Championship fever ahead of club action

There will be an extra intensity to the Meath SFC this year as six of the 18 teams will be involved in relegation play-offs and three will make drop down to the IFC.

Meath GAA clubs sanctioned a change to the format of the football championships at the first Co Board meeting of 2019 last January.

Twelve months earlier the clubs had rejected proposals to reduce the SFC and IFC club competitions to 16 teams each at a specially convened Co Board meeting in Dunganny.

The only safe position in each group for a non-qualifying team will be to finish in fourth place.

The fifth and sixth-placed teams in each SFC group will be involved in a one-off relegation play-off game with the loser of each making the drop to the IFC.

In the event of a SFC relegation game finishing level, extra-time will be played and if the teams are still level then the game will go to a replay.

The IFC champions of 2019 will promoted to SFC for 2020 and there will be no relegation from the IFC for 2019.

MAKING THE DRAWS FOR THE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 2020 IFC shall consist solely of 20 first teams.

To ensure this the two best placed first teams in the 2019 JFC shall be promoted to the IFC for 2020 and shall include the 2019 JFC champions (if a first team) and the JFC runner-up (if a first team).

However, a play-off will be scheduled between the beaten JFC semi-finalists (if first teams) if required.

Any second team competing in the 2019 IFC shall be regraded to a new Premier A grade for 2020 and this will apply to both Donaghmore / Ashbourne and Dunboyne second teams.

No first team will be relegated from JFC in 2019 and all second teams will be regraded to the Premier A grade for 2020.

All first teams competing in Junior B for 2019 shall be upgraded to the JFC for 2020 unless they apply for inclusion in the new Premier A grade.

Dunshaughlin manager Anthony Moyles

FIRST ROUND ACTION 
SFC
Group A - Seneschalstown v Navan O'Mahonys; Skryne v St Patrick's; Gaeil Colmcille v Dunshaughlin.
Group B - Moynalvey v Rathkenny; Longwood v Ratoath; Donaghmore / Ashbourne v Summerhill.
Group C - Dunboyne v Curraha; Na Fianna v St Colmcille's; Simonstown Gaels v Wolfe Tones.

RELEGATION SCHEDULE
Play-off - Group A5 v Group B6, loser relegated.
Play-off - Group B5 v Group C6, loser relegated.
Play-off - Group C5 v Group A6, loser relegated.

IFC
Group A - Oldcastle v Nobber; Meath Hill v Kilmainham; Drumbaragh v Ballinlough.
Group B - Castletown v Syddan; St Michael's v Bective; Trim v Ballinabrackey.
Group C - Blackhall Gaels v Donaghmore / Ashbourne; Dunboyne v Duleek / Bellewstown; Walterstown v Dunderry.

JFC
Group A - Ballivor v Carnaross; Moynalty v Clonard; St Ultan's v Moylagh.
Group B - Cortown v Kilmainhamwood; St Vincent's v Dunsany; Clann na nGael v St Brigid's.
Group C - Navan O'Mahonys v Seneschalstown; Gaeil Colmcille v Na Fianna; Skryne v Dunshaughlin; Summerhill v Wolfe Tones.

JUNIOR B
Group A - Slane v Boardsmill; Drumconrath v Kilbride; St Mary's (bye).
Group B - Nobber v Ratoath; Moynalvey v Dunboyne; Duleek / Bellewstown (bye).
Group C - St Colmcille's v St Patrick's; Simonstown Gaels v Donaghmore / Ashbourne; Trim (bye).

JUNIOR C
Group A – St Paul’s v Summerhill, Walterstown v St Ultan’s, St Michael’s v Syddan.
Group B – Simonstown Gaels v Oldcastle, Moynalty v Dunderry, Clann na nGael v Seneschalstown.
Group C – Skryne v Carnaross, Blackhall Gaels v Rathkenny, Dunsany v Ballivor.

JUNIOR D
Group A – Drumbaragh v Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Dunboyne v Kilmainham, Wolfe Tones a bye.
Group B – Trim v St Colmcille’s, Clonard v Bective, Castletown a bye.
Group C – Longwood v Dunshaughlin, Ballinlough v Curraha, Ratoath a bye.
Group D – Ballinabrackey v Kilbride, Meath Hill v Cortown.