Hectic weekend for Meath ladies
Meath Ladies will be hoping for some fine weather this weekend as there are a plethora of fixtures taking place, writes Aisling Clery.
Pride of place this weekend goes to the Meath u14s who will travel to Stradbally to challenge Laois in the Leinster U-14 B Semi finals. The game throws in at the slightly later time of 7pm and while Phil Fay’s charges were defeated last time out against Laois, they recovered well against Longford last weekend to get another chance against Laois. A place in the final awaits against either Wexford or Louth. Best wishes to Phil and all the team ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
For Divisions Four and Five, the Adult Leagues are all to play for this weekend as they reach their final rounds. In Division Four, Trim will make the journey to Moylagh to take on the hosts on Saturday evening at 7.15. The game is a crucial one as the winner will book their place into the League Final and ensure promotion to Division Three, both sides currently resting on seven points on top of the league table. The winners of Saturday’s clash will have to wait until Monday evening as Wolfe Tones host Walterstown in the other group game. The game is a must win for the Tones if they are to push for play off while a draw would be good enough for Walterstown to book their place in the Final, while hoping Saturday evening’s game doesn’t finish level either!
In Division Five, the situation is a little more straightforward as it is a winner takes all weekend. Dunboyne host Royal Gaels on Friday evening while Rathkenny/Slane will hope to keep their winning momentum going when they travel to St. Ultans on Bank Holiday Monday.
Across the top three divisions, battles are afoot and none more so in Division One where Dee Rangers host Dunboyne next Monday evening. Last year’s Champions currently remain unbeaten in the 2016 League and will be hoping to continue this streak. However, they face a Dee Rangers team who have been buoyed by a win over Seneschalstown last time out and will be eager to repeat the feat in defeating Martin Laffoy’s side.
On Thursday evening, there are two key games down for decision in Division Two. St. Michaels travel to take on Summerhill at 7.30 while Moynalvey are the visitors to Donaghmore-Ashbourne also at 7.30pm. Both home sides are top of the table at the moment and can ill afford to drop points with the chasing pack right on their heels. Na Fianna entertain O’Mahonys on Friday evening while Clann na nGael will go to battle against Ratoath where victory could be crucial with relegation on the horizon for teams finishing in the bottom two positions.
The outstanding tie from Division Three has to be Skryne v St. Colmcilles which takes place on Bank Holiday Monday at 8pm. Skryne, boosted by their win over St. Pats/Duleek-Bellewstown last Sunday will be full of confidence heading into another tough fixture. For the Cilles however, they have been watching in the wings and will be ready to take on the Tara side on Monday, knowing that victory will see them leap frog league leaders Boardsmill and see them take top spot. Blackhall Gaels will take on St. Pats/Duleek-Bellewstown on Thursday evening and the East Meath side will have a point to prove after their loss to Skryne last time out. In the final game, Oldcastle will host Dunsany.
While the fixtures schedule at the end of 2015 forced the postponement of the 2015 Minor Championship finals, they have finally been given a spot to shine next Bank Holiday Monday, such is the congestion of fixtures at the moment. St. Peter’s GAA will host a double header of fixtures with Dunsany and St. Pats going head to head for Division Four honours. Dunsany had overcome St. Pats in the round stages but both sides then boosted full records. St. Pats defeated Walterstown in the semi final while Dunsany overcame St. Colmcilles. With both sides boasting County players, this is sure to be an engaging contest. The second of the double headers sees the 2014 Minor Champions, Simonstown in the final once again, this time against Boardsmill. The Boardsmill side, trained by Senior players Laura Bagnall and Emma Troy overcame Clann na nGael in their semi final by 3-09 to 2-10 while Simonstown defeated Seneschalstown on Monday evening last by 4-07 to 3-03. An epic encounter is promised from 3.30 and all support welcome!
County Fixtures: Sunday 1st May 2016
Leinster U-14 B Championship Semi Final; Meath v Laois in Stradbally, Co. Laois at 7pm.
Club Fixtures Meath Ladies League; Round Five
Division One;
St. Ultans 2-13 v 1-08 Seneschalstown
Royal Gaels v Oldcastle - Saturday 30th April, 7pm
Boardsmill v Simonstown - TBC
Dee Rangers v Dunboyne in Drumconrath on Monday 2nd May at 6pm
Division Two;
Summerhill v St. Michaels in Summerhill on Thursday 28th at 7.30pm
Donaghmore-Ashbourne v Moynalvey in Ashbourne on Thursday 28th at 7.30pm
Clann na nGael v Ratoath in Clann na nGael on Monday 2nd May at 5pm
Navan O’Mahonys v Na Fianna – in O’Mahonys on Friday 29th at 7.30pm
Division Three;
Oldcastle v Dunsany - TBC
Blackhall Gaels v St. Pats/Duleek-Bellewstown in Batterstown on Thursday 28th April at 7.30pm
Skryne v St. Colmcilles in Skryne on Monday 2nd May at 8pm
Boardsmill – BYE -
Division Four;
Moylagh v Trim in Moylagh on Saturday 30th at 7.15pm
Wolfe Tones v Walterstown in Kilberry on Monday 2nd May at 2pm
Ballivor – BYE –
Division Five;
Dunboyne v Royal Gaels in Dunboyne on Friday 29th at 7pm
St. Ultans v Rathkenny/Slane in St. Ultans on Monday 2nd at time TBC
Drumbaragh – BYE –
Minor Finals 2015; St. Peter’s GAA, Dunboyne
Division Four: Dunsany v St. Pats – 1.30pm
Division One: Boardsmill v Simonstown – 3.30pm