Countdown to A FL first round action

The A FL competitions across all divisions start this weekend with some Friday night action scheduled.

Meath Chronicle sports editor Conall Collier will be at the big Friday night A FL Div 1 game in Navan between Navan O'Mahonys and Gaeil Colmcille.

We will have regular updates on social media as well as a report and photographs in next edition of Meath Chronicle.

Our popular Team of the Week will return also so if you think someone from your club should be selected the onus is on your PRO to submit a match report by Sunday night.

FERGAL LYNCH

Meath Chronicle reporter Fergal Lynch previewed the grades in this week's print edition of the paper.

DIVISION 1

There's a mouthwatering tie to get the A FL Div 1 campaign up and running as Navan O'Mahonys will host Gaeil Colmcille in a repeat of last year's final and last week's Feis Cup semi-final. O'Mahonys will be out to exact some measure of revenge as they lost both those games. 

Gaeil Colmcille have been perennial contenders for league honours and such is their strength-in-depth they are once again fancied to be amongst the leading runners.

A good start will be half the battle for the Kells men and they have already got the year off to a fine beginning by advancing to the Feis Cup final for the fourth year in-a-row.

Without any players on senior inter-county panels manager Lar Wall has been able to field a team with a level of consistency.

He has always had his full squad available for training and games and that certainly helps when playing opponents who are missing key men.

Summerhill are another side that are always considered to be in the mix, but with Ross and Ronan Ryan and Barry Dardis involved with the Meath seniors they are depleted and that will make it difficult for them to be involved in the final shake up.

The only two intermediate sides in Div 1, Ballinabrackey and Oldcastle, are tipped to return to Div 2.

Ballinabrackey did remarkably well to reach the Div 2 final last year, where they lost out to Seneschalstown, while Oldcastle were equally impressive as they held their own in Div 1 by beating St Patrick's in a play-off, but it could be too tough for them this time around.

PREDICTION

Champions - Gaeil Colmcille; relegation - Ballinabrackey, Oldcastle.
 

DIVISION 2

Two of the three sides relegated from the SFC, Rathkenny and St Patrick's, as well as the two teams who are coming down from Div 1, Syddan and Moynalvey, will be keen to get a disappointing 2019 out of their systems as quickly as possible, but that is going to be a lot easier said than done.

Of those four Moynalvey are the only side with senior football to look forward to in 2020 and despite missing out on a place in the Feis Cup semi-finals they are tipped to do well in Div 2.

The absence of Cillian O'Sullivan will be a hindrance, but they have plenty of guile and substance throughout their side to cause problems.

They have already shown that in the Feis Cup where they defeated St Colmcille's and Seneschalstown, so they will fancy their chances of getting off to a good start when they face Castletown, one of the promoted sides from Div 3.

Castletown and Ballinlough both plied their trade in Div 3 last year and looked well capable of operating at a higher level, now they have their chance.

Castletown knocked on several doors last year and were considered favourites to make the jump to senior football at one stage before falling short in the IFC.

They continue to improve and will be there or thereabouts at the top end of the table.

Last year's IFC finalists Nobber and Trim are others who could be in the reckoning, but with several key players involved with county hurling and u-20 football teams Trim might struggle to pick up points early on.

Senior side Curraha will provide Trim with their first test, but they too will be deprived of a number of inter-county players including the talented Jack O'Connor, David Toner and James McEntee.

Just like Gaeil Colmcille in Div 1 having a strong, reliable and consistent panel is the key to success and the opposite goes against teams who have several players involved with inter-county teams. 

Div 2 will be tough and there's any one of four or five teams susceptible to relegation.

PREDICTION
Promotion - Moynalvey, Castletown; relegation - Rathkenny, Carnaross.

DIVISION 3

There's an historic look to Div 3 this year with second teams permitted to play in the A FL for the first time.

Both Dunboyne and Donaghmore/Ashbourne have the honour of being the first reserve sides to compete at this level.

However, their inclusion has come at a cost to Moylagh and Clann na nGael who contested the A FL Div 4 final last year with Moylagh claiming the spoils, but neither were promoted as the Meath CCC restructured the lower leagues to allow second teams into the mix.

There is a strong look to Div 3 with Dunboyne and Donaghmore/Ashbourne, who operated in the IFC in 2019, included.
Both those sides are no longer eligible to contest the IFC and so must now compete in the Premier Championship (Reserve Championship by antoher name).

As compensation for the 'demotion' they have been allowed into the A FL at Div 3 level.

Their inclusion adds to a hugely competitive division.

Blackhall Gaels will be one of the leading contenders as they were only relegated from senior football in 2018, but it won't be easy with eight of the 12 sides genuinely in the mix for promotion.

PREDICTION

Promotion - St Michael's, Blackhall Gaels; relegation - Moynalty, Ballivor.
 

DIVISION 4A

Five more second strings join the seven first teams to make up the 12-team Div 4A.

While it may feel like deja-vu all over again for Clann na nGael and Moylagh they will fancy their chances of finishing in the top two for the second year in succession.

Amazingly, Longwood will also find themselves operating in this division.

Last year they were plying their trade in the SFC, where they found the going tough, but it was a lesson that will surely stand to them and they have to be fancied to bounce back. However, Longwood didn't field a team on the Corn na Boinne, so they will commence their football season cold.

They will also be without three key men in Damien Healy, Anthony Healy and Mickey Burke, so their strength in reserve will be tested in the early stages and especially by Ratoath's second string in their opening game.

Second teams of senior clubs should be capable of making an impression in this division, but with Clann na nGael and Moylagh also in the hunt it is hard to look beyond them for promotion.
PREDICTION

Promotion - Clann na nGael, Moylagh; relegation - Kilbride, Kilmainhamwood.
 

DIVISION 4B

Five more B teams join the A FL fray for Div 4B and just as was the case in Div 4A any one of them is more than capable of making a positive impact and can rightly be considered as promotion candidates. 

Of the first teams in this division there promises to be some intriguing ties - Drumconrath v Slane, Boardsmill v Clonard. 

The second strings of Simonstown, Wolfe Tones, Na Fianna, Dunshaughlin and Navan O'Mahonys should be too strong for the majority of first teams in 4B. 

Cortown probably are the pick of the first teams and could go close to promotion, but with a healthy youth policy and plenty of reserve options some of the senior sides will likely fill the top two spots - possibly Na Fianna and Simonstown.

PREDICTION

Promotion - Na Fianna, Simonstown.