By John O'Brien

Eighteen Meath Intermediate club teams began their pre-season training back in January all with aspirations of lifting the Meade Potato Co sponsored Mattie McDonnell Cup at the end of the season, but now only eight remain.

It's knockout football now, the quarter-finals are here and there are no second chances for any of the remaining teams. The preliminary quarter-final between North Meath rivals Castletown and Syddan on Sunday saw Syddan bow out.

We take a look at the eight teams fighting it out for the title of Meath Intermediate Club Champions 2015.

Ratoath
Ratoath are one of only four teams who are unbeaten in the championship to date. They are also the only team with a 100% winning championship record, having topped their group winning five out of their five games. They have a lethal forward line and have racked up some impressive score line's in their games to date. 6-11 against Trim, 3-10 against Castletown and 2-18 against Dunderry shows what they are capable of when they are on form.

In the Corn Na Boinne Cup they defeated Cortown and St. Colmcille's, but were ultimately knocked out by Nobber at the semi-final stage. The club had a rather mixed AFL Division 2 campaign, finishing in 8th position after winning six, drawing one and losing five matches.

Fergal Power's charges are the championship favourites, and it's hard to bet against them. With five county seniors (McGill, Power, McMahon and the two Wallace brothers) and a number of Meath Juniors, they are definitely the most talented squad in the grade. They are quite a young team but possess huge amounts of pace. Nobody will like to face them. Will they be playing senior football next year? They will certainly be close.

Competitive Record This Year - Played 20, Won 13, Drawn 1, Lost 6

Last time to win Meath IFC - never

2014 Meath IFC - Semi-Final (Defeated by Ballinabrackey)

Key players - Conor McGill, Brian Power, Eamon Wallace, Brian McMahon.

Eamonn Wallace 

St Colmcille's
The Bettystown/Laytown outfit are one of the form teams in the county this year. They have won 75% of their games in all competitions. The Seasiders also have a final to look forward to after clinching promotion from AFL Division 2. They are also unbeaten in the championship having won four and drawn one of their five games

They defeated Longwood in Round 1 of the Corn Na Boinne Cup, but were knocked out in the quarter-final by Ratoath. The Cilles topped Division 2, having won 10 out of the 13 games and will face senior side Gaeil Colmcille in the final.

It's been almost 30 years since the Cilles won the intermediate championship with Robbie O'Malley and Bernard Flynn the stars back then. Nowadays, they have the likes of county star Graham Reilly, along with former Meath minor star and Ireland rugby international Niall Ronan in their ranks. They have confidence and momentum, along with a talented group of players. Can this be the year the Mattie McDonnell Cup is brought to East Meath?

Competitive Record This Year - Played 20, Won 15, Drawn 2, Lost 3

Last time to win Meath IFC - 1988

2014 Meath IFC - Quarter Final (Defeated by Castletown)

Key players - Graham Reilly, Niall Ronan, Carl Mullen, Ciaran Kelly

Niall Ronan

Ballinabrackey
Ballinabrackey claimed second spot in Group C behind St. Colmcille's after winning three, drawing one and losing one of their five games. The Offaly border side have had a successful league campaign after defeating Meath Hill in the AFL Division 3 final.

The Bracks topped AFL Division 3, having won 9 out of their 11 games. In the Corn Na Boinne Cup they were defeated in Round 1 by Syddan. Last year's runners-up will be hoping to go one further this year after defeat to Ballinlough in the final.

There's no doubt that Ballinabrackey have some talented players with county men Damien Carroll upfront and Nicky Judge at the back. Chris O'Connor is in serious form in the middle of the park. Having already picked up a trophy confidence will be high but they face a tough task against Ratoath in the next round. Can they knock out the championship favourites for the second year in a row.

Competitive Record This Year - Played 18, Won 13, Drawn 1, Lost 4

Last time to win Meath IFC - never

2014 Meath IFC - Runner's Up (Defeated by Ballinlough)

Key players - Chris O'Connor, Nicky Judge, Danny Quinn, Damien Carroll

Seamus Curry

Nobber
The North Meath men topped their championship group, having won four and drawn one out of their five games. Dudley Farrell's charges are another team on form, having narrowly missed out on promotion from AFL Division 2 and have already picked up silverware this season. They lifted the Corn Na Boinne Cup for the second year in succession after defeating arch-rivals Castletown in the final at Pairc Tailteann

In the league they finished in fourth position -  after winning eight, drawing one and losing four. The Deesiders defeated St Ultan's, Ratoath and Castletown on their way to glory in the Corn Na Boinne Cup.

Nobber will be disappointed that they didn't gain promotion from AFL Division 2, but they can be happy with their season thus far. They have already tasted success with the cup competition and are one of the unbeaten sides in the championship so far. The return of Alan Farrell from abroad this year has given the North Meath outfit a huge boost. If Brian Farrell and Sean Meade have their scoring boots on, they will be hard to beat.

Competitive Record This Year - Played 21, Won 15, Drawn 2, Lost 4

Last time to win Meath IFC - 2010

2014 Meath IFC - Relegation Play-Off (Defeated Carnaross)

Key players - Alan Farrell, Brian Farrell, Gavin Farrelly, Jamie Owens

Niall Farrell

St Michael's
Martin O'Connell's charges qualified for the quarter-finals by finishing in third position in Group A behind Nobber and Kilmainham. The Kilbeg/Carlanstown outfit won two, drew two and lost one of their group games. They had a mixed AFL Division 2 league campaign, finishing in sixth position after winning seven and being defeated in six games.

They reached the semi-final of the Corn Na Boinne Cup defeating Kilmainham and Syddan along the way. The Red and Blacks were knocked out by neighbours Castletown in the last four.

The North Meath men face a tough task in the knockout stages coming up against one of the in-form teams in the county St. Colmcilles. The Michaels possess a pacey forward line. If they can get quick fast ball into the likes of Jamie Farrelly and Ciaran Lynch in particular, they will cause damage.

Competitive Record This Year - Played 21, Won 11, Drawn 2, Lost 8

Last time to win Meath IFC - 1989

2014 Meath IFC - (Didn't make it through Group Stages)

Key players - Ciaran Lynch, JB O'Reilly, David Lynch, Jamie Farrelly

Oran Meehan

Trim
Trim claimed the second qualifying spot in Group B, finishing behind championship favourites Ratoath. They defeated Dunderry, Castletown and Ballivor in three out of their last four games to reach the knockout stages. The Boynesiders suffered a tough AFL Division 2 campaign. They avoided relegation and finished in third last position clocking up four wins and nine losses in the process.

In the Corn Na Boinne Cup, the Reds dispatched of Athboy side Clann na nGael in Round 1 by the minimum. They were subsequently knocked out by Castletown in the quarter-final on a score line of 1-13 v 0-13.

Trim are a big town club and will feel that they should be playing senior football. The intermediate runners up from 2012 face a tricky quarter-final against Kilmainham. With the ever trustworthy Frankie Murphy in the middle of the park, and with Toher and Heffernan the danger men up front - on their day they can beat anyone in the grade. Can this be their year?

Competitive Record This Year - Played 20, Won 8, Drawn 0, Lost 12

Last time to win Meath IFC - 1949

2014 Meath IFC - (Didn't make it through Group Stages)

Key players - Alan Douglas, Neil Heffernan, James Toher, Frankie Murphy.

Frankie Murphy

Kilmainham
The Kells side are one of the unbeaten teams in the championship to date. They finished in secon position in Group A having won three and drawn two matches. Having been so impressive in the championship, their league campaign has been quite different. The Red and Blacks finished in third last position in AFL Division 3. Out of 11 games they won three, drew one and lost seven.

They were knocked out in the first round of the Corn Na Boinne Cup at home by local rivals St Michael's on a score line of 1-5 v 0-6.

Kilmainham in most people's eyes are the surprise package of the championship so far. They survived relegation last year and have built a certain amount of momentum so far in this year's championship campaign. With county sharpshooter Mickey Newman in their ranks they are well capable of causing a shock and advancing to the latter stages.

Competitive Record This Year - Played 17, Won 6, Drawn 3, Lost 8

Last time to win Meath IFC - never

2014 Meath IFC - Relegation Play-Off (Defeated Nobber and Carnaross)

Key players - Mickey Newman, Barry Lynch, Richie Brady, Harry Newman

Ger Morgan

Castletown
The North Meath outfit qualified for the knockout stages by the skin of their teeth. They finished in third position in Group B, having won two and being defeated in three of their games. Donal Curtis's charges won't be happy with their championship defeats to date, but they still have reached the knockout stages - which would have been the primary objective at the start of the year. Their impressive win over Syddan in the preliminary quarter-final will have made others take notice.

They endured a disappointing AFL Division 2 campaign, finishing in fourth last position. They won five and lost eight out of 13 league games. They narrowly missed out on silverware after being defeated by local rivals Nobber in the Corn Na Boinne Cup final in Navan.

Castletown have been there or thereabouts the last number of years although they haven't contested an intermediate championship final since 2007. They ran eventual winners Ballinlough very close in the semi-final last year. They will be tough to beat and if Kevin Ross and Gerry Farrelly are on form nobody will fancy playing them.

Competitive Record This Year - Played 23, Won 11, Drawn 0, Lost 12

Last time to win Meath IFC - 1976

2014 Meath IFC - Semi Final (Defeated by Ballinlough)

Key players - Kevin Ross, Gerry Farrelly, James Finnerty, Barry Smith

Kenny Smith

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