redracoon (Meath) - Posts: 56 - 02/10/2023 21:57:08    2506705

Senior club championship final predictions:
Relegation
Skyrne vs moynalvey:
Both teams preparing for a massive match for the future of both clubs, would be a nightmare for moynalvey to go down with the lack of underage success in the last few years and with so few minors coming up and progressing onto the senior team but with a full team with the lads from Australia home for the 2024 season they would be fancied for the intermediate. However it would be worse for the men from the hill of Tara, with their rich history of being a senior club for so long. You can see how much skyrne are putting into this game with getting mick O'Dowd in as caretaker manager and paddy orourke home from Australia to hopefully get over the line. Moynalvey had lads last week focusing on the hurling with Kiltale and don't think there will be much motivation in the camp after taking a beating from dunboyne the last day in football and kildalkey in the hurling. This game is as big as a county final and while skyrne have had 2 good weeks under mick O'Dowd it might me too little too late as I think this will be a dog fight and when it became a battle in the second half against naf, skryne seemed to lie down and accept their fate by showing no fight. However I don't think they'll lie down here as they'll know the consequences but I do believe moynalvey are a better team and will progress here after extra time by the minimum with Cillian o Sullivan showing up massively kicking the men from the mast to victory.

Senior final
Summerhill vs Ratoath
A massive game that will be televised on TG4 but would recommend people to get to pairc tailteann for a good club game on Sunday. Both teams know each other better than they know themselves with how many times they've met over the last 5 year period. Ratoath have the know how and the experience of winning championships and big games that are in the melting pot compared to Summerhill who don't have an experience of winning them and this is why ratoath are the favourites for the game, but I do believe and have thought all year that this will be Summerhills year and the teams coming of age, getting over the line after the heartbreak of loosing 4 finals in 6 years and beat ratoath. I think they've been saving a big performance for the final winning games convincingly but not performing all that well while ratoath are lucky to be in the championship final winning the quarter and semi finals by a point each. The game against Dunsh they stunned them with a last minute fortunate goal only registering a point in the first half and against tones they didn't score in the second half and we're lucky tones couldn't kick scores themselves in the last 20 minutes with a few questionable refereeing decisions on top of that. Ratoath however have brilliant forwards that would win a game by themselves and still have two of Meaths best club forwards on the bench with cian rogers and Joey Wallace, but I do believe Summerhill will marshall their forwards well as they've only conceded 2 goals in this years and last year's championship together, both against trim one was a penalty and the other a smart finish from lynch. The problem for the shill men will be can they get enough scores, as I've said I go believe the backs will be fine, they'll need big games from both Frayne's and dardis with two of them being marked by Ben wyer and McGill who are two of the best full backs in Meath or Leinster. Ratoath are favourites and rightly so with county standard players in all positions but think Summerhill will show up with a plan and get over the line by a point in the end.

Meathboyos86 (Meath) - Posts: 19 - 03/10/2023 10:08:32    2506743

Any one else have a prediction on both finals ?

Meathboyos86 (Meath) - Posts: 19 - 04/10/2023 13:55:55    2506937

It will be like my house , Nothing in it. Low scoring affair with both teams expected to drop everyone behind the ball when not in position, whoever is more patient in possession will win it but I expect the winning score line to be no more than 10 points scored by the winners, a goal for either team early in the game might turn it into a better game but cant see it.

The Hill 10 points Ratoath 8 points

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1049 - 04/10/2023 19:44:51    2506977

Not feeling confident about Sunday at all. In other years, we were coming off the back of strong semi final and quarter final performances. But we've scraped our way through both the quarter final and semi final and probably shouldn't have gotten this far. We're still favourites simply because we're reigning champions and have managed to get the better of Summerhill each year since 2019, but I think Summerhill will have enough quality, drive and experience to get over the line this time around. The weather at least looks like it's going to be decent enough.

Think Rathkenny have been building and can come out on top on Saturday.

In the junior final, I'd love to see Kilbride win it. Would be some session in Sweeneys afterwards.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 04/10/2023 22:17:07    2506991

Senior Final: I think Summerhill have been more impressive to this point and will ultimately play similar football to Tones against Ratoath but just slightly better which will be a worry for Ratoath given how much they struggled to breach Tones defensive game. I can see this being a game where possession is 9/10 of the law, with both teams probing to find holes in the other teams rearguard with slow patient build up. Probably not the best spectacle as others have mentioned unfortunately. However, both teams do have forwards who can cause problems as well as dangerous runners from deep so I hope I am wrong in that! From watching the senior championship this year it's clear that senior teams are focusing massively on protecting the ball and being very rigid defensively and so when it comes to top teams playing each other they are extra vigilant in this approach and even their most talented players are focused on just not making mistakes. I'm going to say Ratoath win the game by a point but would like to see Summerhill win for the sake of having a new winner. Ratoath are very adept at just getting over the line in these big games.

Intermediate: A potentially much better spectacle. Intermediate championship tends to allow for more open football and these two teams have both adopted positive approaches and put up big scores. D/B don't really have a star man as such but have threats from everywhere whereas there are obvious big names on the Rathkenny side including DK, with Keith Curtis playing to an incredibly high level and the man that D/B will focus most of their attention on defensively. The O'Hare's and others marshal a solid defense too and my gut tells me that Rathkenny have been building over the last few years for this and that they will get over the line by 3. I wouldn't be surprised if I was completely wrong on this especially if D/B hit a purple patch like in the final quarter against Pats and this is a game I'm really looking forward to.

TigerKing (Meath) - Posts: 33 - 05/10/2023 00:06:58    2506996

Senior Final:

Summerhill looks favs by default, Ratoath have looked so up and down, have come back from the dead a few times. I'd expect Summerhill should have the tools to finally nail the coffin shut. But I'd expect a very tight low scoring game. Zero risks taken, and probably not a great spectacle. Wouldn't be surprised either way but gonna edge towards Summerhill by the minimum. Summerhill 0-9 - 0-8 Ratoath

Intermediate Final:

Probably the two best teams at this grade when they play up to their level so no real surprise to see them meet in the final. I think Duleek are just too hot and cold, they were so tame against Meath Hill and could have lost it, but were brilliant in their win over Pat's. Rathkenny have probably faced stiffer competition en-route and they will have too much for Duleek. Rathkenny 1-14 - 1-09 Duleek/Bellewstown

Senior Relagation:

Going to be a big blow to whoever goes down, Skyrne know nothing but senior football and the drop would undo a lot of the good work of Moynalvey over the last few years. I think Moynalvey will survive the drop, they own a victory over Skyrne in the groups and might just scrape through here: Moynalvey 2-11 - 1-11 Skyrne

Intermediate Relegation:

Definitely the two worst teams at the grade go head to head here, and it's impossible to call to be honest. Neither Dunderry or Longwood have shown anything this year. Dunderry were always my pick to go down, they've been so dismal. But wouldn't be surprised either way. Longwood 2-13 - 2-11 Dunderry

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 05/10/2023 12:19:38    2507035

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 482 - 05/10/2023 13:43:13    2507057

I know this is an out of touch message with the state of play in modern day football, but jaysis would I love if both teams cut loose and played an open game of football.
The talent in both forward lines would have done some damage for Meath back in the 90s. Instead they are starved of early possession and surrounded by blanket defences.
Alas winning is more important than the spectacle and we will see a tight low scoring affair - which itself is a testament to both teams defences.

Up4deMatch (Meath) - Posts: 20 - 05/10/2023 17:28:30    2507089

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 482 - 06/10/2023 12:36:38    2507143

Form vs recent history take your pick. I'll go for Summerhill by 5.

Rathkenny by 4, Crosby vs Keoghan could be a ding dong battle.

Clann na Gael by 6. CnaG are a better all round team.

UsernameInvalid (Meath) - Posts: 355 - 06/10/2023 13:09:41    2507148

Senior
I Think Summerhill have a bit of Form going into this game , Ratoath seem to be struggling to get going at the min but saying that it will still be tit for tat and I can see a referee decision making the difference
Hill to win 13 to 11 - Eoghan Frayne MOTM

Inter
I think Rathkennys to lose , they are a solid outfit and are coming to the boil at just the right time . . D/B will provide stiff opposition but the old dogs for the hard road for Rathkenny should prove the difference

Junior
2 Evenly matched teams
I think Kilbrides inexperience in Finals could count against them and if things start getting away they could be like a rabbit in the head lights , CnG to do the double over them this year but cant see Kilbride staying in Junior for much longer

summerhillof69 (Meath) - Posts: 226 - 06/10/2023 15:22:49    2507183

Well done to Slane and Kilbride earlier, two very comprehensive victories. Kilbride were sensational, they will be very hard to stop in the Leinster Club Championship and who know what after that. Great day for parish who have suffered for so long, great to see some silverware finally coming back.

hyperache (Meath) - Posts: 209 - 07/10/2023 15:55:52    2507260

Kilbride extremely impressive and won't look a bit out of place in Intermediate and will definitely win it in the next 3/4 years I think. What a game of football in the Intermediate Final by far the best game i've seen all year pure football from start to finish and delighted for Rathkenny to win it, Duleek will be sick and there's only so many chances you get. You won't see anything like the style of football played in the Intermediate final tomorrow or ever for that matter in senior championship

redracoon (Meath) - Posts: 56 - 07/10/2023 18:04:22    2507268

Huge congratulations to Kilbride. Their efforts at underage over the last 10-15 years have reaped the rewards. And their team is still quite young and you feel that playing at Intermediate level will only benefit them.

Sounded like an absolute belter of an Intermediate final. Commiserations to Duleek who must be sickened, particularly missing the penalty in extra time.

Well done to Slane as well. They've plugged away at junior B for years and have finally gotten the reward.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 07/10/2023 21:38:34    2507299

It really does begger belief that in yesterday Páirc Tailteann they were trying to stop supporters coming onto the pitch after the Intermediate Final. Again, they have no problem letting people on the pitch at half time in games because that is great PR, but God forbid families get to celebrate with players on the pitch after. I understand not letting anyone on after the Junior Final as the Intermediate one was starting straight after, but come on.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 937 - 08/10/2023 09:25:16    2507317

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 1049 - 08/10/2023 13:59:12    2507333

Congrats to Summerhill on a deserved win in SFC! Despite all the talk it was a cracking game - Summerhill seemed to have a slight edge in the scoring stakes throughout and reeled Ratoath in after their fast start!
Thoroughly enjoyable game and good luck to Summerhill in Leinster!

Royalblufill (Meath) - Posts: 482 - 08/10/2023 17:05:26    2507356

Congratulations Summerhill, no complaints from a Ratoath point of view, the Hill just had more in extra time of what I thought was a cracking good game, wish Summethill all the best now in Leinster

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 08/10/2023 17:14:59    2507358

Gutted to lose what was a cracking game but sincere congratulations to Summerhill who fully deserved the win. Indeed, with their sheer dominance on our kickouts, they probably should have won it in normal time. Once Joey went off, you felt we were never going to win it in extra time.
We made too many silly errors in open play when we could have pressed home our advantage in the second half and just let Summerhill back into it (like Joey dropping a kickable mark short and Dáithí hopping the ball twice on a promising attack). Not to mention our dreadful kickout strategy.

You could see how much it meant to the players and fans at the final whistle and it's a testament to Summerhill that they have been through so many disappointments yet keep on coming back. Hoping they can make an impact in Leinster.

Onto the hurling final. It's not too long ago that we were struggling at junior level in both codes so it could always be worse.

Ratoath Royal (Meath) - Posts: 1362 - 08/10/2023 17:57:22    2507372