By John O'Brien

There is increasing worry amongst Royal county club players, managers and supporters alike in the way in which the championship structure is organised within the county. I feel the current structure is not working and unfortunately the hoganstand.com Meath Senior Football Championship is not competitive enough at this moment in time.

The Meath County Board have formed a new committee - a review committee - to make recommendations regarding the structure of the club championship within the county.

The format of the Meath club championship is a hot topic at the moment. I think both players and managers are open for a change. Why not try a new structure? If club games become more competitive, it can only aid clubs and the county team alike.

There are currently eighteen club teams in the Senior Football Championship. The following is a new structure that could possibly be used to help make the club scene more competitive. The same format could be used for the intermediate championship (Eighteen teams competing in that competition also).

There will be two Preliminary Round games played to reduce the number of teams in Round One of championship. Eighteen teams become sixteen teams. Round One proper of the SFC contains sixteen teams.

The two teams defeated in the preliminary round enter the qualifiers. The draw will be done at random to decide which four teams are chosen to play in the preliminary rounds.

Round One - 8 games - 16 teams

Round 2 - 4 games - 8 teams

Round 3 - 2 games - 4 teams

Every team is guaranteed at least 2 games. This system will make the Meath SFC more competitive.

If a team is defeated in either the preliminary round of round one proper they enter the qualifiers. The draw is done at random for the preliminary round.

Regarding Relegation - the 5 teams who are defeated in round one of the qualifiers. The four teams with the worst score difference over this qualifier game will play off to avoid relegation. Two relegation semi-finals will be played with the two winners safe from relegation and the two losers battling it out to avoid the drop.

I have randomly numbered all the current senior club teams and outlined the new format below.

1. St Peters Dunboyne
2. Dunshaughlin
3. Blackhall Gaels
4. Summerhill
5. Donaghmore/Ashbourne
6. Na Fianna
7.  Navan O'Mahony's
8. Simonstown
9. Wolfe Tones
10. Rathkenny
11. St Patrick's
12. Skryne
13. Walterstown
14. Moynalvey
15. Seneschalstown
16. Duleek-Bellewstown
17. Ballinlough
18. Gaeil Colmcille

Meath SFC Preliminary Round

Game 1
St Peters Dunboyne v Dunshaughlin
Game 2
Blackhall Gaels v Summerhill

St Peters Dunboyne and Summerhill advance to Round One of the championship while Dunshaughlin and Blackhall Gaels enter the Qualifiers.

Round One
St Peters Dunboyne v Donaghmore/Ashbourne
Summerhill v Na Fianna
Navan O'Mahony's v Simonstown
Wolfe Tones v Rathkenny
St Patrick's v Skryne
Walterstown v Moynalvey
Duleek-Bellewstown v Seneschalstown
Gaeil Colmcille v Ballinlough

The eight winners of round one progress to Round 2. The eight losers of round one enter the Qualifiers, along with the two losers of the preliminary round games.

Round 2
St Peters Dunboyne v Summerhill.
Navan O'Mahony's v Wolfe Tones.
Skryne v Moynalvey
Seneschalstown v Gaeil Colmcille

The four winners of round 2 progress to Round 3. The four losers of round 2 are knocked out of the championship.

Round 3
St Peters Dunboyne v Seneschalstown
Navan O'Mahony's v Skryne

The two winners of round 3 progress to the Semi-finals of the championship. The two losers of round 3 exit the championship. Winners of round 3 - St Peters Dunboyne, Navan O'Mahony's.

Qualifiers - teams who are defeated in Preliminary Round or Round One of the championship: Blackhall Gaels, Dunshaughlin, Simonstown, Rathkenny, Ballinlough, Na Fianna, St Patrick's, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Duleek-Bellewstown, Walterstown.

Qualifiers Round 1
Blackhall Gaels v Simonstown
Dunshaughlin v Rathkenny
Ballinlough v St Patrick's
Na Fianna v Donaghmore/Ashbourne
Duleek-Bellewstown v Walterstown

Five teams advance to Qualifiers Round 2 - Simonstown, Dunshaughlin, Ballinlough, Donaghmore/Ashbourne, Walterstown. The five losers exit the championship (after being defeated in two games).

Qualifiers Round 2
As there are an uneven number of teams in round 2 of the qualifiers one team receives a bye. This draw is done randomly. Essentially five teams become two. Two teams advance to the Semi-finals of the championship, where they come up against two teams who have went the direct route.
Simonstown v Dunshaughlin
Ballinlough v Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Winners play Walterstown
Two teams advance to the semi-finals - Dunshaughlin, Donaghmore/Ashbourne

Semi-final of Championship
St Peters Dunboyne v Dunshaughlin
Navan O'Mahony's v Donaghmore/Ashbourne

Meath SFC final
St Peters Dunboyne v Donaghmore/Ashbourne

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