Senior action set to continue

After the storm of controversy that shrouded the opening round of the SFC, supporters will be hoping that the focus returns to football when the action resumes this weekend with two games on Friday, four on Sunday and one on Monday. Defending champions Navan O"Mahonys will hope to return to winning ways when they take on Donaghmore / Ashbourne on Sunday while Seneschalstown will have a chance to cement their place at the top of Group A with a victory over St Patrick"s on Friday. My predictions are: St Patrick"s v Seneschalstown, at Ashbourne, Friday, 7.45. - St Patrick"s will feel aggrieved that they had to forfeit the points from their SFC opener against Simonstown. That game could have been the salvation for the Stamullen men and a contest they would have pinpointed as a possible win. However, they now find themselves starting with a tough game against Seneschalstown and already two points behind their main relegation rivals. Seneschalstown must be on a high following their opening round win over the champions Navan O"Mahonys, but that victory was marred by the ugly scenes after the game and if that takes from their focus then they could be in trouble. However, Seneschalstown have one of the smartest managers in the game in Damien Sheridan and he will ensure the players keep their eye on the prize. Nothing less that 100 per cent concentration will suffice against St Patrick"s and if they play their natural game then they should make it two wins from two. Verdict - Seneschalstown. Walterstown v Skryne, at Navan, Friday, 7.45. - After having an extra week to wait before being unleashed on the SFC, Walterstown will be eager to get going, but they could hardly have envisaged a tougher opening than the one they face on Friday evening. Skryne were expected to push hard this year and a few people believed they could be dark horses. However, no one could have envisaged the devastating 0-19 to 1-8 victory they achieved over Dunboyne in the opening round. Liam Harnan has done a magnificent job with his mix of youth and experience, but he will have to be wary of Walterstown because that appears to be the route new manager Padraig Coyle is going down with the Blacks. A successful u-21 side should provide several key players for Walterstown and it promises to be an intriguing clash. However, Skryne are on a roll and will be difficult to stop. Verdict - Skryne. Duleek/Bellewstown v Simonstown, at Walterstown, Sunday, 2.0. - There appears to be no end to the surprises that Duleek / Bellewstown are capable of producing. In the last round they caused a minor upset by beating Donaghmore / Ashbourne and while they may be asked tougher questions by Simonstown, they are capable of another win. Last year Duleek / Bellewstown shocked everyone by reaching the SFC quarter-finals and by running Wolfe Tones close in that game, but most felt that the surprise element was gone and they might not fare as well this time around. However, against Donaghmore / Ashbourne they were very effective. They utilised their opportunities superbly and took full advantage of their opponent"s frailties, that is something they will need to do against Simonstown who received a walkover from St Patrick"s in the opening round. The Navan side would have preferred to have had the game under their belt and a lack of championship action may count against them. Another surprise win for Duleek / Bellewstown might not be such a shock. Verdict - Duleek/Bellewstown. Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Navan O"Mahonys, at Skryne, Sunday, 2.30. - Navan O"Mahonys will be delighted to be getting back to football, but they will face another tough test against Donaghmore / Ashbourne. O"Mahonys will have found themselves at the centre of unwanted controversy, but they will aim to put all that behind them by getting their SFC ambitions back on track. Donaghmore / Ashbourne"s lofty ambitions were brought crashing to the ground against Duleek / Bellewstown and Andy McEntee will be looking for a positive response from his players, but he may be without a few key men because of injuries. Despite their slip-up against Seneschalstown, O"Mahonys are still the favourites to defend their crown and having defeated Donaghmore / Ashbourne in the 2008 quarter-finals they are hotly fancied to repeat that dose. Verdict - Navan O"Mahonys Wolfe Tones v Trim, at Navan, Sunday, 2.30. - There were a few eyebrows raised following Trim"s demolition of Rathkenny in the opening round and that result will ensure that Wolfe Tones will take nothing for granted when the sides meet on Sunday. Wolfe Tones will be overwhelming favourites to dispose of Kevin Walsh"s charges, but Trim will be boosted by that 11-point victory over Rathkenny. Wolfe Tones will take a great deal of heart from Seneschalstown"s win over Navan O"Mahonys and they now firmly believe that they have a strong chance of claiming outright honours, and who could blame them. They have many outstanding players most notably Eoghan Harrington and Cian Ward, but Trim have a few star turns themselves in Ronan Fitzsimons, Darren Fay and Paul Gilsenan, so expect a close challenge. Verdict - Wolfe Tones. Rathkenny v Dunshaughlin, at Simonstown, Sunday, 5.0. - Returning to the scene of their devastating SFC loss to Trim will be a difficult task for Rathkenny on Sunday, but it won"t be made any easier by the prospect of facing a Dunshaughlin side hell bent on making amends for their opening round defeat by Summerhill. Dunshaughlin were very disappointing in their first test and only managed to produce their expected form in sporadic patches, but they are better than that showing and they will be eager to get their campaign back on track. It is difficult to see where matters can improve for Rathkenny. They kept with Trim during the first-half, but completely faded after the resumption with John Donegan proving not to be the answer to their attacking problems. A return to midfield for Donegan might create more opportunities for Rathkenny, but they will need to find an improvement of monumental proportions if they are to even trouble a Dunshaughlin who should get off the mark. Verdict - Dunshaughlin. Dunboyne v St Ultan"s, at Navan, Monday, 3.45: It is doubtful if there was a more unlucky team in championship football after the first round of action than St Ultan"s. As time ticked down they led Blackhall Gaels by 1-10 to 0-12, but managed to concede a last minute goal. Much will depend on how Davy Cahill"s charges react to that defeat. It was such a heartbreaking loss that it could take a devastating toll, but now is the time for St Ultan"s to show character. Dunboyne also received a hammer blow to their ambitions when they were trounced by Skryne. However, they were without the influential Nigel Crawford and David Gallagher who is unlikely to be back in time for Monday. Crawford"s return would be a boost. St Ultan"s proved they will be no pushovers and Dunboyne will have to be wary. However, that loss to Blackhall Gaels coupled with Dunboyne"s greater experience of bouncing back should swing this tie in Declan Mahon"s side"s favour. Verdict - Dunboyne.