17 August 2025; Ratoath manager Paul Galvin during the Meath County Senior Club Football Championship Round 2 match between Seneschalstown and Ratoath at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
There is nothing to beat the knockout stages for drama in the Meath Club Football Championships and after Saturday produced yet more incredible scenes, focus on Sunday turns to the remaining fixtures. We have two Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Quarter-Finals, two Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Finals, one Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship Quarter-Final and a Coolrite Junior B Football Championship Semi-Final.
Tickets for the today’s game which are priced at €15 plus booking fee are available by clicking the link: Meath GAA Club Championship Tickets
Note that the Fairyhouse Steel SFC double header in Páirc Tailteann is priced at €20 plus booking fee with a €5 refund on the gate with the relevant ID.
The opening game of the Páirc Tailteann double header is the meeting of Keegan Cup holders Dunshaughlin and the team they defeated in last year’s final, Bhulf Tón. Both of these sides have continued to impress this year with Dunshaughlin recently claiming the honours in Division 1 of the League and Bhulf Tón winning both the Feis Cup and the Comortas Peile na Gaeltacht.
But there can only be one winner today in Páirc Tailteann. Dunshaughlin have seen their form dip slightly in the group stages of the Championship, suffering defeats to Rathkenny and Trim either side of a win over Meath Hill and they will know that the performance levels need to be upped significantly if they are to down the side who have a remarkable level of consistency.
There is no doubt that Dunshaughlin have match winners everywhere you look in attack and they are boosted by the return to fitness of Luke Mitchell. If Mathew Costello, Ruairí Kinsella and Conor Duke hit top form then they can rack up a match winning tally between them.
The midfield battle between Conor Gray/Charlie O’Connor and Adam O’Neill/Oisín Martin is going to be crucial and whoever comes out on top in this duel is going to be well on their way to the last four.
And can Dunshaughlin come up with a way to stop Dan O’Neill and Sean Penny raiding from deep, the wing backs are a potent threat and will be looking to put those much vaunted Dunshaughlin forwards on the back foot.
The second game is a tasty local derby between Ratoath and Donaghmore/Ashbourne, with memories fresh in the mind of a somewhat spicy encounter between the sides in Dunshaughlin a few years ago.
Ratoath came through the group stages unbeaten but did slip up against Seneschalstown when drawing in Round 2. They bounced back in impressive fashion when dismantling the challenge of St. Colmcille’s two weeks ago but how much can really be read into that after the ‘Cilles only landed 1-03 for an hour on Wednesday in their Relegation Playoff?
The ‘Moors are attempting to infuse their side with some fresh blood, particularly in attack off the back of some impressive Minor sides in recent years. Zach Thornton, Evan Kelly and Michael O’Sullivan are all richly talented young men and could prove to be difference makers over the next few years.
Interestingly Bryan Menton who missed out on the group stages after picking up an injury in the All-Ireland Semoi-Final defeat to Donegal is named among the replacements and it would be no surprise to hear him announced over the PA in Páirc Tailteann as a late addition to the starting XV.
Dunganny is the venue for the lunchtime showdown between neighbouring Moynalvey and Dunsany in the Meade Farm Intermediate Championship Quarter-Final. Dunsany have impressed on their first season at the hugher grade after winning the Junior title last year but face their stiffest challenge to date in the favourites for the Mattie McDonnell Cup.
The last of the Quarter-Finals at the Intermediate grade is the meeting of Castletown and Drumbaragh Emmets in Moynalty. The ‘Drums look set to be missing the influential Harry O’Higgins while Castletown look set to welcome back Kevin Ross from suspension. Could Rossy inspire them to reach the last four?
The theme of local derbies continues when Clann na nGael and Dunderry meet in the Quarter-Final of the Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship. Clann na nGael were flying in the group stages with two wins from two before drawing with Moylagh on the final day. Dunderry were porous at the back, conceding 9 goals in the opening 2 games before eventually keeping a clean sheet in Round 3. And that concession amount could have been higher were it not for the heroics of Sean Brennan in goals.
The last of the local derbies for the day is the meeting of Kilmainhamwood and Moynalty in Nobber at 11:30. Both sides finished the group stages unbeaten with two wins and a draw apiece. Moynalty are so often the favourites to win the crown but today’s game is viewed as 50:50 in the eyes of many.
Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Bhulf Tón CLG vs Dunshaughlin – Live on TG4
Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Ratoath vs Donaghmore/Ashbourne – Live on Clubber
Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final
Moynalvey vs Dunsany
Meade Farm Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final
Castletown vs Drumbaragh Emmets
Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation Junior Football Championship Quarter-Final
Clann na nGael vs Dunderry
Coolrite Junior B Football Championship Quarter-Final
Kilmainhamwood vs Moynalty
Saturday’s Results
Adam Flanagan fires home the opening goal of the game for Summerhill against Trim in the Fairyhouse Steel Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final. Photo courtesy Fidgy Fotos.
Competition
Team 1
Score
Score
Team 2
Venue
Referee
Fairyhouse Steel SFC Quarter-Final
Skryne
3-15 (24)
1-20 (23)
Ballinabrackey
Páirc Tailteann
Kieran Olwell (Moynalty)
Fairyhouse Steel SFC Quarter-Final
Summerhill
2-15 (21)
0-11 (11)
Trim
Páirc Tailteann
Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin)
Meade Farm IFC Quarter-Final
St. Michael’s
1-15 (18)
2-10 (16)
Oldcastle
Ballinlough
Stephen Cregan (Dunshaughlin)
Balreask Bar, Restaurant & Guest Accommodation JFC Quarter-Final
St. Vincent’s
1-17 (20)
2-12 (18)
Moylagh
Rathkenny
Peter O’Halloran (Drumconrath)
By Meath GAA
Sun 14th Sep