Dunboyne look like a certainty for the JFC title on Saturday

Eight straight wins has certainly whetted the appetite for success as far as the footballers from Dunboyne are concerned ahead of Saturday's JFC final showdown against minnows St Vincent's.

Add 16 goals into the mix and it paints a picture that suggests Dunboyne can make it nine wins in-a-row and the possibility that the goal tally could hit the 20 mark.

All this might seem a little disrespectful to St Vincent's, but the facts and the statistics suggest that the Ardcath men have absolutely no chance in this game.

The facts and the statistics also suggested that St Vincent's had no chance in the second-half of their semi-final against Carnaross two weeks ago.

On that occasion, not even the most ardent St Vincent's supporter could have envisaged Carnaross doing (to use a horseracing analogy) a *Ballinger Ridge, but that's what happened.

Carnaross capitulated from a position of complete dominance at half-time when they enjoyed a 0-8 to 0-1 lead, St Vincent's were fortunate to even have that solitary pointed free on the scoreboard from Tommy Field.

St Vincent's then produced a Lazarus-type second-half revival with substitute Jack Byrne hitting a 59th minute goal that helped to secure a sensational victory.

However, getting to the final could be deemed a success for St Vincent's who won the Junior B title in 2016.

St Vincent's manager Ronan Kearns will get the best out of his players and he showed that he has the ability to turn things around.

He made three changes late in the first-half against Carnaross and also moved Filed out from his full-forward position.

Byrne, Eoghan Corry and Patrick McGill were introduced and they all made an impact as Richard O'Sullivan's pointed free kick-started the revival with Field sending over from play soon after.

Field dictated a lot of play around midfield and gradually St Vincent's got back into contention, but they will find the tempo that Dunboyne play at a completely different proposition.

Dunboyne shaped up for a serious bid at the title with that merited victory against Ballivor in what was a high-scoring semi-final.

That ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over could ultimately make the difference on Saturday.

With players of the calibre of Jason Daly, Jack Cox, Darragh Nolan, Sean McGrath and Patrick Conway in a fast-moving forward division backed up by the experience that Barry Comer brings to midfield, and a strong bench, it's difficult to make a case for St Vincent's.

Dunboyne should win and they could be the last second team to lift the trophy if the changes to the structures of the championship that are proposed for 2019 get a green light from delegates. 

PANELS

DUNBOYNE 
Stephen Moran, Ciaran Dennehy, Tommy O'Connor, Johnny O'Connor, Adam Hanley, Padraig Lavin, Ronan Fitzmaurice, Luke Harte, Gary Timoney, Colin Clarke, Ben McBrien, Shane Westin, Eoghan Ryan, Barry Comer, Sean McGarrell, David Clarke, Darragh Nolan, Patrick Conway, Mark Daly, David O'Keffe, Johnny Meehan, Eoin Martin, Ronan Duggan, Niall Carolan, Adam McCoy, Fergal Watters, Jason Daly, Sean McGrath, Jack Cox, Ben Carolan 
ST VINCENT'S
Martin Fox, Evan Connor, Cathal Tallon, Eoghan Corry, Declan O'Sullivan, Andrew McEntee, Jack Byrne, Mark Crawley, David Corry, Charlie O'Brien, David Tallon, John Corry; Leo Corry, Eoin Hand, Kieron Collins, Colm Hand, Cian Moore, Barry O'Sullivan, Niall Tallon, Bob Tallon, Ryan Hand, Shane O'Brien, Patrick Arnold, Nigel Hand, Richard O'Sullivan, Tommy Field, Robert Lynch. 

*Ballinger Ridge, with champion jockey Kieren Fallon on board, was the 15/8 second-favourite in a one-mile maiden at Lingfield in 2004 and the race seemed as good as over when he went 10 lengths clear at halfway, but got beaten a short head.

PATHS TO THE FINAL
FIRST ROUND
St Vincent’s 0-6, Moynalty 0-6; Dunboyne 2-16, Dunshaughlin 0-10.
SECOND ROUND
St Vincent’s 0-16, Dunsany 1-10; Dunboyne 3-13, Summerhill 0-6.
THIRD ROUND
St Vincent’s 1-9, Kilmainhamwood 0-10; Dunboyne 5-17, Navan O’Mahonys 1-12.
FOURTH ROUND
St Vincent’s 1-14, Cortown 0-5; Dunboyne 2-16, Wolfe Tones 1-13.
FIFTH ROUND
St Vincent’s 0-10, Ballivor 2-11; Dunboyne 3-15, Gaeil Colmcille 0-10.
SIXTH ROUND
Dunboyne 1-15, Skryne 0-6.
SEVENTH ROUND
 Dunboyne w.o., Seneschalstown scr.
QUARTER-FINALS
St Vincent’s 3-14, St Brigid’s 1-4; Dunboyne 1-13, Moylagh 1-12.
SEMI-FINALS
St Vincent’s 1-10, Carnaross 1-12; Dunboyne 1-19, Ballivor 2-13.