Championship draws deliver mouth-watering ties
The draws for the Meath Football and Hurling Championships took place at Dunganny this evening and as usual they threw up some very interesting pairings across all the various grades.
Defending Keegan Cup champions Wolfe Tones will take on Skryne in the opening game of Group A, while last year's beaten finalists Dunboyne will have it all to do to get out of a tricky group which includes Ballinabrackey, Na Fianna and the team they must face in round one, Summerhill.
As always there is one particularly tough group and this year Group C will see four genuine contenders in Gaeil Colmcille, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Ratoath and Simonstown go head-to-head for the two qualification spots, while two of the team will go into the relegation play-offs.
There is also an intriguing pairing up first in Group B with Kevin Reilly's newly promoted Trim side set to take on his home club of Navan O'Mahonys who are managed by Trim legend Darren Fay.
In the Hurling Championship draws there was small bit of history repeated as for the second year in a row the previous year's SHC finalists have been paired together in round one.
Defending champions Kildalkey will have to hit the ground running when they take on Kiltale in the opening game, while 2020 champions Trim will face Na Fianna in their opening game.
The SFC is scheduled to start on the first weekend of August with the IFC, JFC and Junior 2 FC due to get underway on the weekend of 10th July.
The Premier FC Div 1 and 2 are fixed to start on the weekend of 24th July, while all the hurling champions are pencilled in to start on the weekend of 2nd July.
All the championship formats and rules and regulations are available here.
FOOTBALL
SFC
GROUP A
Seneschalstown v St Colmcille's; Wolfe Tones v Skryne.
GROUP B
Trim v Navan O'Mahonys; Moynalvey v Curraha.
GROUP C
Gaeil Colmcille v Don/Ashbourne; Ratoath v Simonstown.
GROUP D
Ballinabrackey v Na Fianna; Dunboyne v Summerhill.
IFC
GROUP A
Oldcastle v Walterstown; St Michael's v St Vincent's.
GROUP B
Nobber v Dunderry; Drumbaragh v Longwood.
GROUP C
Kilmainham v Bective; St Patrick's v Blackhall Gaels; Dunshaughlin bye
GROUP D
Rathkenny v Ballivor; Clann na nGael v Duleek/Bellewstown; Meath Hill.
JFC
GROUP A
St Ultan's v Ballinlough; Moynalty v Syddan; Dunsany bye
GROUP B
Castletown v Carnaross; Boardsmill v Moylagh; Kilbride bye
JUNIOR B FC
St Mary's v St Brigid's; Cortown v Drumconrath; Kilmainhamwood v Slane; Clonard bye.
PREMIER FC
DIV 1
GROUP A
Dunboyne v Wolfe Tones; Trim v Ratoath
GROUP B
Dunshaughlin v Don/Ash; Gaeil Colmcille v Skryne
PREMIER FC DIV 2
St Colmcille's v Navan O'Mahonys; Summerhill v Simonstown; Seneschalstown
HURLING
SHC
GROUP A
Na Fianna v Trim; Kildalkey v Kiltale; Dunboyne v Ratoath.
GROUP B
Longwood v Boardsmill; Killyon v Kilmessan; Blackhall Gaels v Clann na nGael.
IHC
GROUP A
Dunderry v Rathmolyon; Navan O'Mahonys v Kildalkey; Drumree v Wolfe Tones.
GROUP B
Don/Ash v Trim; Ratoath v Kilskyre/Moylagh; Gaeil Colmcille v Kilmessan.
JHC
Drumree v Dunboyne; Navan O'Mahonys v Na Fianna; Killyon v Kiltale.
JUNIOR 2 HC
GROUP A
Clann na nGael v Boardsmill; Dunboyne v St Patrick's; Dunderry v Kiltale.
GROUP B
Kilskyre/Moylagh v Kildalkey; Drumree v Rathmolyon; Ratoath v Wolfe Tones; Trim bye.