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Replying To RegionalsGuru: "The Mahneys can take a lot of confidence from their redemtion preformance again Longwood. Twelve different O'Mahonys players got on the scoresheet. That's not a team performance, that's basically an office sweepstake where everyone wins.
A few notable omissions from the mahneys starting XV (Niall Devlin etc) clearly showed that they were more than comfortable to rotate given the perceived lesser opposition. Looks like the town men are certain to go through now given they play bective in the last round and will likely be a case of just having to show up with the bare 15 to secure their place in the next round. Whos going to stop them?" Pats stopped them already
TigerKing (Meath) - Posts: 48 - 26/08/2026 00:28:37
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Seems to me like Meath are the exact opposite of the National Games as our Hurling Championship appears packed full of exciting Championship games and something on the line in almost every game and Hurling has got a great bounce from the new changes.
Took awhile to happen as it must be nearly a Decade since the Hurling Divisions in the Leagues where changed from 12 teams in 2 Divisions of 6 to straight 8 team Divisions.
While at a National level the New Rules has seen Gaelic Football for 2026 has almost eclipse Hurling in big games, interest and excitement levels here in Meath our Senior Football Championship is well behind Hurling Championship New Format.
Time to take the Bull by the horns and go with Senior and Senior B with 8 in each Division, Not so sure if IFC should go same way as it appears more balanced but maybe it also should take the plunge
Brownepat (Meath) - Posts: 539 - 01/09/2026 09:21:28
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Replying To Brownepat: "Seems to me like Meath are the exact opposite of the National Games as our Hurling Championship appears packed full of exciting Championship games and something on the line in almost every game and Hurling has got a great bounce from the new changes.
Took awhile to happen as it must be nearly a Decade since the Hurling Divisions in the Leagues where changed from 12 teams in 2 Divisions of 6 to straight 8 team Divisions.
While at a National level the New Rules has seen Gaelic Football for 2026 has almost eclipse Hurling in big games, interest and excitement levels here in Meath our Senior Football Championship is well behind Hurling Championship New Format.
Time to take the Bull by the horns and go with Senior and Senior B with 8 in each Division, Not so sure if IFC should go same way as it appears more balanced but maybe it also should take the plunge" I like the idea but 8 teams won't work. Not enough weekends in the calendar.
Current SFC needs 6 weekends to complete. Going to 8 teams would need 9 (7 group games, 1 semi and 1 final), we'd need to find an additional 3 weekends in the calendar.. Where could they come from?
begining (UK) - Posts: 334 - 01/09/2026 12:33:48
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Now we are at the business end of the championship what do we all think?
Senior: Summerhill/Ratoath with the Tones looming
Relegation: Senchelstown or Na Fianna
Intermediate: Meath Hill and possibly Clann na Gael flying under the radar with a young and energetic team
Relegation: 4 way tie between 4 bad teams, my neighbours Ballivor struggling all yea but should have enough to beat Bective, Drumbaragh or Blackhall Gaels none of these 4 would even excel in Junior.
Junior: Slane or Vincents looking good
Relegation: Ballinacree men heading for Junior B
Junior B: Kilmainhamwood spearheaded by Stafford
Moynalty the biggest disappoint with all the hype. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a little bit funny...
LoyaleRoyale (Meath) - Posts: 17 - 01/09/2026 13:30:48
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Replying To begining: "I like the idea but 8 teams won't work. Not enough weekends in the calendar.
Current SFC needs 6 weekends to complete. Going to 8 teams would need 9 (7 group games, 1 semi and 1 final), we'd need to find an additional 3 weekends in the calendar.. Where could they come from?" Would 2 groups of 4 teams work
1st in group straight to semi finals
2nd and 3rd each group play off in quarters ?
Bottom play eachother in relegation.
Not perfect but would delivery high quality matches.
Meath2022 (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 01/09/2026 14:06:20
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Replying To LoyaleRoyale: "Now we are at the business end of the championship what do we all think?
Senior: Summerhill/Ratoath with the Tones looming
Relegation: Senchelstown or Na Fianna
Intermediate: Meath Hill and possibly Clann na Gael flying under the radar with a young and energetic team
Relegation: 4 way tie between 4 bad teams, my neighbours Ballivor struggling all yea but should have enough to beat Bective, Drumbaragh or Blackhall Gaels none of these 4 would even excel in Junior.
Junior: Slane or Vincents looking good
Relegation: Ballinacree men heading for Junior B
Junior B: Kilmainhamwood spearheaded by Stafford
Moynalty the biggest disappoint with all the hype. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a little bit funny..." Senior - Summerhill, looks like there a bit ahead of the rest, but tones could be poised to claim Honours again
Intermediate - meath hill seem to be ahead of the pack
Junior - Slane, looks like its starting to come together for them at the right time, hard to look past them if they have their best team on the pitch
Junior B- Kwood, Stafford appears to be playing his best stuff at the minute, add in Smith and conlons direct running they will be bery hard stopped.
Moynalty very disappointing I'm sure with their appointment of McDermott they hoped for a bit more to get over the line, if anything they've gone backwards, from a calm controlled measured team who just came up short in Recent years. A very long winter of soul searching in the tidy village
Theroyalguru (Meath) - Posts: 6 - 01/09/2026 15:49:03
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Replying To Meath2022: "Would 2 groups of 4 teams work
1st in group straight to semi finals
2nd and 3rd each group play off in quarters ?
Bottom play eachother in relegation.
Not perfect but would delivery high quality matches." Id just go with top 2 into semis, third eliminated and bottom into relegation. All over in 10 weeks.
thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1150 - 01/09/2026 18:11:49
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I see Eamon Armstrong has been given permission by St Kilda to play club championship. Wonder will that out Duleek-Bellowstown back in the mix. One win and loss so far.
MeathAbroad (Meath) - Posts: 189 - 01/09/2026 20:53:33
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There were more than twice as many goals (31) in the 2nd round of the Meath Senior Championship than there were in the 1st round (15). A total of 46 goals in 16 games (average of 3 goals per game).
Based on that there is no requirement for the proposal of having a goal equaling four points as it will probably do away with players going for single points.
The three big guns all each leading the field in the three different types of scores;
Ratoath leading goal scorers with seven, at the bottom Trim with none.
Summerhill leading two pointer scorers with nine (six from frees) and at the bottom Kilbride with only one.
Wolfe Tones leading single point scorers with thirty six and at the bottom Simonstown with only eleven.
madmeath (Meath) - Posts: 118 - 02/09/2026 08:30:13
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Replying To begining: "I like the idea but 8 teams won't work. Not enough weekends in the calendar.
Current SFC needs 6 weekends to complete. Going to 8 teams would need 9 (7 group games, 1 semi and 1 final), we'd need to find an additional 3 weekends in the calendar.. Where could they come from?" Easy, reduce leagues down to 10 teams per league and if we have to just start them a week earlier (Either Leagues or Championship). That's 9 rounds instead of 11 in the league, it adds more jeopardy in the league games themselves because there less games to get the wins needed to stay up, and if it leads to a better and more competitive football structure then even more reason to do it.
ratlag (Meath) - Posts: 592 - 02/09/2026 13:46:41
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Replying To ratlag: "Easy, reduce leagues down to 10 teams per league and if we have to just start them a week earlier (Either Leagues or Championship). That's 9 rounds instead of 11 in the league, it adds more jeopardy in the league games themselves because there less games to get the wins needed to stay up, and if it leads to a better and more competitive football structure then even more reason to do it." I agree the football leagues are way too big.
One problem with your suggestion is that we currently don't start the club football championship until after the all Ireland football final( this year it was the 26th of July). This allows us to release a master fixture planner in Feb each year, something I think most players/clubs would be very reluctant to lose.
So we're left with a 12 week window of August, September and October to complete 9 rounds of club football championship + hurling championship and potentially allow for a replays. Not really achievable imo . Leinster club tends to start late Oct/Nov.
To achieve this we'd have to segregate the championships somewhat and play 3 or 4 rounds of hurling in June/July and play the football in August/September. Or even bring back the early club football championship rounds in March/April.
begining (UK) - Posts: 334 - 02/09/2026 15:26:37
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Replying To begining: "I like the idea but 8 teams won't work. Not enough weekends in the calendar.
Current SFC needs 6 weekends to complete. Going to 8 teams would need 9 (7 group games, 1 semi and 1 final), we'd need to find an additional 3 weekends in the calendar.. Where could they come from?" I don't get this, Why have we to change a championship because some teams got a good beating. Yeah its not enjoyable as a neutral, but instead of trying to change the whole structure of a championship how about teams just raise their standards, plenty of teams with 6 or 7 times the population of Summerhill, tones or Rathkenny. The 4 or 5 clubs consistently getting to the business end of the championship is the standard, teams need to get to that level.
Royals141511 (Meath) - Posts: 1 - 03/09/2026 07:09:37
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Replying To Royals141511: "I don't get this, Why have we to change a championship because some teams got a good beating. Yeah its not enjoyable as a neutral, but instead of trying to change the whole structure of a championship how about teams just raise their standards, plenty of teams with 6 or 7 times the population of Summerhill, tones or Rathkenny. The 4 or 5 clubs consistently getting to the business end of the championship is the standard, teams need to get to that level." 67
RegionalsGuru (Meath) - Posts: 68 - 03/09/2026 14:14:25
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Round 3 predictions
Summerhill vs Rathkenny - Summerhill by 5
Dunboyne vs Kilbride- Dunboyne by 8
Trim vs Skryne - Skryne by 5
Ratoath vs NaFianna- Ratoath by 25
Ballinabrackey vs St Colmcilles- Ballinabrackey by 4
Seneschalstown vs Wolfe Tones- Tones by 5
Gaeil Colmcille vs Dunshaughlin - Dunshaughlin by 3
Ashbourne vs Simonstown - Feisbourne by 8
Meathman721 (Meath) - Posts: 9 - 03/09/2026 17:00:29
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Senior
Summerhill vs Rathkenny - Rathkenny by 2. Still think Summerhill win Keegan but they don't really need to win this game, Rathkenny are also sneaky good, could see them make a semi final this year.
Dunboyne vs Kilbride - Kilbride by 5. Don't think people realise how bad Dunboyne are. Think they lose this and potentially get relegated
Trim vs Skryne - Draw. Think that would be enough to advance for Trim, admittedly I dont have a good read on this game, could see it go any way.
Ratoath vs Na Fianna - Ratoath by 16. This game will be hard to watch. Non contest
Ballinabrackey vs St Colmcilles - Draw, probably a good result for both teams, Keeps the bracks out out a relegation playoff and think its enough for Colmcilles to advance
Senchelstown vs Wolf Tones - Senchelstown by 1. Tones already through, Senchelstown will be more motivated to avoid relegation playoffs.
Dunshaughlin vs Gaeil Colcmcille - Kells by 2. Gray and Kinsella out with knee injuries, Kells are hard bet with no injuries.
Ashbourne vs Simonstown - Ashbourne by 8. Ashbourne building some momentum after a good performance against Dunshaughlin
Intermediate
Oldcastle vs Duleek - Duleek by 4. Cant wait to watch Eamonn Armstrong in this game
Ballivor vs Castletown - Castelown by 10
Blackhall Gaels vs Meath Hill - Meath Hill by 13
Moynalvey vs Dunsany - Dunsany by 3
NOM vs Bective - NOM by 5
Longwood vs St Pats - St Pats by 7
Clan Na Gael vs Walterstown - CNG by 5
St Michaels vs Drumbaragh - Michaels by 1
GILES96 (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 03/09/2026 17:37:26
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Replying To begining: "I like the idea but 8 teams won't work. Not enough weekends in the calendar.
Current SFC needs 6 weekends to complete. Going to 8 teams would need 9 (7 group games, 1 semi and 1 final), we'd need to find an additional 3 weekends in the calendar.. Where could they come from?" No need to change from Divisions of 4, No county in the county has Divisions of 8. Straight Semi Finals or perhaps do like the Minor board did a few years ago and play like they do in Cavan with 3 or perhaps 4 rounds to get Top 4 for Semis
Brownepat (Meath) - Posts: 539 - 04/09/2026 08:07:02
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Replying To ratlag: "Easy, reduce leagues down to 10 teams per league and if we have to just start them a week earlier (Either Leagues or Championship). That's 9 rounds instead of 11 in the league, it adds more jeopardy in the league games themselves because there less games to get the wins needed to stay up, and if it leads to a better and more competitive football structure then even more reason to do it." And do away with League Semis silly decision to bring them in. League is a League Teams finishing Top get no reward and can get bet by 4th finishing team
Brownepat (Meath) - Posts: 539 - 04/09/2026 08:10:52
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Jesus lads. Massive shock in the IFC last night and you're on here talking about league structures.
Must be a big let down for Oldcastle after their huge win on the opening weekend v Castletown. Fair play to D/B, they'll be hard bet now, especially with Armstrong back.
GoalsWinGames (Meath) - Posts: 325 - 04/09/2026 10:55:23
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Replying To GoalsWinGames: "Jesus lads. Massive shock in the IFC last night and you're on here talking about league structures.
Must be a big let down for Oldcastle after their huge win on the opening weekend v Castletown. Fair play to D/B, they'll be hard bet now, especially with Armstrong back." The people whinging are the ones who don't go to games, Oldcastle Duleek was a brilliant game despite the conditions. I wasnt shocked at the result, Duleek should have beaten Castletown they just missed so many chances on the day. Thought Armstrong had a massive influence despite the wing back Lawless for Oldcastle tagging him everywhere he went. I dont think I've ever seen a player cover the ground better than Eamonn Armstrong. Robin Clarke was outstanding too. Be interested to see the odds now, would probably still have Meath Hill and Casteltown ahead of them but its close.
GILES96 (Meath) - Posts: 11 - 04/09/2026 13:18:54
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I do think there is a massive issue at senior club level in Meath and it's more with the number of teams at senior level which is having a knock on effect.
I reckon 12 team senior championship 4 groups of 3 teams and every game means something to a team. Top two into quarters ans bottom team into relegation.
Lose your first game and looking at relegation, win and your looking at a quarter final but its not guaranteed until the 3 matches are played.
At the minute the realistic contenders are Ratoath, Summerhill, Tones and Dunshaughlin.
Chasing pack with a realistic chance are Kells, Dunboyne, Ashbourne
After that I don't give any other team chance of winning it. When was the last time any of the following caused an upset in the group or dumped one of the top four out of championship
Simonstown - 2 time champions and still have some of the old guard from them championship wins but are struggling
Rathkenny - have a good team once they have all the county players and are probably being judged harshly by me.
Na Fianna - Senior now over 10 years, made a couple of finals and semi finals when they first came up but haven't been near a senior standard since.
Cilles - Senior now over 10 years and haven't made a dent in the championship
Skryne - Senior a very long time, haven't been in a final since they won it 16 years ago, poor side
Seneschalstown - Again senior a very long time and haven't been in a final in 16 years. Miles of the pace of the rest.
Trim - Senior about 10 years, third biggest town in Meath but have never challenged for a senior title.
Ballinabrackey - Have an okay side when everyone is fit but again they haven't challenged for a senior title and are miles off.
Kilbride - Getting their opportunities at the highest level so let's see will they take them.
Some of these clubs are happy to remain as "Senior" clubs but they are miles away from challenging for a senior title
UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 475 - 04/09/2026 13:24:23
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