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Meath Forum

Club Football Championships 2026

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Replying To royler:  "Well I'm one of those old Warriors, a pensioner I'm ok on the old tec , €33 inc fees for herself and myself into a senior game, we also went to an intermediate A game ( for 2nd teams of senior clubs or the forgotten teams in most people's eyes) and the lady on the gate told us it was €15 each but was embarrassed by what the co board had instructed to charge. She looked for €15 in total, we gave her €20 with instructions to pass it on to her clubs coffers ( by the way no concession for pensioners from our board) then I heard our neighbours Dublin changed €10 into Parnell park for their senior 1/4 finals double header , as for dundganny for the senior semi finals no way, bring Ratoath and donaghmore Ashbourne to dunsaughlin, and Summerhill and Wolfe tones to trim"
dunshaughlin is as bad to watch a game and pitch is way to small for championship fooball

2pointer (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 24/09/2026 12:45:09    2694896

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Replying To 2pointer:  "dunshaughlin is as bad to watch a game and pitch is way to small for championship fooball"
In fairness I've been going to championship games in Dunsaughlin since the seventies never had a problem seeing a game, and pitch is as good as you will get in the county , Dunsany is another option , I'll leave it there now no point in arguing over it

royler (Meath) - Posts: 307 - 25/09/2026 18:46:41    2695064

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Problem with thriving clubs like dunshaughlin is that between all codes ,male and female the pitch should be overused. Championship finals ,semis,and qtrs particularily in senior are intensive encounters. It is importent to have them on a level pitch in fairness to players. Enough good players injured

Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 604 - 25/09/2026 21:35:26    2695074

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Replying To royler:  "In fairness I've been going to championship games in Dunsaughlin since the seventies never had a problem seeing a game, and pitch is as good as you will get in the county , Dunsany is another option , I'll leave it there now no point in arguing over it"
Absolutely no issue with quality of pitch
Really good
As I said it is too small in my opinion both in length and width
Also same as dunganny not great to watch a match when there is a big crowd
Having said that they really do a good job in stewarding
Sunday would be better option

2pointer (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 26/09/2026 17:31:32    2695114

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Replying To 2pointer:  "Absolutely no issue with quality of pitch
Really good
As I said it is too small in my opinion both in length and width
Also same as dunganny not great to watch a match when there is a big crowd
Having said that they really do a good job in stewarding
Sunday would be better option"
meant to say Dunsany would be a better option

2pointer (Meath) - Posts: 4 - 30/09/2026 13:52:29    2695679

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Massive night for na fianna and simonstown tomorrow in dunganny. Two big teams in the senior championship over the last 10 years but one of them will make the drop to intermediate. Na fianna have walsh home from his travels.

Royale1 (Meath) - Posts: 18 - 01/10/2026 16:54:35    2695842

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Unexplainable strong opinion incoming:

NOM will beat St Pats of that I have no doubt

Coylesrighthand (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 02/10/2026 09:58:43    2695890

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Ashbourne get their home final

Their defence is absolutely phenomenal - only letting in 12 points again today, completely nullifying McGowan, Flynn and even O'Brien from the bench. Bar about 10 mins in second half, absolutely domination. Huge stones on Colgan to nail the last free too

RR (Meath) - Posts: 196 - 03/10/2026 18:55:50    2696037

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I was at the Ashbourne-Ratoath game earlier as a neutral, and it seems the obvious inadequacies after the Dunshaughlin victory weren't addressed. Flynn was anonymous in midfield -- he had one good score and did nothing for the rest of the game, same with Daithi McGowan. Bryan Menton is some player -- his play is just so intelligent and calm, he's Ashbourne's rock. Ashbourne left a good bit behind them and there's definitely room to improve for them still, but Ratoath's decision making was dreadful, particularly towards the end when they needed to get themselves back into the game. Some terrible pop shots.

I hope Ashbourne go on and win it now, not a fan of Summerhill or the Tones.

RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 126 - 03/10/2026 20:26:02    2696055

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Didn't get to watch Ashbourne game but I tell you one thing one team will be kicking themselves if they don't get over the line tomorrow as both teams will believe they have a serious live chance for a championship after saturdays result. Tones have left a couple of championships behind them I hope this isn't another one !

Royals141511 (Meath) - Posts: 3 - 04/10/2026 05:04:00    2696074

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Replying To RoyalStalwart24:  "I was at the Ashbourne-Ratoath game earlier as a neutral, and it seems the obvious inadequacies after the Dunshaughlin victory weren't addressed. Flynn was anonymous in midfield -- he had one good score and did nothing for the rest of the game, same with Daithi McGowan. Bryan Menton is some player -- his play is just so intelligent and calm, he's Ashbourne's rock. Ashbourne left a good bit behind them and there's definitely room to improve for them still, but Ratoath's decision making was dreadful, particularly towards the end when they needed to get themselves back into the game. Some terrible pop shots.

I hope Ashbourne go on and win it now, not a fan of Summerhill or the Tones."
Fair play to Donaghmore Ashbourne who outfought Ratoath and battled to their win in every corner of the field. Thr Ashbourne fullbackline were excellant with only Ducie in there making inroads. They also managed to nullify 2 pt shooters of McGowan and Flynn. I thought Flynn was moving better than last day and he had several strong runs. Menton completely knows his role and it is non spectacular but very efficient. He is very good on the dirty ball. Evan Quinn is an excellant defender and could be worth a county call. A combination of the hurling and alot of againg stars for Ratoath mean that perhaps they are not quite the force we thought. For Donaghmore Ashbourne, it will be a great occasion for a home final!

winatallcost (Meath) - Posts: 1063 - 04/10/2026 08:54:16    2696078

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Two interesting results yesterday. Might be a stretch to call them shocks but both very good value for their wins. Ashbourne got right on top of Ratoath around the middle with Browne and Menton immense. As mentioned they are mean defensively with loads of quick athletic man markers. Home final gives them a real shot. NOM dominated St Pats everywhere really and they will take some stopping. Duggie Dillon very impressive. Murphy and Landy both apparently carrying knocks for Pats which stopped them posing any threat. I will stick my neck on the line and say senior and Inter champs both played on Saturday.

TigerKing (Meath) - Posts: 49 - 04/10/2026 16:29:47    2696114

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Well done to Donaghmore/Ashbourne yesterday. Absolutely fully deserved and we never looked like we were going to win that. Don't think Donaghmore/Ashbourne will ever have a better chance at the Keegan Cup. Would love to see Menton with a winners medal.

Congratulations to Kilmainhamwood on their Junior B victory. Did I hear correctly that Rian Stafford ended with 1-15 to his name?

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1472 - 04/10/2026 21:42:52    2696163

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Well done to donaghmore-ashbourne in a brilliant performance against ratoath. Massive chance for them in the final but the tones are motoring well with a good win today.

Also a well done to Na Fianna doubted all year by most and tipped to go down by many but stuck in it with a dogged performance.

Points76 (Meath) - Posts: 65 - 05/10/2026 00:09:14    2696180

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Wolfe Tones vs Summerhill was a poor enough game. I thought both teams played well into the wind but played terribly when the wind was to their advantage. Wolfe tones shut down every Summerhill forward apart from Eoghan Frayne. They looked to be so much hungrier, whereas summerhill were just so flat. Wolfe Tones did a good job not fouling around the arc which meant Sean Muddiman didnt have a big impact. Caolan Ward's free taking was sublime, there was a two pointer he flushed in the 2nd half from about 50 meters into the wind which was as sweet a strike as you'll see. One thing Meath football doesn't lack is excellent free takers.

GILES96 (Meath) - Posts: 15 - 05/10/2026 10:20:03    2696208

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Senior final is a novelty pairing Ashbourne and Tones have played each other before in a senior knockout match.

I think this is set up for Tones to win, having watched both semi finals, Tones have a meaner defence, O Neill and Donegan is probably a better midfield than Menton and Browne while Tones have 6 forwards who I would say could score 1-3 / 1-4 on their day whereas Tormey and the McGoverns seem to be the only ones who can do it for them.

Physically Tones are a bigger more athletic team, watching them yesterday none of their players are under 6 foot and are all able to compete for their own ball, take a man on or stand someone up and not let them by.

Ashbourne do have quality in the likes of Curran, Melia, Carton at the back. Kevin Fenton is able to carry a ball and drive forward, Menton is great with position and rarely gives it away. Up front though Ashbourne will need 3 or 4 of their forwards to have the game of their lives. Ashbournes biggest problem is they have 8 to 10 really good senior footballers and the rest are average whereas the Tones have 20 good senior footballers.

The biggest concern for Tones will be making sure their hurlers come through unscratched this weekend.

Whether it's a dogfight or a shoot out, Tones should win but if it is a dirty day and a dogfight it will give Ashbourne a chance, they will also need to make the most of home advantage.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 478 - 05/10/2026 10:54:27    2696215

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A great weekend of meath football. I was at the Navan v Pats game and was impressed with the standard of football being played. Its fair to say that the top 4 IFC teams could put it up to a lot of the lesser SFC teams..

NOM V Pats

The mahneys knew that coming into this one all they would have to do is show up and they'd get the better of the mosney outfit. A very strong start from the Brews Hill men meant there was no way back into the game for d'pats. It was great to see the town men out enjoying themselves below in Beggys on Saturday night. None of the lads were going too mad and they were staying on the pints of mi wadi as they know they face a tough test in two weeks time to bring them back to senior status. Great to see that Devenish park will be the venue for the final. Its a marvelous set up with the ice cream van there for the gossins.

Duleek will bring a much more physical game to P6 with the likes of young Robin Clarke and strongarm down the middle. Its a tough one to call but I think the mahneys will fancy their chances given the display they put on in Dunsany on Saturday. Word from the town mens camp is there are already preparing for the leinster cship with a view of getting over the east meath men with relative ease. You'd have to admire their confidence.. Duleek by 10

RegionalsGuru (Meath) - Posts: 73 - 05/10/2026 12:43:52    2696254

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Well at the start of the Championship, I certainly didn't expect the final to be Donaghmore/Ashbourne vs Wolfe Tones. It will be an interesting final for sure. Tones have experience being at this stage of the Championship and have a lot of bite and fire in them. Ashbourne are incredibly well organized and well drilled. Ashbourne of course have home advantage and their whole village is sure to be buzzing, first final since 2016. Really am hoping for an Ashbourne win, it'd be great to see the likes of Bryan Menton and Andy Tormey getting a county medal.

As for our fallen champions Summerhill, I thought they looked fairly flat and just without any energy at all. Frayne was bright earlier on and was doing better when he waited in the full forward line to be fed, I thought he wasn't as effective when he dropped into the half forward line. He's a nice passer but his main attribute is and always will be his accuracy. He also just doesn't have the pace for the half forward line, it involves a lot of tracking back. I thought his brother Conor Frayne was very poor

RoyalStalwart24 (Meath) - Posts: 126 - 05/10/2026 15:47:45    2696305

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Replying To UsernameInvalid:  "Senior final is a novelty pairing Ashbourne and Tones have played each other before in a senior knockout match.

I think this is set up for Tones to win, having watched both semi finals, Tones have a meaner defence, O Neill and Donegan is probably a better midfield than Menton and Browne while Tones have 6 forwards who I would say could score 1-3 / 1-4 on their day whereas Tormey and the McGoverns seem to be the only ones who can do it for them.

Physically Tones are a bigger more athletic team, watching them yesterday none of their players are under 6 foot and are all able to compete for their own ball, take a man on or stand someone up and not let them by.

Ashbourne do have quality in the likes of Curran, Melia, Carton at the back. Kevin Fenton is able to carry a ball and drive forward, Menton is great with position and rarely gives it away. Up front though Ashbourne will need 3 or 4 of their forwards to have the game of their lives. Ashbournes biggest problem is they have 8 to 10 really good senior footballers and the rest are average whereas the Tones have 20 good senior footballers.

The biggest concern for Tones will be making sure their hurlers come through unscratched this weekend.

Whether it's a dogfight or a shoot out, Tones should win but if it is a dirty day and a dogfight it will give Ashbourne a chance, they will also need to make the most of home advantage."
no team in Meath has 15 good senior footballers, let alone 20

Tinchy1 (Meath) - Posts: 72 - 06/10/2026 10:03:07    2696357

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Replying To Tinchy1:  "no team in Meath has 15 good senior footballers, let alone 20"
20 is probably an exaggeration but are probably the only team to have between 10 and 12 good senior club footballers

Top level club footballer, lads that are in around the Meath set up or are ex intercounty footballers. Ratoath (McGill, McGowan, Flynn, McMahon), Summerhill (Ryan x 2, Flanagan, Frayne), Dunshaughlin (Gray, Duke, Kinsella, Costello), Ashbourne (Menton), Rathkenny ( Curtis and Keoghan) Tones (O Neill)

The next level would be good senior footballers, these would be lads that would make it onto any other clubs starting 15 and are consistent over a period of time. Looking at the Tones, I would say, Sheppard, Glynn, Gallagher, Penny, Donegan, Martin, Saran, O Reilly, Ward x 2.
I don't think Summerhill, Ashbourne, Ratoath and Dunshaughlin have that many caliber of player. On Ashbourne, I would say Colgan, Melia, Curran, Carton, Tormey, McGovern x 2.

The reason why I'm saying this is because when a team's top level club players don't step up or are missing as is what happened with Ratoath and Summerhill then they don't have depth to replace them players with lads at the next level. Both Ratoath and Summerhill have 7/8 good senior club players.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 478 - 06/10/2026 13:38:43    2696403

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