Gaeil Colmcille tipped to make amends

If this year's Meath SFC is half as thrilling as last year's Covid-hit version then we are in for another classic as Ratoath bid to become the first side since Dunshaughlin in 2002 to complete a hat-trick of Keegan Cups.

Because of the truncated nature of last year's championship only the top team in each group qualified for the semi-finals, so there was little or no room for error.

This year two teams from each of the four groups of four will advance to the quarter-finals and while that doesn't place as much emphasis on the opening round of games there is still very little margin for mistakes.

Ratoath and Gaeil Colmcille adapted brilliantly to the tighter championship last year and were the two best teams, and it is expected they will both be amongst the leading contenders once again this year.

However, with eight teams to advance to the quarter-finals the opportunity is there for several more serious contenders to throw their hat in the ring and Simonstown, Dunboyne and Wolfe Tones will all hold high hopes this year.

Last year Wolfe Tones lost out on a semi-final spot by virtue of a narrow two-point loss to Summerhill. Simonstown were in the group of death with Ratoath and Skryne and finished second, while Dunboyne's four-point defeat by Gaeil Colmcille knocked them out at the group stages.

Those three teams in particular would have relished an opportunity in the knockout stages last year and there is no way of knowing that if there had been quarter-finals would they have been major players in the bigger picture?

As ever there is always one group labelled the 'Group of Death' and that unwanted scenario falls on the teams in Group C where one of the serious contenders will definitely not make it to the quarter-finals.

Gaeil Colmcille, Simonstown and Wolfe Tones would all hold realistic ambitions of lifting the Keegan Cup this year, while the fourth side in the group, Moynalvey, should not be disregarded either given their quality.

Given the intensity likely in the games in Group C from the off, there will be little room for mistakes.

Gaeil Colmcille have already easily brushed aside Moynalvey in round three of this year's Feis Cup and will be favourites to do so again despite the return of Padraic Harnan, Cillian O'Sullivan and Mark O'Sullivan for John Donoghue's side.

Gaeil Colmcille comfortably saw off Wolfe Tones in the 2020 Feis Cup final just last week, so on form they are likely to claim one of the qualification spots with Simonstown also tipped to advance after an impressive showing in the 2021 Feis Cup that saw them make it to the final with a semi-final win over Dunboyne.

Ratoath should find qualification from Group A straightforward, but who will join them is the big question with ever-improving Dunshaughlin likely to push Donaghmore/Ashbourne close.

Navan O'Mahonys are still very much in transition, so it is hard to see them making an impact, but they could play a key role in stopping one of the other sides from advancing.

Na Fianna scraped into the last four last year and gave an excellent account of themselves before losing out to Gaeil Colmcille in the semi-final, so they will be tipped to make it out of their group again.

With Curraha in disarray at the moment Group B offers a great opportunity for Ballinabrackey or St Colmcille's to secure a quarter-final spot and off the back of some decent displays in their return to the Feis Cup.

Intermediate champions Ballinabrackey might pick up the win or two necessary to get them through.

Group D is another tough one to call. Dunboyne should have enough to make it to the latter stages, but behind them Summerhill, Skryne and Seneschalstown all have genuine shouts.

Based on experience alone, Summerhill get the nod, but a youthful Seneschalstown will be knocking on the door and keen to make an impression.

When it gets down to the knockout stages, anything can happen on any given day and this year's championship is impossible to call with any degree of confidence.

Has the boat sailed for Gaeil Colmcille? Is the hunger still there for Ratoath? Can Dunboyne find a level of consistency? Are Simonstown strong enough to contest again? Have Summerhill gone to the well too often?

There are so many questions and so many potential answers.

In terms of having knocked on the door so often Gaeil Colmcille get the nod to put the disappointment of last year behind them and get their hands of the Keegan cup for the first time since 1991.