Local soccer season set for August kick-off

The 2011/2012 Meath & District League season will kick-off on Tuesday 9th August with a series of games in both the Kilmessan Shield and O'Neill Shield competitions that will lead into the opening round of the top three leagues on Sunday 21st August. Dundalk side Bellurgan Utd have returned to the top grade after a number of seasons in the AUL Premier while founder members of the MDL, Kilmessan, have affiliated again and have been graded in Div 4. There are only two Meath teams, Trim Celtic and Duleek, in the Premier with eight from Louth and two from Monaghan. Donacarney, Dunboyne, Grove Rangers, Navan Rovers and Boyne Rovers did not affiliate again. Kells/Blackwater had to make a special application after investigations last season showed up some registration irregularities. Kells/Blackwater have been graded in Div 2 this season and could face local rivals Kells Celtic in the opening league game of the season. Dundalk side Glenmuir were relegated from the Premier last season and did not properly confirm their affiliation by closing date, they have received a provisional grading in Div 2. Premier teams will be grouped with Div 1 and Div 2 sides in regionalised groups of three for the Kilmessan Shield with the winner of each group qualifying for the knock-out stages. Teams in Div 3 and Div 4 will contest the Fiacre O'Neill shield in groups of five or six and that will delay the start of those leagues until Sunday 11th September. The reserve leagues will kick-off on Saturday 27th August. Div 3 will be regionalised with the highest placed team in Section A and Section B liable for promotion. Those two teams will also play-off at a neutral venue for Div 3 title. The runner-up in each Div 3 section will play-off for the right to play the third lowest placed Div 2 team in a promotion/ relegation play-off. Arising out of discussions at the annual general meeting, it is now proposed, subject to sufficient entries, to revert to the standard Div 3 for 2012/2013 with the possibility of creating Div 3A or Div 4A. Consequently, teams finishing lower than fifth in each of the present sections this seasons will not be guaranteed a place in Div 3 for the following season. Goal difference will apply to separate teams. However, to determine final positions in other divisions, in the event of two teams level at the top or bottom, a play-off shall be necessary, a team shall win the title or be relegated on goal difference. All other placings shall be determined by goal difference in the event of teams level on points. PREMIER Albion Rovers, Bellurgan Utd, Carrick Rovers, Clones Town, Dromin Utd, Duleek, Marsh Celtic, Quay Celtic, Rock Celtic, Square Utd, Trim Celtic, Woodview Celtic. Bottom two liable for relegation, third from bottom shall play-off with third highest placed team in Div 1. DIVISION 1 Ardee Celtic, Cavan Town, Drogheda Crescent, Kentstown Rovers, Knightsbrook, Longwood, Muirhevnamor, Navan Cosmos, Navan Town, OMP Utd, Slane Wanderers, Torro Utd. Two highest placed teams liable for promotion, third highest placed team shall play third last in Premier, third from bottom shall play third highest placed team in Div 2. DIVISION 2 Abbey Celtic, Athboy Celtic, Black Bull, Boyne Harps, Chord Celtic, Glaslough Villa, Glenmuir, Johnstown, Kells Celtic, Kells/Blackwater, Newtown Utd, Robinstown, Skryne/Tara Two highest placed teams liable for promotion, third highest placed team shall play with third last in Div 1, third from bottom shall play Div 3 qualifier. DIVISION 3A Boca Rovers, Bohermeen Celtic, Donore Rovers, Enfield Celtic, M 4/Enfield Utd, Park Celtic Summerhill, Rossin Rovers, The Well, Trim Town. DIVISION 3B Bailieboro Celtic, BJD Celtic, BMC Utd, Castle Villa, Electro Celtic, Fordrew Rovers, Kingscourt Harps, Oldcastle Utd, Virginia Celtic. The highest placed team in Div 3A and Div 3B liable for promotion and play-off for title, second team in each section play-off for the right to play third from bottom in Div 2. Teams finishing lower than fifth in each section are liable to be regraded to a new division for 2012 / 2013. DIVISION 4 Bailie Youths, Balrath, Boyne Athletic, Boyne Valley, Carlingford Utd, Dynamo Drogheda, Glen Abbey, Kilmessan, Laurence's Inn, Lourdes Celtic. Top two teams liable for promotion to Div 3. PREMIER RESERVE Ardee Celtic, Bellurgan Utd, Carrick Rovers, Drogheda Town, Duleek, Marsh Celtic, Navan Cosmos, Parkvilla, Rock Celtic, Trim Celtic, Woodview Celtic. PREMIER A RESERVE Albion Rovers, Cavan Town, Dromin Utd, Kentstown Rovers, Bohermeen, Kingscourt, Longwood, Navan Town, OMP Utd, Quay Celtic, Robinstown, Square Utd. PREMIER B RESERVE Abbey Celtic, Athboy Celtic, Boca Rovers, Bohermeen Celtic, Chord Celtic, Electro Celtic, Johnstown, Newtown Utd, Rossin Rovers, Slane Wanderers, Torro Utd PREMIER C RESERVE Bailieboro Celtic, Black Bull, BMC Utd, Carrick Rovers 3rds, Drogheda Crescent, Kingscourt 3rds, Skryne/Tara, Trim Town. PREMIER D RESERVE Ardee Cel 3rds, Bailie Youths, BJD Celtic, Boyne Valley, Enfield Celtic, Fordrew Rovers, Kilmessan, Knightsbrook, M4/Enfield Utd, OMP Utd 3rds, Virginia Celtic. KILMESSAN SHIELD Group A - Muirhevnamor, Chord Celtic, Carrick Rovers; B - Drogheda Crescent, Abbey Celtic. Square Utd; C - Longwood, Athboy Celtic, Duleek; D - Slane Wanderers, Black Bull, Quay Celtic; E - Ardee Celtic, Newtown Utd, Woodview Celtic; F - OMP Utd, Kells/Blackwater, Rock Celtic; G - Kentstown Rovers, Boyne Harps, Marsh Celtic; H - Knightsbrook, Kells Celtic, Bellurgan Utd; J - Navan Town, Robinstown, Trim Celtic; K - Navan Cosmos, Skryne/Tara, Albion Rovers; L - Torro Utd, Johnstown, Dromin Utd; M - Cavan Town (A), Clones Town (C) O'NEILL SHIELD Group A - Boca Rovers, M4/Enfield, Virginia, BJD Celtic, Boyne Athletic, Bailie Youths (provisional); B - Donore Rovers, The Well, Electro Celtic, Bailieboro, Glen Abbey, Balrath (provisional); C - Enfield Celtic, Park Celtic Summerhill, Oldcastle, Castle Villa, Boyne Valley, Laurence's inn; D - Rossin Rovers, Trim Town, Kingscourt Harps, Dynamo Drogheda, Carlingford, Lourdes Celtic; E - Fordrew Rovers, Bohermeen Celtic, Kilmessan, Rathkenny Rovers, BMC Utd. Where teams are idle within Shield groups between 14th August and 4th September league fixtures may be scheduled.