Dunsany hoping to avoid whitewash for the county
Two weeks on from their historic first-ever championship, Dunsany will have to take a brief break from the celebrations as they head back to the site of their crowning glory, Pairc Tailteann, to take on Wicklow champions Aughrim in the Leinster JFC quarter-final on Saturday, writes Tom Gannon.
After winning their first JFC title following eight failed attempts, no one would blame Dunsany if they have not put a massive amount of focus on this clash and instead enjoyed the taste of victory that follows championship glory.
However, after defeats suffered by Dunshaughlin and Meath Hill over the weekend, the powers that be in Meath GAA will be hoping that Kevin Cahill's side will be able to pull something out of the bag to avoid a clean sweep of defeats for Meath sides in their respective opening round Leinster clashes.
Meath champions have always at least won one club game at Leinster level since the formation of the secondary provincial competitions so there is now a sliver of pressure on Dunsany to save the blushes of the Meath GAA club championship.
One man who will carry most of that burden is Dunsany's star forward Eoin Harkin. Across the three Meath championship finals, there was possibly no better individual performance than that of Dunsany's joint captain, Harkin. Bar a first-half goal from Cian O'Sullivan, Harkin provided all of Dunsany's scores in the 1-5 to 0-7 final win over St Vincent's and was also involved in the build-up to O'Sullivan's goal. His influence in that final had a huge impact on the result and if Dunsany are going to have any joy against Aughrim this weekend they will need Harkin to be in top form.
Meath sides do have an incredible record in the Leinster Club JFC. In the 25 editions, Meath teams have won the competition no less than 11 times. That is eight more than the closest county on the roll of honour. Between 2007 and 2011, Meath clubs won five Leinster Club JFC titles in a row.
History may be on the side of Dunsany but Meath club performances in Leinster so far would not inspire great confidence. Hopefully, a whitewash can be avoided and Dunsany can build on what has already been a massive year for the club.