Hard to look beyond O'Mahonys for SFC glory

The process of predicting the winner of the SFC should be a very simple one. Identify the team with the most talent, the greater hunger and the passion required, but that is easier said than done. Sides possess at least two out of three traits necessary, but very few tick all the boxes. There are four or five sides that come close to filling all the criteria needed to be champions and they will once again be the forerunners in the race for the Keegan Cup. Finalists and winners for the last few years have proven they have what it takes and by that reckoning Skryne, Seneschalstown, Wolfe Tones, Navan O'Mahonys and Dunboyne will all be there or thereabouts at the final shake up. Most year's during the assessment process it is Navan O'Mahonys who stand out as the side with the greatest potential, yet most years they disappoint and make the pundits and predictors look like mugs. With the fear of being made look foolish by O'Mahonys again, most pundits will sing their praises, but then opt for another side, maybe one with a greater hunger? However, this year O'Mahonys tick all the boxes. The amount of talent available to returning coach Davy Nelson makes most clubs weep with jealousy, only one SFC title in the last 12 years suggests they should have the hunger and the passion on Brews Hill is as strong this year as in any other of their 17 SFC-winning campaigns. Ironically, O'Mahonys biggest problem is that they have too many extremely talented players. Over the past six or seven years it wasn't unusual to have seven or eight O'Mahonys representatives on the county senior panel and while that is a great honour for the club it can be hugely disruptive when it comes to formulating a team. With so many not involved in club training or in the majority of A FL games, O'Mahonys tend to play most of their games with fringe players and when it comes to the big championship contests all the county stars return, but they haven't much game time with their club colleagues under their belts. This year there are five O'Mahonys players involved with the Meath seniors, Mark Ward, Gary O'Brien, Kevin Reilly, Cormac McGuinness (pictured, right) and Stephen Bray. That makes the selection issue a bit more manageable and if O'Mahonys can find the time to get match practice for their full panel then they will be a force. Of course they will have to plan without the injured David Bray, but as well as their county contingent they have outstanding players all over the field and a strong bench to turn to. The arrival of Daragh Smyth from Bective will be a huge boost for the Navan men and with Henry Finnegan, Shane McKeigue and Paddy Smyth lending their considerable firepower it will take a good defence to stop them. There are many good defences out there, but few are better than O'Mahonys. McGuinness, O'Brien and Reilly will form the back bone and look formidable, add in Cormac Reilly, Mark Brennan, Ward and Niall McKeigue and it is easy to see why O'Mahonys are strongly fancied. All the indicators point to an 18th title for O'Mahonys, but they will have to do it the hard way. They start off in the notoriously difficult Group B where Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Seneschalstown, Dunshaughlin, IFC champions Nobber and last year's surprise packets Rathkenny will be keen to knock them off their perch. Their lack of consistency proved to be O'Mahonys downfall last year when they failed to make it out of the group and they will have to be focused from the start. Donaghmore/Ashbourne and Seneschalstown will probably cause the biggest threat, but if O'Mahonys can negotiate the early hurdles then they will be well on their way. Defending champions Skryne will be eager to retain their crown, but no side has managed that feat since Dunshaughlin completed three-in-a-row in 2002. Before that Skryne were the last side to retain the Keegan Cup, way back in 1993. It will be difficult for the champions. They are in the five team group C with only two qualifiers and so they can afford very few slip ups. The loss of Liam Harnan as their manager is a blow, but Barney Rock is a respected figure and he should be a sufficient guiding light if the players are hungry enough. That will to win might be the biggest factor to go against Skryne. It is often harder to defend a title than to win one and Skryne will discover that. They still have class throughout their side with Ian Davis, Paddy O'Rourke, Kevin Mulvaney and Mark Battersby leading their attack. Trevor Giles will once again be a pivotal figure, but it is hard to see Skryne repeating the heroics of last year. After a devastating 2010 Summerhill will look to right a lot of wrongs this year. They were deplorable in last year's campaign and after promising so much in 2009 they let themselves down. A tasty opening round tie against Trim will focus their minds from the off and if Summerhill can hit the ground running then they will be a threat. However, they lack a consistent scorer which has always been their strong point. Scores will be divided between Seanie Dalton, Brian Ennis, Stephen Kennedy (pictured, left) and others, but they have very few players who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck. They are likely to ruffle a few feathers and should emerge from their group, but when the going gets tough, will they be tough enough? Another one of the major contenders will be Seneschalstown. They are the most bewildering side in the championship over the last few years. There have been times in the group stages when they haven't looked interested, yet when it gets to the knock-out stages they look genuine contenders. However, a nonchalant approach to their difficult group would be detrimental to their prospects. They have tremendous ability throughout, but if the minds aren't on the prize then they might struggle. There are a few other realistic pretenders to Skryne's crown. Donaghmore/Ashbourne will be hard to beat as will the usual suspects of Simonstown Gaels, St Patrick's, Duleek/Bellewstown, Blackhall Gaels and Trim. Also, Walterstown have been enjoying a bit of a renaissance and could cause a few surprises, but outside of the leading five the others are likely to be also rans. When everything is weighed up Navan O'Mahonys appear to be the best equipped side to win the SFC. However, if they show any weakness then Skryne, Seneschalstown and Summerhill are ready, willing and able to pounce and would be more than happy to get their hands on the trophy.