Focus of attention turns to club championships

With Meath footballers out of the Leinster SFC and the All-Ireland qualifiers not scheduled until next month, the third round of the race for the Keegan Cup will take centrestage this weekend. Maintaining their unbeaten records will be the priority for Simonstown, St Patrick"s, Skryne, Blackhall Gaels, Summerhill and Wolfe Tones and while not all can win, most will be hoping another victory will book their quarter-final places. Defeats for Donaghmore / Ashbourne and Walterstown will send the relegation sirens wailing and neither side wants to be fighting a losing battle at this stage. It promises to be an intriging weekend of senior action that covers four days and huge crowds are expected to support the county players when they represent their clubs. My predictions are: FRIDAY St Ultan"s v Skryne, at Pairc Tailteann, 7.45: There should be little doubt about the outcome of this contest at Pairc Tailteann as Skryne are the form team in the county while St Ultan"s have yet to register a victory. Sometimes shocks reverberate around football and based on their performances in the games against Blackhall Gaels and Dunboyne, St Ultan"s might be capable of springing a surprise. Skryne are riding high in A FL Div 2 while St Ultan"s have an inconsistent record of two wins, two losses and a draw. Skryne are always serious contenders for outright honours and while St Ultan"s will make life difficult the Tara men should book their knock-out place with their third win. Verdict - Skryne. SATURDAY Walterstown v Blackhall Gaels, at Dunshaughlin, 7.30: When these two sides met in the A FL Div 1 it was Walterstown who scored a narrow one-point win and if they could repeat that again then it could be regarded as a championship shock because Blackhall Gaels are fancied to emerge from the group. Blackhall"s bye in round two left them a long time without championship football. They managed to snatch a first round victory against St Ultan"s and it is that type of hunger they will need to overcome Walterstown. The Blacks were well beaten by Skryne and if they are as porous at the back again, then Blackhall will punish them. Verdict - Blackhall Gaels. SUNDAY Duleek/Bellewstown v Navan O"Mahonys, at Pairc Tailteann, 3.30: The tag of champions if often a difficult one to wear and Navan O"Mahonys have found that out the hard way so far. They are struggling in A FL Div 1 and in the SFC they lost out to Seneschalstown in round one before recapturing some form in their 0-14 to 0-7 win over Donaghmore / Ashbourne. Not too much can be read into that win because Andy McEntee"s side were hampered by injuries and were very poor. O"Mahonys did just about enough to win, but they will need more if they are to overcome Duleek / Bellewstown. If Duleek / Bellewstown play the way they did against Simonstown they can expect a hammering. They were toothless, leaderless and clueless in that outing and a repeat of that will be a devastating. O"Mahonys are an exceptional outfit and if they hit top form they should win, no matter how well their opponents play. Verdict - Navan O"Mahonys. Wolfe Tones v Summerhill, at Athboy, 3.30: These two sides met in last years championship and produced an entertaining game with Wolfe Tones claiming victory courtesy of the accuracy of Cian Ward. Many problems arose for Summerhill that day, but they have since been addressed. Wolfe Tones will probably be marginal favourites ahead of this tie of the round, but Summerhill are determined to make amends for last year"s final disappointment and if Wolfe Tones aren"t at their best then they will be punished. Summerhill have been hit by injuries this term and unless some of those have cleared up they could be in trouble. Wolfe Tones were far from impressive in defeating Trim in their first game, but their league form suggests that was just a blip and they may edge this one. Verdict - Wolfe Tones. Seneschalstown v Simonstown, at Pairc Tailteann, 5.30: In the tightest of groups this is a very unpredictable game with both sides enjoying magnificent results in the early rounds, but with Seneschalstown faltering surprisingly against St Patrick"s, it is now wide open. Simonstown"s delayed start to the SFC because of the postponement of their opening round game against the Stamullen men gave them extra-time to prepare for the challenge of Duleek / Bellewstown and they looked exceptional in that 14-point victory. Seneschalstown impressed against the defending champions Navan O"Mahonys in their infamous opening game, but if they repeat the show they produced against St Patrick"s then Simonstown will win. It is unlikely Seneschalstown will be as poor again, but Simonstown may pose too many questions with Michael Brennan at full-forward. Verdict - Simonstown. Dunshaughlin v Trim, at Pairc Tailteann, 7.0: This game will go a long way to deciding the fate of these two teams this term. Trim were easy winners over Rathkenny in round one, just as Dunshaughlin were in round two. However, both sides have also lost with Trim being edged out by Wolfe Tones and Dunshaughlin losing to Summerhill. That form would indicate that Trim have a great chance of staying in contention for a place in the knockout stages. Dunshaughlin were no great shapes in their win over Rathkenny and unless they improve they will not replicate last year"s SFC win over Trim. Trim are very hit and miss. There A FL Div 2 league form has been patchy, but they have been without the influential Darren Fay. His return to championship action will be a big boost and if they can keep their discipline in front of the posts, they can limit Dunshaughlin and score a mild shock win. Verdict - Trim. MONDAY Donaghmore/Ashbourne v St Patrick"s, at Donore, 8.0: From the outset this game was viewed as a potential relegation decider for both sides. Both teams will have identified this contest as one they can win, but on form St Patrick"s will go into the clash with greater confidence. Donaghmore / Ashbourne have been plagued by injuries and lost to Duleek / Bellewstown and Navan O"Mahonys. Another loss in this one would anchor them to the foot of their group and leave them in a precarious position. St Patrick"s shocked Seneschalstown in their first game and with such a hard-working mentality they should be capable of causing Donaghmore / Ashbourne a few more restless nights in the summer months ahead. Verdict - St Patrick"s.