Dunshaughlin return to the Meath soccer scene

Clubs from Dunshaughlin and Dunboyne will feature in the 2010 / 2011 Meath & District League (MDL) for the first time in almost two decades when the new season starts next month. Dunboyne have entered a reserve team which was graded in the Premier B Reserve League while Dunshaughlin Youths will field an adult team in Div 3A. Dunboyne first affiliated to the MDL in 1985 where they finished second in the Div 2 behind Ratoath Harps. They took the runner-up position in Div 1 (now Premier League) for the following two seasons behind OMP Utd and Oldcastle Utd and were managed by Jake Robinson. During their time in the MDL they enjoyed some success with wins in the Fitzsimons Cup (1990) and Gerry Reilly Memorial Cup (1994). Various teams from Dunshaughlin have competed in the MDL with Dunshaughlin Dynamoes and Archers the early pacemakers followed by Dunshaughlin Rebels and Dunshaughlin Utd, but they all disbanded eventually although a team from Dunshaughlin competed in the Leinster Senior League in recent seasons. Dunshaughlin Youths have established solid foundations and have built up their base through the under-age ranks in the North Dublin Schoolboys' League, so they should be well equipped to make a long-term impact in the MDL. New teams have also affiliated from Louth in the form of Quay Celtic (Premier) and Muirhevnamor (Div 1). The next target for the MDL may be to apply for intermediate status as the teams in the current Premier League would satisfy the criteria in terms of standards on and off the pitches. Such an application might generate some objections from the Leinster Senior League, which is predominantly populated by Dublin-based teams. However, numbers continue to grow in the MDL and with the new soccer season only weeks away, 110 teams will be gearing up for the big kick-off. The opening series of games are scheduled for midweek from 10th - 12th August in the Shield competitions. Teams in the Premier League, Div 1 and Div 2 will contest the Kilmessan Shield from which the highest placed team will qualify from each group. The first full series of league fixtures for the top three divisions will be scheduled for Sunday 22nd August while Div 3A, Div 3B and Div 4 will not begin until Sunday 19th September following completion of the qualifying phase of the Fiacre O'Neill Memorial Shield. Two teams to qualify from each group. The Reserve League competitions will kick-off on Saturday 21st August. Clubs from last season that did not apply for this season include St Laurence's Gate (Div2), Inny Wanderers (Div 3), Mosney (Div 3). Bellurgan's first team play in the AUL and this season their second team will play in the Reserve League.