Club Championships 2019-20

So, how are everyone's club championships progressing? Any surprise contenders or shock eliminations?

In Meath, our senior hurling championship final will be between Kiltale and Kildalkey. Kiltale are looking for their 6th SHC title in a row. They fairly cruised through the group stage, dropping points in their drawn final game when they had already qualified as group winners regardless. Kildalkey had a stuttering start, losing by 10 to Kiltale in their first game. But they've gradually been building up a head of steam, culminating in an easy semi final win over Longwood. Kiltale made hard work of their semi final, beating Trim 3-16 to 3-14. Has the potential of being an excellent final, but you'd bet on Kiltale having the experience to grind out a final win.

Our senior football championship is at the quarter final stage. Last year's champions Dunboyne were surprisingly eliminated in the group stage.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne beat near neighbours Curraha in the preliminary quarter final. Curraha won their final 3 group games to make the knockout stages for the first time. They were involved in a relegation playoff to decide who'd compete in the Junior B championship in the not too distant past, but Don/Ash had too much experience for them.
Don/Ash will now play Gaeil Colmcille (Kells) in the quarter final. Kells eased through their group, losing only one game and putting up some huge scores (3-18 and 8-9 in their last two games). They've been one of the most consistent teams in Meath over the last few years without ever being able to make it to the final. They also have the "advantage" of not having many players on the Meath panel throughout the year, meaning their entire team can play throughout the league campaign. They're big favourites against Don/Ash, but they'll come up against one of the meanest defences in the SFC who've only conceded an average of 11 points a game. While they haven't been great going forward, it'll be interesting to see how the game pans out.

The winners will play the winners of a local derby quarter final where Ratoath play Skryne. Ratoath came second behind Summerhill in their group, missing out on top spot by scoring difference. They lost once in the group thanks to a last minute goal conceded to Summerhill. They also have the Wallace brothers back in the team along with Meath starters Conor McGill and Bryan McMahon. Their team is a mix of experience and youth but despite this being the third year in a row making the quarter finals, they've yet to make it any further. Skryne managed to stutter through to the quarter finals, coming second in their group despite having the worst scoring difference in a 3-way head to head. They finished on 6 points along with Dunshaughlin and Navan O'Mahony's. However, Skryne won both games against these sides meaning they finished ahead of them both (with Navan missing out). They shipped a huge 22 point defeat to Kells in their penultimate game in the group but regrouped to beat Dunshaughlin in the last game to make the quarter finals. They also have former Meath keeper Paddy O'Rourke in good form at full forward. The duel between him and current Meath full back McGill will be interesting. Ratoath are favourites, but Skryne have the experience of winning knockout games and I wouldn't bet against them if the game is tight with 10 minutes to go.

On the other side of the draw, Simonstown play Dunshaughlin. Simonstown were champions in 2017 & 2018 and are one of the favourites to reclaim the Keegan Cup. They topped their group with one defeat coming against Curraha. As stated above, Dunshaughlin came third in their group with losses in their first and final group games. They've had a good season so far and it's the first time since 2015 that they've made the quarter finals but Simonstown are huge favourites to get through.
The other quarter final sees Summerhill play Na Fianna. Summerhill have been runners up the past two seasons. They topped their group on points difference with their only loss coming against Donaghmore/Ashbourne. They come up against Na Fianna who came second courtesy of a winner takes all victory over Wolfe Tones in their last group game. Had they lost that game, they would have faced a relegation playoff. Hard to know exactly where Summerhill are, but they should have enough to account for Na Fianna.

The Meath SFC is being reduced from 18 to 16 teams from next season onwards meaning 3 teams will be relegated (along with one coming up from Intermediate). Already, two long serving senior teams have been relegated. St. Patrick's, Stamullen (since 2001) and Rathkenny (since 2006) have been relegated with Wolfe Tones and St. Colmcille's surviving. The last relegation spot will almost certainly be filled by Longwood who won last years IFC. Longwood have shipped and average of 30 points per game and have found the going in senior far too tough. They're up against Seneschalstown who should put them out of their misery.