraha might have to wait another year before making the breakthrough to senior ranks.
The Junior A decider is between Meath Hill and surprise packets Moylagh and the ‘Hill get the vote here.