Interesting going into the last round of the SHC in a few weeks. The only thing I am not sure of if it goes on head-to-head or scoring difference for the final standings?

Group A: Kiltale, Dunboyne and Trim all through, but which order they will finish is still up for grabs. You would imagine wins for Kiltale and Dunboyne leaving 1st: Kiltale 2nd: Dunboyne 3rd:Trim. Longwood now doomed to a relegation play off against Rathmoylon (but they should win this one with ease)

Group: B: You would imagine Kildalkey will hammer Rathmoylon to finish top and Killyon will beat NOM to finish 2nd, meaning it will be between Blackhall and Dunderry for 3rd.

It is all shaping up to be a cracking round of hurling.

MeathHurler (Meath) - Posts: 38 - 18/08/2015 09:41:27    1771805

When is the next round of Hurling Championship?

RoylerKing (Meath) - Posts: 809 - 18/08/2015 11:30:20    1771906

weekend of the 28th

lordofthecrack (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 18/08/2015 11:45:26    1771916

group a kiltale first, dunboyne second followed by trim in third. both dunboyne and trim to make semis easy enough. group b kildalkey obviously first followed by killyon, then all to play for in dunderry v blackhall game for the final spot. last 2 intermediate winners should be nip and tuck fancy blackhall to edge it.

niallermcna99 (Meath) - Posts: 7 - 18/08/2015 18:51:40    1772176

Great weekend of SHC ahead - here are my predictions:

Group A (All games on Friday night!!)
Kiltale vs Trim: Game of the round and if the final table is on head to head, then Trim have a chance of finishing top. But, like every match they will play this year, Kiltale will find a way to win. Kiltale by 5.
Kilmessan vs Dunboyne: Because of head to head, Dunboyne cannot finish top, but will confirm second place with a win. And they should get it against a Kilmessan team with only pride to play for after a poor champ. Dunboyne by 3.
Boardsmill vs Longwood: the 2 so called weaker teams in the group now meet with nothing to play for after the Mill's great win over Kilmessan. And I expect them to continue that form here, but it will be tight against a Longwood team already in the relegation play off. Boardsmill by 4.

Group B (All games on Sunday afternoon)
Kildalkey vs Rathmolyon: if there ever was a dead rubber match, this is it. Kildalkey will win this at a canter and Rathmoylon will then need to get ready for Longwood. Kildalkey by 20+
Killyon vs O'Mahonys: O'Mahonys need to win this match to have any chance of qualifying for the 1/4 finals. But Killyon will be just too good for them and will cement 2nd place in the group with a win here, but they will find it tough as they are not playing well of late. Killyon by 7
Blackhall vs Dunderry: A Blackhall win here and they are through to a 1/4 final, irregardless of other results. If Dunderry win, then there is the possibility of a 3 way play-off with O'Mahonys, although not sure if scoring difference will come into it. Tough match to call here. But Blackhall to scrape through. Blackhall by 2.

MeathHurler (Meath) - Posts: 38 - 26/08/2015 13:33:52    1776517

I think Longwood are actually not gone yet. If Kilmessan manage to beat or draw with Dunboyne, the loser of Boardsmill/Longwood finishes bottom. If Kilmessan lose, Longwood would need to win by 10 points to overtake Boardsmill on score difference.

By the same token, Dunboyne could finish top. It requires some unlikely maths to go exactly their way though. They need to beat Kilmessan, and for Trim to beat Kiltale. That would leave 3 teams on 8 points, so it would go to score difference between the 3 teams. For Dunboyne to finish top they need to beat Kilmessan by 16+ and they also need Trim to beat Kiltale by about 5 points, not much more or less.

Its unlikely to say the least, but still technically possible.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1678 - 26/08/2015 14:19:26    1776569

I thought the head-to-head results are used before score difference?

MeathHurler (Meath) - Posts: 38 - 26/08/2015 14:29:59    1776580

If there's 2 teams on,level points its head to head. If it ends up with 3 teams level (like Kiltale, Trim, Dunboyne all having 8 points, or Kilmessan,Longwood Boardsmill all having 2 points) its score difference.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1678 - 26/08/2015 15:12:05    1776616

Never heard of that one before! Is that from the county board or a rumour?

MeathHurler (Meath) - Posts: 38 - 26/08/2015 16:35:01    1776694

Its been in place a few years now for nearly all GAA competitions. Can't picture how head to head would even work in a 3 way tie.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1678 - 26/08/2015 16:44:15    1776697

That's correct. It's in the Official Guide. 2 teams level on points then winner of head to head game, 3 teams level on points then score difference.

Redman7 (Meath) - Posts: 81 - 26/08/2015 21:55:18    1776872

Yeah I know a 3 way head to head would not work, but knowing the county board, I thought they might have a 3 way play off if points were the same for 3 teams!!

MeathHurler (Meath) - Posts: 38 - 27/08/2015 09:49:05    1776911

Kilmessan v Dunboyne- It's a long time since Kilmessan didn't qualify out of the group stages. Dunboyne had chances v Kiltale but didn't take them. They should return to winning ways here- Dunboyne by 4pts.
Trim v Kiltale- best game of the weekend. Kiltale forwards should continue their high scoring against a weak Trim defence. Goals to be the key again for Kiltale- Kiltale by 6pts.
Longwood v Boardsmill- The 'Mill after their great win are not safe yet. Longwood are capable of pulling out a win to keep them up, lacking firepower though without Anto Healy this year- Longwood by 2pts, but not enough to avoid relegation playoff.
Killyon v Navan O'Mahonys- tough game in store, Killyon getting stronger with Gannon back. Which NOM will turn up???- Killyon by 5pts.
Blackhall Gaels v Dunderry- Dunderry still have a chance of qualifying but need a big win, BHG should have the better hurlers to get scores and win but Dunderry will give them timber and could pull a win out of this game against the odds.- Dunderry by 1pt.
Kildalkey v Rathmolyon- I fear for Rathmolyon here, they've being wiped out this year with injuries and lads missing and are a very to go down so definitely don't want to be playing a Kildalkey team which look like the only team who can stop Kiltale this year. They've best defence in the county and if they can get forwards motoring then Rathmolyon could be in for a long day.- Kildalkey by 22pts.

Redman7 (Meath) - Posts: 81 - 27/08/2015 15:26:37    1777146

So the Champions are finally bet and looked ordinary. Well done Trim excellent performance. Trim look like they could now challenge for the title. Always dangerous for goals, Kiltale will come back strong after this reversal. Trim probably play Kildalkey in semi final, should be a great game. Dunboyne had an easy win over Kilmessan, sets up a 1/4 final v Killyon with the winner v Kiltale in semi final. Dunboyne should beat Killyon and will fancy they're chances v Killyon after playing well against them in Round 4 with conceding 4 goals there downfall on the day. Any thoughts on what people think will happen in knock outs now?? Who'll be in SHC Final??

Redman7 (Meath) - Posts: 81 - 29/08/2015 17:03:27    1777787

Cant remember the last time Kiltale lost a group match, I know they were undefeated last year.

Killyon/Dunboyne should be an interesting clash, 2 teams who would feel they have underperformed in recent years. Winner of course gets a clash vs. Kiltale. You'd think Kiltale in a semi final would be a different animal to Kiltale in a group match though. I've a feeling if Kiltale are to be stopped it'll have to be at the semi final stage.

Trim/Blackhall Gaels. Trim are probably strong favorites for this, but will need to concentrate. I was at the Trim/Dunboyne match and they seemed to fall asleep at stages. Missed the Kiltale/Trim match last night unfortunately but from the sounds of it Trim brought serious intensity. Replicate that and Blackhall wont live with them.

A Trim/Kildalkey semi final would be interesting. Kildalkey wont have had a tough match since June, while Trim have been battling Dunboyne, Kilmessan and Kiltale to get out of the strong group. Add onto that a QF clash and Trim could be a battle hardened outfit.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1678 - 29/08/2015 18:23:09    1777809

I would agree with all that Castlebravo. Dunboyne could beat Kiltale IMO but I think they could struggle to beat Killyon. Potentially Trim v Kildalkey semi final would be great, agree that Trim would be battle hardened by then and well prepared, but with Kildalkey having an easy path I think they'll be ready for Trim, they'll be playing top challenge games and they're a team with huge experience, remember they won 3 in a row with most of this team which was an incredible achievement. I predict Kiltale v Kildalkey final on current form.

Redman7 (Meath) - Posts: 81 - 29/08/2015 20:21:19    1777828

So that is it for the Group stages. Kiltale (even though they lost) and Kildalkey are the favourites to lift the Jubilee Cup. However Trim, Killyon and Dunboyne have a real chance also. Also it is great to see a club like Blackhall Gaels in the last 6. Like Longwood a few years ago, it provides a break from the traditional "powerhouses" of Meath hurling always making the latter stages and they have the potential to cause a major shock. Some great matches ahead. Any ideas when the 2 quarter finals will be played?

MeathHurler (Meath) - Posts: 38 - 31/08/2015 14:22:40    1779020

Planner has it down for weekend of the 12th

Theheinoking (Meath) - Posts: 128 - 31/08/2015 14:33:13    1779035

I'll just look a misery guts here. But its not that huge an achievement to get to the QF from that group. Blackhall beat relegation candidates Navan and Rathmolyon, then drew with Dunderry to get there. It's not exactly shaking the meath hurling world to its core. At least Longwood beat Kildalkey, Kilmessan, Killyon and Kiltale in their 2 good years.

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1678 - 31/08/2015 16:41:35    1779187

Just read the report from dunderry vs black hall Gaels match. Who ever wrote that report must be from the geals club because if they think will have any chance at beating the Trim side that beat killtale on Friday they will have to just re-evaluate their hopes and dreams. Trim have some of the best forwards in the county and a bench to back it up. I hear they are expecting at least 4 back to the starting team.

lordofthecrack (Meath) - Posts: 43 - 31/08/2015 16:45:27    1779189