Your right sergeantslaughter. There will be tougher tests ahead in the knockout stages and we will see their mettle then. The JAFC must be the most competitive competition in Meath

mclovin96 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 21/04/2015 21:28:46    1716213

just to be clear im not doubting bective's abilities but just they would have been expected to beat these sides. clonard in trouble of being pulled in to the relegation dogfight already

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 22/04/2015 09:38:02    1716264

st.Peters Dunboyne v Drumconrath Drumconrath
OMahonys v St.Brigids NOM
Curraha v Kilmainhamwood Draw
Simonstown v Dunshaughlin Simonstown

Footballonly (Meath) - Posts: 128 - 24/04/2015 13:28:10    1717111

st.Peters Dunboyne v Drumconrath Draw
OMahonys v St.Brigids NOM - St.Brigids unlucky to have to play Shill and NOM in first two rounds when they are strongest; will cost them a knock out place
Curraha v Kilmainhamwood Curraha comfortably by 7
Simonstown v Dunshaughlin Simonstown

Belt (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 24/04/2015 13:41:06    1717116

Dunboyne v Drumconrath- Will go for a tight drumconrath win but dunboyne will be a tough proposition for the north meath men. I predict a nailbiter.

OMahonys v St.Brigids- Navan to win at a canter, brigids will be lacking in confidence and with no first team game this weekend, nom should have all the stars available. O'mahonys by 9 or 10.

Curraha v Kilmainhamwood - Can see curraha recovering from their early blip against bective and coming out on top in what promises to be a ding-dong battle. The return of mcentee could galvanise them also. Curraha by 4.

Dunshaughlin v Simonstown- Will stick my neck on the line here and say dunshaughlin. The 'shaughs' were unlucky last time out against a good dunboyne side and can go one better here.

Best of luck to mentors and players alike!

mclovin96 (Meath) - Posts: 40 - 24/04/2015 13:58:16    1717125

St.Peters Dunboyne v Drumconrath:Tie of the round in Junior this weekend. Drumconrath's new defensive system has reaped rewards this year in all competitions. They're a very well organised group of average footballers getting the best out of what they have. Dunboyne's second team will provide stern opposition considering they've come so close to promotion in the last 2 years. In Ger Robinson, they have in their possession, a deadly forward capable of troubling any defence(even the 14 of Drumconrath!!) Dunboyne by 2
OMahonys v St.Brigids Navan O Mahoney's second team would be well able to compete at senior level with players like Quirke, Ward, Keating, Mac Gabhann, Finnegan, Reilly, Smyth....the list goes on. As the year progresses some of these players will be involved with the first team but for the moment, I fear for St. Brigids. O Mahonys by 7
Curraha v Kilmainhamwood If Mc Entee is back fit, Curraha should have enough for The Wood. They were beaten by a decent Bective outfit missing their 2 key players. Kwood have improved on previous seasons but I fancy Curraha by 3.
Simonstown v Dunshaughlin Two second teams battling it out this weekend. Dunshaughlin's first team are going well this year which usually coincides with a boost for the club's other teams. Simonstown got an impressive result against Carnaross in the first round and reached the semi final last year. Simonstown by 1

johnnytitelips (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 24/04/2015 15:15:15    1717156

Dunboyne v Drumconrath - Dunboyne
NOM V St.Brigids - NOM
Curraha - Kilmainhamwood - Curraha determination to get them through this game and win
Dunshaughlin v Simonstown - Dunshaughlin

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 24/04/2015 18:33:08    1717238

St.Peters Dunboyne v Drumconrath....
Dunboyne narrowly lost in Final last year and are favourites for outright victory this year They got off to a good start last week, Drumconrath will be tricky and all up for it. Drumconrath might win this battle but Dunboyne could win the War and go Intermediate in 2016

OMahonys v St.Brigids
Brigids have a nice team but lost last week, Senior 2nd teams are the bane of the the Junior Clubs, OMahonys are strong and have not used many subs at Senior Level, Brigids could go down here.
Curraha v Kilmainhamwood... Kwood did well v Tones but Curraha are a different kettle of fish, bad result the last day, I expect Curraha to pick up the points here
Simonstown v Dunshaughlin; Simonstown to get back on track

glenny (Meath) - Posts: 1108 - 25/04/2015 11:14:47    1717308

4 out of 5 for me

glenny (Meath) - Posts: 1108 - 27/04/2015 21:57:28    1718259

Anyone know what the craic is with Group B and why only two teams have played twice? Doesn't seem to make sense fixing the other teams for A league this weekend & Tailteann the following when they could be squaring up the outstanding fixtures

The_Ripper (Meath) - Posts: 180 - 29/04/2015 10:24:30    1718808

Carnaross vs Drumconrath: In what will be a hard hitting and bruising encounter, whoever emerges victorious from this war of attrition will have well and truly deserved it. If Carnaross can stop the Drums scoring goals, they should have enough. Carnaross by 2
Bective vs Moylagh:Bective to continue on their winning ways but tougher tests lie ahead for them. Bective by 4
Simonstown vs Dunboyne: Dunboyne has lost less key players to their first team in comparison to their opponents. Dunboyne to end Simonstown's unbeaten streak and top this tough group. Dunboyne by 3
Summerhill vs Meath Hill: Meath Hill should have enough for Summerhill's second team who will continue to weaken the longer the season goes on.Meath Hill by 5
Clonard vs Dunshaughlin: Clonard to pick up their first points of the season. Clonard by 3
Skryne vs Brigids: Brigids by 6, have too much for Skryne team who are struggling.
Boardsmill vs Kilmainhamwood: This game will be close and I fancy another draw for the Wood.
Curraha vs Wolfe Tones: Curraha will account for Wolfe Tones by 7
Dunsany vs O Mahonys: O Mahonys will win this encounter pulling up. Fancy them by 9

johnnytitelips (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 19/05/2015 20:49:26    1725824

Proposal for new format in Junior Championship:
3 groups
Group A to be made up of Senior second teams: Skryne, Dunboyne, Wolfe Tones, Simonstown, Dunshaughlin, O Mahonys, Summerhill.
The remaining 11 teams to be split up into 2 groups: A 5 team group and a 6 team group.
Not ideal having groups of 7,6 and 5 but that may change depending on relegation/promotion.
3 teams qualify from each group similar to this year.

This format would ensure that senior second teams play against each other in the group stages ensuring that no first team plays against them in the opening rounds of the championship and so aren't at a disadvantage.

Take St. Brigids for e.g. this year...They lost to Summerhill in the 1st Round and O Mahonys in the 2nd.
If however, they played these teams in round 4 and 5 , both second teams would have lost a considerable number of players to their respective first teams. I'm not saying that Brigids could then win these games as a result, but they would have a better chance considering the squads would be weaker having lost key players.

Not only do these second teams lose a player or two a round but usually their most influential player like for e.g. Corrigan for Wolfe Tones was played in Round 2 by the seniors when he played Round 1 of Junior.
Therefore it makes sense to group together the second teams to ensure that no teams are at a disadvantage when it comes to playing a second team in the 1st round or the last round.

I do realise that this gives preferential treatment to first teams which is unfair on second teams as they deserve to be there as much as anyone else.
However a team like Simonstown will qualify from their group if they win one of their remaining 3 games and would face into their quarter final minus around 5/6 of their best players from their first round. Would it not be better to group like with like to ensure equality? In 2 rounds they've lost Ian O Rourke their centre back and Mc Carthy their corner forward and free taker. Add in 3 more rounds and they're sure to lose 3/4 more key players.
By the by I firmly believe either O Mahonys or Dunboyne both SECOND TEAMS will win it out this year ...because even if they lose 5/6 players, their squads are still incredible. I'm not for one second, saying that second teams are in any way inferior or that they should have a separate championship, I just think we should consider placing them in the same group to ensure equality.
Discuss...

johnnytitelips (Meath) - Posts: 62 - 19/05/2015 21:10:37    1725836

Carnaross vs Drumconrath: An attractive tie on paper as winner is likely to qualify and loser miss out but don't think it will be too pretty too watch. The McGees have enough quality to kick just enough points in front of the Drum's blanket defence just like Ger Robinson did for Dunboyne in the last round. Carnaross by 2

Bective vs Moylagh: Bective to win comfortably by 7 or 8. Moylagh's win against Tones the last day flattered them as Tones were missing Corrigan and Ciaran McLoughlin from first round

Simonstown vs Dunboyne: Ger Robinson is looking a class above the Junior grade; another 4 or 5 points from him will give Dunboyne a hard earned win. Dunboyne by 3

Summerhill vs Meath Hill: Meath Hill to pick up first points but it will be close - Meath Hill by 3. Can anyone tell me where Turley is lining out for them this year?

Clonard vs Dunshaughlin: Clonard to pick up a badly needed victory after two narrow losses. Dunshaughlin will be fighting relegation this year.

Skryne vs Brigids: Brigids by 6. Skryne will be in the relegation play-off too after losing to Dunsany in first round

Boardsmill vs Kilmainhamwood: Similar to Carnaross v Drumconrath, winner of this will qualify for the knock-outs; however, think this will be toe to toe and far more open. Could be the closest game of the weekend - I'll go with Kilmainhamwood by 1. The boys with Senior football experience will do enough to close it out.

Curraha vs Wolfe Tones: Losing to Moylagh in last round wouldn't inspire confidence for the Tones, Curraha will be too strong especially with McEntee and Shorthall back and win by 7. Wolfe Tones to contest relegation play-off making it 3 second teams to battle it out to go down - was 3 first teams in 2014.

Dunsany vs O Mahonys: O Mahony's Galacticos to win by 9

Belt (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 22/05/2015 10:56:00    1726942

Carnaross vs Drumconrath: Close one here. Recent league game saw Carnaross win but the wider pitch in Kilmainhamwood will suit the Drums and they could shade it - DRUMCONRATH

Bective vs Moylagh: Bective looking strong this year but the question is can they keep it going. They should win easily here. - BECTIVE

Simonstown Gaels vs Dunboyne: The Navan club have started well but last years runners up might just nick home - DUNBOYNE

Summerhill vs Meath Hill: Meath Hill are contenders and will get back on track here - MEATH HILL

Clonard vs Dunshaughlin: Clonard had high hopes for this year but Carnaross and the Drums put them down a peg. They should beat Dunshaughlin though. - CLONARD

Skryne vs St. Brigid's: Skryne lost to a poor Dunsany outfit. St. Brigid's will get off the foot of the table with a win here. - ST. BRIGID'S

Boardsmill vs Kilmainhamwood: Both need a win here and I fancy the north Meath lads to nick it - KILMAINHAMWOOD.

Curraha vs Wolfe Tones: Curraha if they have a full team should win well - CURRAHA.

Dunsany vs O'Mahonys: Navan by a landslide - NAVAN O'MAHONYS.

nmsmithy96 (Meath) - Posts: 108 - 22/05/2015 14:04:44    1727071

Summerhill And Meath hill play on Sunday @ 2 in dunsany should be a good one - Summerhill

meathman97 (Meath) - Posts: 14 - 23/05/2015 12:13:00    1727335

What about the three Navan Clubs leading their groups

meath.herald.1 (Meath) - Posts: 10 - 24/05/2015 21:50:28    1727905

St Brigids are on top of div3 in the lge, yet they are now out of the championship, obviously they were unlucky to play summerhill in the first round and o'mahonys in round 2 ,,who will be there abouts for this years championship, but losing yesterday to skryne after they have played 3 rounds of senior is hard to understand,, have they lost players or something???

otherlad (Meath) - Posts: 137 - 25/05/2015 08:36:49    1727920

see the galecticos were made work hard for there victory last night dunsany musnt be as bad as everyone thinks leading with 15mins left

srgt_slaughter (Meath) - Posts: 462 - 26/05/2015 09:47:21    1728431

The Junior Championship is a joke, proper junior clubs like the brigids knocked out because they had to play senior second teams in the early rounds. In group A Drumconrath were beaten by 1 point against dunboyne with Ger Robinson scoring everything for Dunboyne, hes now ineligible for the rest of the games. Wolfe Tones took a point off Kilmainhamwood with corrigan mid field. Navan O'Mahoneys team in the first round would easily compete in the senior championship. I think its time for the senior second teams to have there own reserve Championship or maybe have a panel of 23 named that cant play Junior as they are completely distorting the championship.

weekendwarrior (Meath) - Posts: 27 - 26/05/2015 11:21:31    1728482

I've been stating this point about senior teams distorting the Junior Championship on these forums for a few years now. I think people are only bothered about it when it's directly affected their club hence it's never really given much air time. It's definitely become a bigger issue in recent times with the mass emigration tearing the hearts out of the rural clubs.

There was a proposal suggested by a poster recently where all the second teams would be placed in one group together. This makes sense to me as a smaller club with low population such as the K'Woods and Brigids should be facing off against each other in April/May and not against lads who're potentially going to go on and win a Keegan Cup medal in September. Some debate and thought is required but I don't think it'll be good for our game to have 3/4 second teams up in the IFC which we're on course to see looking at the strength of NOM, Dunboyne, Simonstown etc at present.

The_Ripper (Meath) - Posts: 180 - 26/05/2015 12:57:37    1728551